Issue 5
September 2008

In This Issue:

Strong Donor Database = Campaign Success

After long sessions of planning, you have decided to move forward with a capital campaign. Now what? There are differing opinions on the proper steps for a capital campaign, but the first step seems to be a consensus among those opinions. Step one: You must have an adequate donor database.

Your donor database provides a crucial repository for all of the important details related to your constituents. This information can assist in developing individual strategies for each prospect. Major gifts are given to organizations that build relationships with their constituents. Keeping track of your staffs’ contacts and following up with donors becomes paramount, as well as tracking donors’ information and interests. MatchMaker FundRaising Software was designed to track a donor’s information in one place, making the information easily accessible and strengthening your communication with them. By using the tools in MatchMaker FundRaising Software, you can administer, view and manage your capital campaign from a single information source – helping you to grow your funding efforts through increased donor cultivation.

For information about how MatchMaker FundRaising Software can support your fundraising efforts, check out our web site at www.MatchMakerFRS.com or call 800.752.3100.

Welcome to MatchTips!

MatchTips, a quarterly newsletter from MatchMaker FundRaising Software, will provide fundraising tips and technology information to nonprofit organizations. Volume 5 discusses the development of a Capital Campaign. Below are helpful tips that will enhance your organization's fundraising.

The Five Dirty Secrets of Capital Campaigns

Written by Steve Manzi, Senior Director
Changing Our World Inc.

Been holding them in for years. Can't refrain any longer. Must disclose the truths that are burning inside. Never before spoken out loud, they are..."The Five Dirty Secrets of Capital Campaigns." Read them once; commit them to memory; and then destroy this before anyone else sees it.

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What are You Buying When You Hire a Capital Campaign Director?

Written by Jeff Lippincott

There are many good articles posted on the Internet today that describe the process of hiring a professional fundraising consultant—or a fundraising consulting firm. Although there is no question that a fundraising consulting firm’s experience and track record are important considerations—even primary considerations—I suggest that the skill-set of the actual campaign director or fundraising professional is equally important. Thus, if you thoroughly examine the record and references of the professional fundraising firm, I would still investigate the fundraising professional on the scene by ensuring that he or she has a good mix of the following six skills:

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Grants as Part of a Capital Campaign

Written by Michael Wells

Capital campaigns, raising money for a building or buildings, are different from other fundraising. You're creating a permanent asset, something that makes a statement about your organization's stability and longevity. In the process of a capital campaign, organizations usually become better organized, more mature, and improve their business operations. Sometimes the growth is painful -- staff and board may leave, unable or unwilling to move to the new level of operation.

Grantwriting for capital campaigns is also somewhat different from other grants. They are generally larger -- if your largest previous grant was $100,000, a capital request may be $500,000 or a million or more. They require more strategy and coordination with other fundraising efforts. You need to decide which funders to approach for capital and which to save for operations and program grants. Capital proposals are also an opportunity to re-introduce your organization to a foundation -- to change your image.

When planning a capital campaign, think of grants in the context of your overall strategy. Resist the temptation to mail out a few big grant proposals early, then develop your funding plans. The grantwriter should be working closely with the campaign consultant on strategy and developing materials. (You're not really thinking of doing a capital campaign without a consultant, are you?) Much of the information you need for a capital campaign grant will be generated in the case statement. In any case, the grantwriter needs to be coordinating on strategy with whomever is running the major gifts part of the campaign. This is important for several reasons:

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About LEAVE A LEGACY®

Written by Susan Kauffman, CFRE

Gifts that are left to charity through bequests and planned gifts have the ability to fight disease, inspire at-risk youth, sustain cultural organizations, provide meals to senior citizens, and preserve our environment for generations to come. Most people make charitable gifts during their lifetimes, but only a small percentage of individuals leave a charitable gift in their will.

To assist nonprofits and religious organizations in obtaining gifts, the National Committee on Planned Giving developed the LEAVE A LEGACY® program. The program is set up to provide information and promote the idea of bequests to individuals, charities, and estate planning advisors.

LEAVE A LEGACY® has 43 programs throughout the United States. The program has been used successfully by charities to promote bequests to their donors for nine years. The program focuses on increasing public awareness about bequest giving, and assists charities in developing bequest programs.

Join the LEAVE A LEGACY® program in your area. Become a partner with an organization which wants to help you develop a program to raise funds that can be used in the future.

Learn more at the National Committee on Planned Giving website www.ncpg.org.