"Marilyn Bancel has written a highly accessible, readable guide to a very complex process, which is no mean feat. Even if you have been through a capital campaign before and think you're ready-and especially if you're new to the capital campaign process-read it! Preparing Your Capital Campaign provides valuable insights and practical planning tools that will bolster your capacity to take on a campaign's challenge."

--Clara Miller, president, Nonprofit Finance Fund

In this hands-on workbook, fund raising expert Marilyn Bancel shows you how to prepare your organization to embark on a successful capital campaign, detailing each step that must be taken before the launch.

Preparing Your Capital Campaign--part of the Excellence in Fund Raising Workbook Series--breaks down the preparation stage into practical, manageable parts, outlining in straightforward language such essentials as creating a campaign timetable, setting up the campaign committee, determining a campaign goal, and getting the whole organization ready for a fund raising drive. Packed with useful resources, this nuts-and-bolts workbook includes a campaign skills checklist, strategies for estimating fund raising costs, a sample campaign budget, and a list of Web sites tailored to the specific needs of fund raisers.

If you are brand-new to fund raising, the book offers a concise introductory chapter that lays out the basics and answers the key questions about capital campaigns. More experienced fund raisers will benefit from a wealth of reminders for avoiding common mistakes and a framework for staying focused on the factors that are most important for success. Preparing Your Capital Campaign will show you how to make the most of this critical fund raising strategy.

A workbook detailing each step that must be taken to embark on a successful capital campaign. Breaks down the preparation stage into manageable parts, outlining in plain language such essentials as creating a campaign timetable, setting up the campaign committee, determining a campaign goal, and getting the organization ready for a fund raising drive. Includes a campaign skills checklist, strategies for estimating fundraising costs, a sample campaign budget, and a list of useful Web sites. Lacks a subject index. Bancel is vice president of a national fund raising and nonprofit consulting firm.
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Proper preparation is critical to the success of any capital campaign. In this hands-on workbook, fundraising expert Marilyn Bancel shows you how to prepare your organization to embark on a successful capital campaign, detailing each step that must be taken before the launch. Preparing Your Capital Campaign—part of the Excellence in Fund Raising Workbook Series—breaks down the preparation stage into practical, manageable parts, outlining in straightforward language such essentials as creating a campaign timetable, setting up the campaign committee, determining a campaign goal, and getting the whole organization ready for a fundraising drive. Packed with useful resources, this nuts and bolts workbook includes a campaign skills checklist, strategies for estimating fundraising costs, a sample campaign budget, and a list of Web sites tailored to the specific needs of fundraisers. If you are brand-new to fundraising, the book offers a concise introductory chapter that lays out the basics and answers the key questions about capital campaigns. More experienced fund raisers will benefit from a wealth of reminders for avoiding common mistakes and a framework for staying focused on the factors that are most important for success.

A premier fundraising expert shows managers and development directors how to prepare their organization for embarking upon a capital campaign, and breaking down the preparation stage into manageable, practical steps.

MARILYN BANCEL, CFRE, is vice president of the Oram Group, Inc., a national fund raising and nonprofit consulting firm serving philanthropic organizations since 1940. In addition to consulting, she is adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco's Institute of Nonprofit Management, where she teaches Capital Campaigns and Major Gifts. She frequently conducts fundraising seminars and conference workshops, and is the recipient of the Hank Rosso Outstanding Fundraising Executive Award, 2002.

Preface.

The Author.

Introduction: Why Take the Time to Prepare?

1. Understanding the Capital Campaign What Is a Capital Campaign? Forms of Capital Campaigns Examples of Capital Projects The Stages of a Campaign Do You Really Need a Capital Campaign? When Should Your Organization Undertake a Capital Campaign? What's in a Goal? Does Your Organization Cope Well with Risk?

2. Getting the Organization Ready Telling Your Story Putting Strong Volunteer Leadership in Place Evaluating Your Donor and Prospect Base Understanding the Role of Long-Range Planning Getting Professional Support in Place Establishing Effective Communications Channels Establishing Visibility Paying for Building Your Organization's Capacity.

3. Launching the Project Testing for Project Readiness Developing a Rationale for the Project Getting Buy-In and Commitment from Internal Constituencies Getting Ready for a Bricks-and-Mortar Project What Costs Will We Encounter and When? Obtaining Up-Front Planning Costs Answering Important Questions Understanding the Role of In-Kind Donations.

4. Conducting a Feasibility Study What Is a Feasibility Study? Do You Need a Study? What You Can Learn from a Study How to Get Ready for a Feasibility Study How to Time the Study How to Find the Right Consultant Cost of a Feasibility Study Risks of Not Undertaking a Study Alternatives to a Feasibility Study.

5. Building the Campaign Framework Responding to the Results of the Feasibility Study Deciding Next Steps Setting a Campaign Goal Preparing the Case Statement Testing for Leadership Using the Test to Prepare for Volunteer Training Thanking and Acknowledging Participants.

6. Raising Early Funding Determine Early Funding Needs Option One: Campaign for a Seed Fund Option Two: Build a Campaign Chest Option Three: Establish a Loan Fund Option Four: Establish a Combination Leadership Fund and Loan Fund Option Five: Use Public Bond Funds or? Tax-Exempt? Financing Option Six: Use Private Bond Funds Option Seven: Get Creative.

7. Looking Ahead Resources Top Ten Reasons Campaigns Fail Estimating the Costs of Fund Raising Sample Expenses for a Three-Year $3 Million Capital Campaign Organizations References Useful Publications.