Blog

FEBRUARY SHOUT OUTS

Posted by DBD Team

As we come to the end of February, we want to recognize several clients who have reached important milestones in their campaigns. We always tell our clients that campaigns take a long time – it’s important to celebrate as you go! Read on for some celebrating with several great organizations.

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Topics: Success Stories, Capital Campaign, Case Studies, Collaborations

MOMENTUM

Posted by Bruce Berglund

This month, the Donor By Design Group is challenging you to take action, moving from resolutions to results. Today’s topic? Creating and keeping momentum in your campaign.  

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Endowment, Annual Campaign, Campaign Leadership, Fundraising Management

DON’T SETTLE

Posted by Thom Peters

In this series, the DBD Team will take a deeper look at some of the axioms we use when working with our clients. In today’s blog, Thom Peters reflects on our axiom: “Don’t settle.”

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Topics: Leadership, Capital Campaign, Annual Campaign, Campaign Leadership, Leadership Cabinet

ANNUAL ALWAYS WINS

Posted by Bruce Berglund

There is a dangerous fallacy in the world of financial development: The idea that running a capital campaign will mean a decrease (or worse a stoppage) in your annual campaign. There is no competition between capital and annual fundraising. You know why?

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Annual Campaign

CONNECTING PAST AND FUTURE

Posted by Bruce Berglund

Many of the nonprofits we work with find themselves in a unique and delicate situation: they are changing or replacing a beloved historic building to make way for a new facility. While their reasons are sound – greater accessibility, lower maintenance costs, more efficient operating costs – it can be difficult to balance respect of the past with the needs of the future.

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Historical Facility, Preservation

EARNING THE RIGHT

Posted by Peggy Vinson

As I work with nonprofit staff and volunteer leaders, I often get this question: “How do you ask someone for a $1,000+ gift?”

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Major Gifts, Annual Campaign, Annual

BUILDING A SHARED VISION

Posted by Sara Luke

Currently at more than $5 million on their original $4.3 million capital goal, Betsy and Kristi aren’t done yet. The Executive Directors at the Itasca County Family YMCA and ElderCircle respectively are building the shared vision that started more than four years ago.

In 2010, the Itasca County Family YMCA, ElderCircle and the City of Grand Rapids began talking about the area’s changing needs. It quickly became clear that the three share a steadfast commitment to a better community, and knew it could be stronger if they worked together.

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Family YMCA, Collaboration, Eldercircle, Itasca County

ROOM FOR HOPE: A CASE STUDY

Posted by DBD Team

Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services Inc. (Oshkosh, WI) provides a variety of services to help the victims of domestic violence and to prevent violence before it starts. As the demand for their shelter services grew, they knew they needed to expand and remodel the 1908 Victorian mansion that is a home and haven to those who seek shelter there.

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Fundraising, Endowment, Development, Domestic Abuse

ATTITUDE ADJUSTMENTS

Posted by Michele Goodrich

A few weeks ago, I attended a meeting of non-profit leaders struggling through a slump in their capital campaign.

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Topics: Leadership, Capital Campaign, The Dip, Attitude, Happiness

IT’S NOT ABOUT THE BUILDING

Posted by DBD Team

Over the past seven years, it has been our privilege to work alongside an amazing team of volunteers and staff to bring the new Westport Weston Y Bedford Family Center out of the ground. On a perfect late summer evening, nearly 400 people came together to dedicate, celebrate and “cut the ribbon” on a stunning 54,000 sq. ft. Adirondack-style YMCA built in a quiet wooded setting adjacent to the Y’s 32-acre day camp. Taking inspiration from the capital campaign’s theme of “Building What Matters,” each of the evening’s speakers marked this historic event with praise for what had been built…

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Topics: Capital Campaign, Ymca, Goundbreaking

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