How do you know you are ready for a campaign? It can be a transformational experience for the organization that is ready. Below is a short list of items to gauge your nonprofit's capital campaign readiness.
Campaign Readiness Checklist
Strong Community Image: Is your mission relevant and meeting current community needs? Is the broader community (more than those you serve) aware of your mission impact?
Experienced & Respected Staff Leadership: Is your CEO/Executive Director/Director respected and well known in the community. Do they represent the mission well?
Loyal & Committed Stakeholders: Do your stakeholders understand the full depth of your mission and believe in it?
Organizational Alignment: Is organizational leadership (Board & Staff) unified and aligned in belief and passion for the campaign project?
Relevant & Current Strategic Plan: Do you have a current strategic plan that identifies short and long-term goals? Does it includes a sustainable funding/fundraising plan that will support the achievement of plan goals?
Compelling Campaign Case for Support: Have you developed the campaign promise to the community? Have you answered the question why organization is best suited for the task, and why community investment is needed?
Financial Stability: Are financial systems, processes, checks and balances in place and are reserves funded?
Stable & Growing Donor Base: Is your annual support donor base strong? Do you have 6 willing prospects of whom 1-3 will commit 20% of the campaign goal?
Adequate fundraising infrastructure: Do you have the staff, systems, and processes to sustain annual fundraising and take on a campaign?
Board & Volunteer Leadership: Do you have an influential & committed Board and/or volunteer group willing to lead the campaign, recruit volunteers, & solicit campaign funding?
The Ostara Group has over a decade of experience guiding hundreds of nonprofit clients through successful capital campaigns. Time and time again, the most effective campaigns have these key factors in place, creating a strong foundation for reaching - or exceeding - their campaign goals. Ostara can support your organization in assessing campaign readiness - drop us a note. We'd love to discuss your organization's unique position and needs.