The ABCs of Capital Campaigns: What to Know Before and When You Conduct Special Campaigns

Conducting a capital campaign can seem daunting, especially if it’s your first one. This workshop will help you understand what it takes to conduct a successful capital campaign. We will explore traditional and non-traditional approaches to structuring and conducting a campaign and address a myriad of important questions to ask before you even take the first step including: How do you know when your organization is ready? What factors need to be in place to be successful? How does a small or medium sized nonprofit that’s capacity-constrained position itself for success? What should be expected of staff and board leadership?

We will discuss the pros and cons of conducting a feasibility study, and we’d be remiss if we didn’t tackle the deep-seated fear that capital campaigns adversely affect annual fundraising goals. (They should do the opposite!)  We’ll even explore alternative approaches like focusing on crowd raising as a major campaign strategy.

By the end of the workshop, we will have examined different kinds of capital campaigns, explored the diversity of paths you can take with your team, and outlined the core ingredients for success. You will leave with an understanding of the questions to ask before the launch and what you will need to do to attract and inspire a community of investors who will make your campaign vision a reality.

For maximum benefit, please consider inviting key board members and executive leadership to this workshop so your team can walk away with a shared understanding.

Our Presenter

For nearly 30 years, Chuck Gordon has served as a senior nonprofit professional and consultant, helping nonprofit organizations in Massachusetts and across the country realize their vision by raising increased revenues. Today, Chuck leads the New Kensington Group, a full-service consulting firm helping nonprofit leaders grow their organizations.  His work focuses on strategic planning, fund raising, executive search, and board leadership and governance support.  As a nationally recognized trainer and speaker, he dedicates significant time to building the fundraising capacity of nonprofit professionals and senior volunteers.  

Chuck has built and led three national development programs, having served as the National Chief Development Officer at City Year, Health Leads and uAspire, doubling revenues in each organization during his tenure.   For 21 years, Chuck built an impressive track record at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, building the largest major gifts program among 1400 United Ways in the country and running the largest non-bequeathed endowment campaign every conducted by a local United Way.   He spent 15 years during his tenure as a volunteer trainer, speaker and consultant for United Way of America, including 4 years as the national chair for United Way Worldwide’s Major and Planned Gifts Council.  Chuck previously served on the boards of the Wheelock Family Theatre, Eastern Middlesex ARC and Boston Children’s Theatre and was named one of Boston’s ’40 Under 40’ by the Boston Business Journal.  He received his BA from Brandeis University and MBA from Boston University.