News: Amy and Sarah Discuss Capital Campaign Readiness on the ‘What the Fundraising’ Podcast

Capital Campaign Pro’s Amy Eisenstein, ACFRE, and Sarah Plimpton recently joined the What the Fundraising podcast, hosted by Mallory Erickson, to discuss why successful capital campaigns begin long before organizations start asking donors for gifts.

In the episode, Campaign Success Starts Before You Fundraise, Amy and Sarah shared practical insights from their experience helping nonprofits prepare for and carry out successful capital campaigns. They explored the importance of early planning, board education, organizational readiness, and strong partnerships between nonprofit staff and board members.

The conversation also highlighted Amy and Sarah’s new book, A Board Member’s Guide to Capital Campaign Fundraising: How to Raise Game-Changing Money for Your Nonprofit. Written specifically for nonprofit board members, the book provides a practical roadmap for understanding the campaign process, engaging major donors, and helping organizations approach ambitious fundraising goals with greater confidence.

Throughout the episode, Amy and Sarah discussed how educating board members early can transform uncertainty about a campaign into confidence and help create the shared understanding necessary for success.

Key topics included:

• Why capital campaign preparation should begin well before fundraising
• The importance of educating and engaging board members early
• How stronger staff-board partnerships contribute to campaign success
• When and how organizations can use A Board Member’s Guide to Capital Campaign Fundraising
• How nonprofits can navigate campaign challenges with greater confidence
• Why traditional feasibility studies are better approached as “campaign readiness studies”
• Practical steps for strengthening strategic planning and organizational readiness

Amy and Sarah emphasized that organizations that invest in planning and preparation at the outset are better positioned to maintain momentum throughout their campaigns — and avoid getting stuck along the way.

At Capital Campaign Pro, we believe successful campaigns begin with clarity, preparation, and shared understanding. When nonprofit leaders, staff, and board members understand both the campaign process and their roles within it, they can approach transformational fundraising with greater confidence.

We’re grateful to What the Fundraising for the opportunity to share these ideas and help more nonprofit leaders and board members prepare for successful capital campaigns.