Four Benchmarks that Predict a Successful Capital Campaign

What makes some capital campaigns wildly successful while others barely hit their goals? Over their 18 years of experience helping schools meet their development goals, the Winkler Group has identified four essential elements for successful campaigns.

A Big and Inspiring Vision
The key to a successful campaign is a vision that moves your institution to the top of your donors’ priority list.

Do Your Donors Have Confidence in You?
If you were buying stock in a public company, you would want to know if the company was well-run. Major donors to a campaign are no different.

Do Your Donors Support the Vision Enough to Fund it?
Donors can have great confidence in an institution’s leadership and find the campaign’s priorities compelling, but if they’re not willing to invest their own funds, your campaign will not reach its goal.

Are Your Donors Willing to Play a Role?
Relationships are the foundation of every major gift, especially during a campaign.

Read the full article “Four Benchmarks that Predict a Successful Capital Campaign for Your University or Independent School” to learn more about:

• the four pillars of a successful campaign,
• case studies from real campaigns,
• benchmarks to score your readiness for a campaign,
• shoring up weaknesses to improve your school’s readiness, and
• raising more money by strengthening your culture of philanthropy.

Capital Campaigns: An Immersive Workshop

Join your SAIS colleagues for an immersive three-day workshop on planning for a capital campaign.
2023 Capital Campaigns: An Immersive Workshop
February 8-10, Franklin, TN

Whether you are new to the development office, are a head of school considering a capital campaign, or serve on the board of trustees, at this workshop you will learn:

• how to assess a school’s readiness for a campaign;
• how to develop campaign priorities that appeal to donors and satisfy campus needs;
• the commitment and responsibilities for faculty/staff, volunteers, and campaign leaders;
• how to properly qualify prospects and identify leadership;
• how to set a campaign goal;
• how to create a culture of philanthropy that goes beyond the campaign and results in increased annual giving; and
• how a campaign can increase alumni engagement.