THE REPORT OF FINDINGS
As such, the Board of Directors should be prepared to move forward with the campaign immediately following a positive report.
Face-to-face interviews are conducted with board members, donors, community leaders and employees. Comprised of former journalists, the River Trail Consulting staff is highly skilled in encouraging candid responses regarding the interviewees’ opinions about the strength of the case, as well as their willingness to participate and support a potential campaign as a volunteer and donor.
These interviews serve multiple purposes. As a research tool, the interviews assist in the collection of data that will be used to determine whether a campaign is feasible. As an education tool, the conversations evoked by the case for support allow the donors to learn more about the organization. And as a cultivation tool, the interviews give the consultant the opportunity to answer questions potential donors may have about the organization while also learning more about their interests and how those interests can best be matched with the needs of the organization.
Barring any major internal or external problems, a minimum of 40 confidential interviews can be completed within four months. The success of the interview process is highly dependent on how quickly an organization is prepared to act in terms of decision making during the study process. This includes the responsiveness of board members, how efficient staff can be in assisting with appointment setting, and on the availably of study participants. All responses are confidential and will be combined in a report of findings and recommendations.
CONTACT
916.213.1585
info@rivertrailconsulting.com
601 6th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95818
© Copyright 2017, River Trail Consulting Inc.
INTERVIEWS
River Trail Consulting assists non-profit organizations in the development of a comprehensive prospect list and will guide the staff and board members through an evaluation of the prospects that should be interviewed as part of the study. This includes those who must be interviewed, those who should be interviewed, and those who could be interviewed. River Trail Consulting offers support and talking points to volunteers and staff who will be contacting the top prospects and inviting them to participate in a 45-minute feasibility study interview.
River Trail Consulting’s feasibility study research is designed to address and evaluate a range of objectives related to the campaign process and overall strategy. In determining whether a campaign’s financial goal is viable, River Trail Consulting seeks to identify and confirm:
THE FEASIBILITY STUDY PROCESS
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN
A SUCCESSFUL CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
601 6th Ave.
Sacramento, CA 95818
© Copyright 2017, River Trail Consulting Inc.
IDENTIFICATION OF INTERVIEW PROSPECTS
THE CASE FOR SUPPORT
• A lead gift from a single source representing 10 to 15 percent of the goal
• 20 to 30 percent of the goal from qualified sources
• A strong potential prospect pool drawn from annual fund donors
• Sufficient leaders and volunteers to advance the campaign
• 100 percent board participation in giving and volunteering
• Institutional readiness
• Community history of successful campaigns in your projected range
At the study’s conclusion, River Trail Consulting will issue a report of findings and a summary of recommendations detailing the information gleaned through its research. Even if the study results do not support moving forward with a campaign, the study findings themselves will have implications and uses far beyond that of a campaign itself. The nature of the questions, and the applications among various constituencies and the key individuals involved, will provide an organization with significant data for future planning and decision making.
Important Note: If the feasibility study results are positive, River Trail Consulting recommends proceeding immediately with the campaign to leverage the interest created through the feasibility study process. Delays in launching the campaign may negatively impact the study findings and recommendations.
Many non-profit organizations, when taking their first tentative step into the exciting and sometimes scary world of capital campaigns, show an eagerness to jump right into the fundraising process. While this enthusiasm is admirable, history has shown doing so without conducting a feasibility study first leads to confusion, misdirected energies, and, ultimately, a failed campaign. Feasibility studies have been proven to limit the potential for costly mistakes while delivering the most cost-effective campaign strategies.
Larger institutions have the internal capacity to conduct some portions of a feasibility study. They cannot, however, capture what community leaders and local philanthropists actually think about the organization. By speaking with outside counsel, donors are assured of their confidentiality, and thereby are far more forthcoming and candid when asked tough or delicate questions. It is, perhaps, smaller organizations that benefit the most from a feasibility study because of the invaluable information gained about their current and future donors and key community leaders. River Trail Consulting has a history of working with small to mid–sized non-profits considering entering their first-ever capital campaigns, be it for a building, an endowment, or other worthwhile endeavors.
River Trail Consulting offers non-profit organizations the ability to determine the potential success of their capital campaigns by:
• Assessing what is most important to key constituents including current and potential donors, board members, community thought
......leaders, and leading business executives
• Identifying key individuals with an interest and capacity for supporting and leading the campaign
• Assessing the organization’s internal readiness such as systems staffing, structure, fundraising expertise and consensus among
......employees and volunteers
• Evaluating and encouraging board and staff members’ commitment to a successful campaign
• Writing a thorough case for support that not only provides vital information on who you are and what you do, but also conveys the important ......difference your organization makes in the quality of life for your constituents and the community at large
• Testing the case for support with the 40 or more people key to the campaign’s success
• Assisting in the cultivation of donors through the development of donor-centered strategies
• Determining the strategies, timing, tactics and budget needed to launch and advance a successful, cost-effective campaign
A strong case for support is key to a campaign’s success. River Trail Consulting writes the case for support, with input from the organization, and explains:
• Your programs and why they are important
• How society benefits
• The philosophy behind your actions
• The potential you are trying to realize
• Your vision for the future
• Your financial needs
• And most importantly, why the reader should care
During the interview process, the case for support is used to test which messages resonate best in addition to identifying areas of concern or weakness.