CAPITAL CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT
A capital campaign is an exciting, ambitious undertaking for a nonprofit organization. It may be the culmination of several years of planning, study and cultivation and it usually represents the means to fund projects, build facilities or expand endowment that enable an organization to further its mission and bring a vision to fulfillment. The consultants at Conway Company welcome the opportunity to join with nonprofit clients and guide them through a major campaign that will have a lasting impact on the organization. They have experience managing campaigns with goals which have ranged from $1 million to $110 million and give each client’s campaign the priority and attention necessary to successfully meet its goal.

The first step in effective campaign management is to develop a campaign strategy customized to the client’s specific needs and built on the findings of a pre-campaign planning study. Conway consultants will then seek the support and approval of the organization’s leadership and Board for this strategic direction. With that in place, Conway consultants are experienced in and prepared to offer the following campaign services:

• Prepare a campaign plan and assign tasks; campaigns typically last from 16 months to two years
• Identify and recruit volunteer leadership including a campaign chair and cabinet
• Write job descriptions for volunteers
• Provide effective donor research on selected prospects
• Write the case for support
• Create a scale of gifts, noting the ranges and numbers of gifts needed for success
• Initiate and guide early solicitation of leadership and Board gifts
• Recommend and oversee a comprehensive campaign communications effort which clearly articulates and reinforces the case for support through well-written materials, pleasing and appropriate graphic design, and the production of a campaign video, if necessary
• Train volunteers and staff in fund-raising techniques; prepare them to make in-person solicitations, alone or as part of a team
• Assist staff and volunteers in gift solicitation
• Determine appropriate named gift opportunities
• Research and write foundation proposals
• Assist in planning campaign-related events including kick-off and victory celebrations
• Organize and schedule regular report meetings to ensure that all volunteer tasks are completed on schedule
• Work with development staff to ensure mailings, donor acknowledgement and donor recognition are carried out in a timely, efficient manner

In addition to personal solicitations, other fund-raising strategies that will be evaluated and considered for each client are a regular campaign newsletter, special events and small group meetings, an employee-giving effort, a community campaign, direct mail or phone solicitation efforts.

Our highly-personal, hands-on counsel offers customized levels of service based on the needs and budget of each nonprofit client. A campaign consultant can be available on a periodic basis as infrequently as one or two days a month or take a more active role in campaign management and direction working eight to 12 days per month with the client. Any or all services are aligned to make use of an organization’s existing development resources such as available staff expertise, volunteer leadership, and to supplement communication strategies already in effect. Fees are determined according to the clients needs and the specific areas of consulting expertise required.

Conway Company offers clients expert counsel, the use of proven fund-raising strategies and an extensive knowledge of the regional philanthropic climate to maximize each organization’s potential through customized fund-raising solutions.