Case study : Expanding Capacity for a Landmark Campaign

Challenge

  • Context: Saltonstall Consulting acted as Campaign Counsel for a rural health and human services organization.

  • Goal: They were planning a capital campaign vastly exceeding past fundraising efforts.

  • Complication: This followed a period of challenging staffing transitions during the pandemic.

  • Issue: Although possessing over ten thousand prospects in their database, only a fraction were actively being cultivated due to a historically underfunded Advancement program.

Solution

  • Initial Step: Conducted a wealth screen to identify significant untapped potential among prospects.

  • Strategic Partnership: Led a team of consultants to conduct a Campaign Feasibility Study for a $75 million comprehensive campaign including endowment, a major capital project, and the Annual Fund.

  • Capacity Enhancement: Augmented the team’s skill set by engaging subject matter experts in Annual Fund and Planned Giving to bolster capacity-building.

Results

  • Achievement: Within eighteen months, the client surpassed 65% of their campaign target.

  • Milestone: Secured their first eight-figure donation.

  • Next Steps: Plans to launch the public phase of the campaign concurrent with the start of construction.