10 STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

A capital campaign is a serious undertaking and can pay huge dividends for any organization. In his book Conducting a Successful Capital Campaign, Kent E. Dove stresses the importance of preparation, and he offers the 10 prerequisites of success.

The 10 requirements are:

• Commitments of time and support from all key participants -- the governing board, the chief executive officer, prospective major donors, key volunteer leaders, the professional fundraising staff and the institutional family.
• A clear organizational self-image and a strategic plan for organizational growth and improvement.
• Fundraising objectives based on important and legitimate institutional plans, goals, budgets and needs.
• A written document that makes a compelling case for supporting the campaign (and the larger and more complex the campaign the more support materials will be needed).
• An assessment of the institutional development program and a market survey addressing internal and external preparedness.
• Enlistment and education of volunteer leaders.
• Ability and readiness of major donors to give substantial lead gifts before any public announcement of the campaign.
• Competent staff and, perhaps, external professional counsel.
• Adequate, even liberal, funds for expenses.

Consideration of other factors, such as the age of the organization, the caliber, size and distribution of the constituency, the range of the institution's giving program, previous fundraising success and the quality of the program and the impact of its services.