In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Andrea Kihlstedt and Amy Eisenstein dive into the art of transforming your capital campaign meetings from boring and unproductive to engaging and effective. Whether you're tired of meetings where attendance dwindles or you’re just looking to inject more energy into your sessions, this episode is packed with practical tips and strategies.

Andrea and Amy begin by discussing the critical role that meetings play in the success of a capital campaign. Campaigns often span several years and involve numerous committees and workgroups, making well-run meetings essential to maintaining momentum and engagement. They highlight the importance of designing meetings with clear objectives and meaningful participation, ensuring that every attendee feels valued and involved.

The hosts then break down the elements of a "bad meeting"—those sessions where participants check out mentally, engage in other activities like checking emails, or simply don't show up at all. They contrast this with the features of a successful meeting, where participants are eager to attend, actively contribute, and leave feeling accomplished.

Andrea and Amy provide actionable advice on how to design meetings that resonate with your team. They suggest starting every meeting with a clear purpose, engaging participants right from the beginning, and ensuring that everyone has a role to play. They also share their insights on how to handle different personalities in meetings, such as the overly talkative or the silent observer, ensuring a balanced and inclusive discussion.

The episode includes real-life examples and anecdotes that bring their tips to life, illustrating how effective meetings can propel your campaign forward. They also discuss how to use meetings as opportunities for brainstorming, decision-making, and progress reporting, making sure that every session is a step toward your campaign goals.

Whether you're meeting in person or virtually, the principles discussed in this episode apply across the board. Andrea and Amy emphasize that good meeting design is crucial, no matter the format, and they share their experiences in both in-person and virtual settings. From the importance of clear agendas to the necessity of follow-up tasks, this episode covers it all.

By the end of the episode, you’ll have a toolkit of ideas to ensure your meetings are productive, engaging, and pivotal to your campaign’s success. If you’re involved in leading or organizing meetings for a capital campaign, this episode is a must-listen. Don’t let another meeting pass by without putting these expert strategies into practice!

Join Andrea and Amy as they turn the mundane into the motivational and show you how to make every campaign meeting count. Tune in now and start transforming your meetings today!

For more free capital campaign resources, visit https://capitalcampaignpro.com/campaign-resources.

In this episode of "All About Capital Campaigns," hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt dive into the transformative power of women in philanthropy with their special guest, Kathleen Loehr. Kathleen, a leading expert on women's giving and author of "Gender Matters: A Guide to Growing Women's Philanthropy," shares her deep insights on the unique ways women approach charitable giving and why they are often the unseen yet significant donors in capital campaigns.

Kathleen discusses the rising wealth among women and how they are becoming key decision-makers in philanthropy, often giving more and in different ways compared to their male counterparts. She highlights the importance of curiosity in fundraising, encouraging organizations to ask insightful questions and truly understand the motivations and values of women donors. Kathleen also challenges the traditional fundraising practices that were established with male donors in mind, emphasizing the need to adapt these strategies to better resonate with women and other unseen donors.

Throughout the episode, Kathleen offers practical advice on how to engage women donors effectively, from data mining and asking the right questions to understanding the complexities of women's relationships with money. She also touches on the growing trend of collective giving among women and how role models like MacKenzie Scott and Melinda Gates are inspiring more women to make significant contributions.

Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or new to the world of capital campaigns, this episode is packed with valuable insights that will help you better engage with women donors and unlock their full philanthropic potential. Don’t miss out on this enlightening conversation that could transform your approach to fundraising.

Tune in to learn how you can start seeing and valuing the unseen donors in your campaigns!

For more free capital campaign resources, visit https://capitalcampaignpro.com/campaign-resources.

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt delve into the essential, yet often overlooked, aspect of fundraising: understanding why donors choose to give.

Andrea starts by challenging the conventional focus on donors' financial capacities and emphasizes the importance of uncovering the underlying motivations behind their generosity. She points out that while organizations invest heavily in researching donors' financial backgrounds, they often neglect to explore the personal reasons that drive major gifts.

They discuss several tactics to better understand donor motivations, such as analyzing previous donations, recognizing patterns in their philanthropy, and identifying personal connections to specific causes. Andrea likens this process to being a "Sherlock Holmes of fundraising," where every detail about a donor's interests and behaviors can provide valuable clues.

Join Amy and Andrea in this engaging episode to gain valuable insights and practical strategies for unlocking the motivations of your major donors and transforming your fundraising efforts.

Visit capitalcampaignpro.com for more free resources and to explore how our expert campaign advisors can assist in strategizing and executing effective capital campaigns.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt question the traditional practice of naming buildings and room after large-gift donors.  While that approach may be right for some organization, it may be worth reconsidering for others.

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This podcast is the fifth of a special Summer Series of conversations on important fundraising topics. Our live webinars will return on September 12, 2022; learn more at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt discuss how to get ready to solicit a lead gift donor. They share with you three important and often overlooked things to do that will increase your chances of success.

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This podcast is the fourth of a special Summer Series of conversations on important fundraising topics. Our live webinars will return on September 12, 2022; learn more at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt discuss the importance of developing and maintaining a list of your top 50 prospects and why it’s especially important as you get ready for your capital campaign. 

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This podcast is the third of a special Summer Series of conversations on important fundraising topics. Our live webinars will return on September 5, 2022; learn more at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt urge you to get the right mindset about money before asking donors for gifts. Adopt a positive money mindset and you’ll raise more money.

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This podcast is the second of a special Summer Series of conversations on important fundraising topics. Our live webinars will return on September 5, 2022; learn more at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt discuss the important lessons they’ve learned from leading peer support groups of people conducting capital campaigns.

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This podcast is the first of a special Summer Series of conversations on important fundraising topics. Our live webinars will return on September 5, 2022; learn more at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt have some fun role-playing examples of asking donors for complex gifts that combine campaign, annual and planned giving.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, June 27, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt explore practical ideas about identifying and recruiting the best volunteer leadership for your campaign.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, June 20, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign expert Andrea Kihlstedt is joined in this episode by special guest Jezra Kaye. Jezra is a speaking coach with almost 20 years of experience coaching individuals and groups, and she talks with Andrea about how fundraising is enhanced when you present yourself in the best possible ways.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, June 13, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this special edition, fundraising expert Amy Eisenstein is joined by Andy Robinson, a 40-year industry veteran and co-author with Andrea Kihlstedt of a seminal fundraising book. Together, they discuss critical training skills and why you need to improve them.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, June 6, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt talk about how to handle campaigns that look as though they won’t be able to reach their goal.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, May 23, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Join Andrea Kihlstedt, co-founder of Capital Campaign Pro, and her colleague, senior campaign advisor Richard Quinn, as they unravel the secrets behind successful capital campaigns and effective fundraising strategies.

In each episode, Andrea and Richard delve into core principles of capital campaign fundraising, offering practical insights and real-world applications. Discover how to set ambitious goals, prioritize big donations, engage key donors, and create a timeline that ensures success.

Through engaging discussions, Andrea and Richard reveal how these principles can transform annual fundraising efforts, turning conventional strategies on their head and injecting new life into your campaigns.

Whether you're a seasoned fundraiser or new to the field, "Campaign Chronicles" provides the tools and inspiration you need to achieve your fundraising goals and elevate your organization's mission.

Tune in to learn from the experts and revolutionize your approach to fundraising.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt talk about a simple tool that gives you a peek at whether or not your campaign is likely to be successful.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, May 16, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt discuss the public phase of capital campaigns and strategies you will use to get to your goal.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, May 9, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein are joined by special guest Jeff Hensley in a lively discussion of capital campaigns for churches and fundraising insights for other types of organizations.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, May 2, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In today’s episode, Amy and Andrea describe the gamut of capital campaign kick-off events, and discuss the pros and cons of each.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, April 25, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In today’s podcast, Amy and Andrea explain how you can use your capital campaign to strengthen your development office and build for the future.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, April 18, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In today’s podcast, special guest Joe Tumolo and host Andrea Kihlstedt talk about planned giving — why it matters and how to set up a planned giving program.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, April 11, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In today’s podcast, Amy and Andrea discuss why you should talk with your largest donors before you’ve finalized your plans and developed your materials. They give pointers on how to have early conversations with these largest donors.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, April 4, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt discuss the many aspects of campaign timing, including how to determine the start and length of your campaign. They discuss the wisdom and importance of starting your campaign planning as soon as you know a campaign is heading your way.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, March 28, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, capital campaign expert Andrea Kihlstedt is joined by Sarah Plimpton, Chief Happiness Officer of the Capital Campaign Toolkit. They discuss the importance of focusing on truly seeing and noticing people as the best way to make them happy. They discuss practical strategies for incorporating happiness into your development practice.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, March 21, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, capital campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt will share with you the important lessons they’ve learned about fundraising during the brave new world of COVID-19.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, March 14, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode of "All About Capital Campaigns," Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt dive into the essentials of prioritizing major gift fundraising. If you are a development director feeling overwhelmed by urgent tasks, this episode is for you. .

Amy and Andrea discuss how to shift your focus to the important work of cultivating and soliciting major gifts, which are crucial for successful fundraising and capital campaigns.

Key Highlights:

• The importance of major gift fundraising in moving the needle for nonprofit organizations.
• Practical strategies for freeing up time in your schedule to focus on major donors.
• The three key activities for engaging major donors: cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• How to identify and prioritize potential major donors.
• Tips for delegating tasks and eliminating less productive fundraising activities.
• Real-life examples and actionable advice on building strong donor relationships.
• The significance of involving your board and leveraging their support for major gift fundraising.

This episode is packed with valuable insights for nonprofit leaders, executive directors, and development directors who are looking to enhance their fundraising efforts. Amy and Andrea offer clear and practical advice on how to manage your time better and focus on activities that will significantly boost your fundraising outcomes. Whether you're in the middle of a capital campaign or planning for one, these strategies will help you cultivate major donors effectively and ensure your organization's long-term success.

Tune in to learn how to balance your urgent tasks with the crucial work of engaging major donors, and discover the steps you can take to double your fundraising revenue by prioritizing the right activities.

Listen to the full episode for more tips and strategies on major gift fundraising!For more free capital campaign resources, visit https://capitalcampaignpro.com/campaign-resources.

In this episode, capital campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt discuss endowments. They’ll review what they are, why they matter, and why endowment should be included in your campaign fundraising objectives.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, March 7, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, capital campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt encourage you to stop practicing your talking points and instead, review everything you know about that donor and why they might want to support your project.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, February 28, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, capital campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt provide reassuring tips and strategies for getting your capital campaign goes through unnerving quiet periods.  Learn three approaches to breaking through the lull and getting your campaign back on track to success.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, February 21, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this special Valentine Day podcast, campaign expert Andrea Kihlstedt is joined by Toolkit advisor Kent Stroman; together, they encourage you to hold the chocolates and highlight the impact.  You’ll learn how to share your donor love today by showing them something specific they’ve helped make happen.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, February 14, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, capital campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt will help you think through the process of determining the right goal for your campaign. You’ll learn that it takes more than simply knowing how much your project will cost.  And setting the right campaign goal sets your campaign up for success.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, February 7, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Will your Executive Director have enough time for the capital campaign? Learn some practical things you can do to help make sure that the head of your organization is able and willing to pull their weight for the campaign.  

Join campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt as they share the tips and tricks they’ve learned over many decades of working with nonprofit leaders on this type of fundraising.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, January 31, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Are you making the best use of social media to promote your organization, your events and your campaign? Julia Campbell combines social media and fundraising savvy. Her new book, How to Build and Mobilize a Social Media Community for Your Nonprofit will come out next month. And she will reveal some of her insights to campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, January 24, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

How often do you talk to your top prospects when you aren’t asking them for gifts?  In today’s Toolkit Talk, campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt discuss why you should have leadership interviews with your most important donors, and how to structure that process.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, January 17, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

A Gift Range Chart shows the pattern of gifts your campaign will need for you to reach your goal.  A well-crafted Gift Range Chart will serve as the primary planning tool for your capital campaign. 

Join campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt as they discuss the best way to create gift range chart for your campaign and the many ways you can use it to achieve success.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, January 10, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

You’re going to have to spend money before contributions to your capital campaign start to come in. You may need project planning money to  purchase a site, hire an architect and go through assorted inspections and approvals.  And if you going to get expert advice for your campaign,  you’ll need to invest in that early, too.  

Join campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt and find out your options for accessing early money to help you get started.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, January 3, 2022. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt question the traditional practice of naming buildings and room after large-gift donors. While that approach may be right for some organization, it may be worth reconsidering for others.

If you’re considering a capital campaign, or if you just want to raise more money, it’s time to strengthen your resolve and muster the courage to ask for gifts. Campaign fundraising experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt share practical ways to build your fundraising courage. 

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, December 20, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In December, as donors make their year-end charitable contributions, what can you do to make your most important donors happy?  Fundraising experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt share their favorite year-end stewardship practices and answer a host of capital campaign questions.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, December 13, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt are joined by special guest Vu Le, of the blog NonprofitAF.com, in a lively discussion about community-centered fundraising for nonprofits. Vu Le shares his controversial views on how fundraising practices should change to become grounded in social equity.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, December 6, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Nonprofit fundraising experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt share their favorite donor stewardship tips and encourage you to use the holiday giving season to thank your donors for their past contributions in meaningful and appropriate ways.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, November 29, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Fundraising experts Amy and Andrea discuss the capital campaign questions every board member wants answers to.  Where’s the money going to come from? How much will they have to give? What’s going to be expected of them? And many more important questions facing every nonprofit board member as they consider a capital campaign.  Download our favorite resource on the topic: "A Board Member’s Guide to Capital Campaign Fundraising" 

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, November 22, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Set up your 2022 nonprofit fundraising for success starting by following up and following through with your capital campaign donors. Fundraising  experts Amy and Andrea talk about the phases and timing of your nonprofit's campaign and communication. They discuss the importance of  doing a good job on the last phase of your campaign. Following their advice will help set your next fundraising initiatives up for success. Make sure to check out our free Capital Campaign resources.

Amy and Andrea discuss the importance of considering diversity, equity and inclusion into your planning process long before the start of your campaign. Then, they pivot to participant questions about campaign leadership – what qualities your chair should have, when to recruit them, and what to do if you can’t find the right person at the start of your campaign. 

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, November 8, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode Amy and Andrea discuss the strategic use of challenge gift as an important tool of your capital campaign.They discuss several ways you might make use of these gifts to motivate donors to give large gifts, energize donors to step up and set deadlines to stimulate giving.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, November 1, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Do you get anxious when you have to ask for large gifts? On this Toolkit Talk Amy and Andrea share their tips about how to get over asking-anxiety. They discuss how to talk less and listen more.  And they refocus the task from getting money to finding out what the donor wants to give.  They even do a little off-the-cuff role playing to give you a sense of what works.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, October 25, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Amy and Andrea talk about the various ways to figure out if your organization is ready for a capital campaign. They’ve found that the process of looking at your fundraising systems and board can be done simply and is often remarkably effective. Assessing various aspects of your organization will give you focus and a way forward whether or not a campaign is imminent.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, October 18, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt tackle the complex relationship between fundraising campaigns and project financing. Do you need to raise all the money before the groundbreaking for your new project? How does the timing of your campaign affect its success? Buckle up as Amy and Andrea unravel these questions and provide actionable strategies for navigating the financial planning of your capital campaign.

Key Highlights:

1. Understanding Project vs. Campaign Funding: Learn why it’s a common misconception that all funds must be raised before breaking ground and explore alternative funding sources including reserves, government support, and financing options.
2. Financial Planning Insights: Discover the importance of engaging financial experts early in the process to create multiple funding scenarios, considering factors like interest rates and cash reserves.
3. Timing and Milestones: Understand the critical timing of fundraising milestones, including the significance of groundbreaking and ribbon-cutting events in your campaign timeline.
4. Engaging Key Stakeholders: Tips on involving community leaders, board members, and potential donors in financial planning to build strong support and ensure campaign success.
5. Case Studies and Real-World Examples: Hear about how organizations like hospitals and YMCAs structure their funding and campaigns to manage large projects successfully.
6. Creating Flexible Plans: The importance of having Plan A, B, and C to adapt to different fundraising outcomes and financial scenarios.

Andrea and Amy also emphasize the crucial role of early donor engagement and financial planning in ensuring the sustainability and success of your capital campaign. Whether you're in the pre-campaign planning phase or gearing up for your public launch, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice to help you navigate the complexities of project and campaign funding.

Join us for an enlightening discussion that will leave you better equipped to lead your capital campaign to success!

For more free capital campaign resources, visit https://capitalcampaignpro.com/campaign-resources.

Amy Eisenstein and special guest, Richard Quinn, Toolkit Advisor, discuss the importance and nuance of fall fundraising. How you approach fall fundraising will depend on the stage and timing of your campaign. Your annual fund will continue throughout your campaign. Campaign gifts will be asked for in conjunction with or separate from your annual fund. Listen to get your questions answered.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, October 4, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

Today Andrea and Amy are joined by Sierra Rosen, Executive Director of Planned Giving at Brown University, to talk about planned giving. They discuss why planned giving matters even for small to mid-size organizations. They chew over simple strategies you can use to start building a program and how it dovetails nicely with a capital campaign. 

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, October 4, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.

In this episode, Amy and Andrea talk with the remarkable Sarah Durham, founder of Big Duck, one of the premiere nonprofit communications company in the field. Sarah's down to earth, practical style combined with her deep expertise made for a fascinating and insightful session. 

Sarah discusses  branding and the elements cases for support. She discussed “mind share” and shared her insights on the campaign materials many people are using today.  

** Here are some links Sarah shared:

Examples of the Case for Support

https://bigduck.com/work/all-projects/?topic=campaigns

https://bigduck.com/work/jts/

Ebook: Capital campaign communications: Creating the tools for your nonprofit to raise millions.

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This episode was recorded as part of a live webinar held Monday, September 27, 2021. To participate in future webinars, register at ToolkitTalks.com.