Posts by Amy Eisenstein
How to Recession-Proof Your Capital Campaign In Uncertain Times
“Should we start a capital campaign now? ” That’s a question we get asked all the time. We often answer the question with another question: “What’s the purpose of the capital campaign?” Or, stated in another way --...
The Fastest Way to Attract (or Repel) Donors: Urgency vs. Desperation
Unfortunately, many nonprofit leaders are fundraising from a place of desperation. The situation feels hopeless when money is so tight. When you can’t pay the rent or make payroll, the situation becomes desperate. This...
Penny-Wise, Pound-Foolish: A Cautionary Tale of One Nonprofit
Nonprofit staff and volunteers pinch pennies. Maybe they believe donors want them to be frugal or they think that’s what they’re supposed to do as responsible nonprofit leaders. It’s true that many donors love the...
7 Warning Signs You’re NOT Ready for a Capital Campaign
As capital campaign advisors, we speak with a lot of nonprofit leaders who are eager to take their organizations to the next level. And they all have something in common... Many nonprofit leaders are not sure how...
How to Ask for a Capital, Annual, and Planned Gift in One Meeting
You know the expression -- time is money. It’s cliché. But it’s also true... for you and your donors. When you have that special opportunity to sit down with your biggest and best potential donors, why waste precious...
4 Easy Solicitation Training Exercises for Campaign Volunteers
A big part of any campaign’s overall success is whether — and how — you engage volunteers in soliciting gifts. In other words, if you can get a handful of volunteers to solicit even a small number of gifts, you will...
Capital Campaign Timeline: 7 Steps to Lead a Successful Campaign
If you think about a capital campaign as one big, long, stressful project, it can feel overwhelming. But if you break it up into phases and steps, the entire project becomes so much more manageable. Thus, following a...
Creating a Capital Campaign Budget that Works: Quick Guide
When you think about fundraising costs, it’s important to consider ROI (return on investment). How much is “reasonable” to spend to raise a dollar? Depending on what type of fundraising you’re doing, the cost to raise...
Ready, Set… GO? The Puzzling Realities of Starting Your Capital Campaign
If you’re thinking about a capital campaign, you probably want to know how long it’s going to take. Eighteen months? Two years? Three years? Of course, in part, how long your campaign takes to complete largely depends...
Want a Complete Roadmap for Your Capital Campaign?
The Capital Campaign Toolkit gives you access to an innovative online platform that provides all the tools, templates, resources and support you need at every stage of your campaign.
