On September 23, the Carole Robertson Center for Learning’s ongoing From Insight to Impact speaker series brought together leaders from the nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate communities for a conversation about what it takes to navigate a successful fundraising campaign and capital projects.
Hosted by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, Capital Campaign Strategies for Lasting Impact attracted a packed house of funders, community partners, and nonprofit leaders.
Kate Ansorge, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Enterprise Intelligence at IFF, moderated an open discussion with Bela Moté, President & CEO of the Carole Robertson Center; Melissa Pillars, Executive Director, Community Development Banking, New Markets Tax Credits Group at JPMorgan Chase; and Jose Rodriguez, Director, Community Capital Portfolio at the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
The panelists discussed and shared learnings and successes from the Carole Robertson Center’s recently completed Invest Today, Empower Tomorrow campaign, our first-ever multi-year, major fundraising initiative, which raised more than $21 million for capital projects and organizational sustainability over 4 years.
Key Takeaways
Campaigns Require the Whole Organization’s Buy-In
Strong fundraising campaigns are supported by thoughtful planning and engaged leadership and staff at every level. Campaigns gain much greater momentum if they are seen as an organizational priority, not just a project for the development team. A tight partnership between development leadership and the CEO is especially critical.
Funders are Key Partners in the Process
Nonprofit organizations don’t need to have every detail figured out before engaging with current or prospective funders. Transparent communication builds trust, keeps stakeholders connected to the vision, and helps sustain the enthusiasm and momentum needed to reach the finish line. Conversations with funders can also help organizations identify common pitfalls and risks before they derail a project.
For Capital Campaigns: The Work Doesn’t End When Construction is Complete
Capital projects can result in increased fixed and operating costs that extend well beyond the life of the campaign. This is another area where funders, lenders, and peer organizations who have undertaken such projects can be a resource, helping organizations develop a strong pro forma capital budget to ensure the investments made in a campaign can be sustained for years to come.
