“..For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts,” Middlemarch by George Eliot

Reflection questions:

• Have you considered what the greater impacts of your capital campaign will have in your community by growing your donor base and the generosity to other nonprofits?
• How will you share those impacts within your organization and campaign committees to deepen the excitement for the campaign?

Reflection on quote:

 A client planned a simple solar project, then a hailstorm came through. So capital campaigns aren't just planned during strategic planning processes. In rural communities, capital campaigns happen as a result of a natural disaster more often than you would think. Capital campaigns planned in response to a natural disaster often have a greater impact beyond the building. Yes, a restoration and renovation is happening or a new building is built. However, because of the heightened awareness from the natural disaster and the urgency to reach out to donors, the campaign can grow the donor base of the nonprofit in the campaign along with the other nonprofits in the community. 

Let me share an example of this. A client wanted to reduce their electricity costs through a solar project and was planning to fund that project through various grants. No big deal, easy to implement. Then a natural disaster happened. An incredibly rare hailstorm came through suddenly, destroyed the roof of this small town museum, and damaged the exhibits. Yes, they had insurance, but it didn't cover the full cost of the repair or the conversion to having roof solar panels. 

My client and I created a plan to leverage the grant funding for the solar panels, along with the insurance funds to launch the public phase of a capital campaign during a giving day. This small town of 300 people raised over 40,000 in one day for the launch and then ended the campaign at the next year's giving day by raising over $60,000 in one day. 

How were they able to raise that much from such a small town in two days of the public phase of the campaign? Here's the surprise. The largest gifts came from former residents of this small town. Using the natural disaster as a reason to call, the members and trustees of the boards reached out to these former residents who still considered the town home. These were former residents who had either moved away permanently or hoped to move back to the town one day. They wanted to see this town treasure restored, so they gave to this capital campaign. Further, by engaging these former residents in giving to their beloved town, these former residents were reminded of their love for their former community and became interested in other projects that were happening in the community as well.

 My client never expected to grow the donor base of other nonprofits. However, it is one way a capital campaign can have greater impact through these smaller capital campaigns. During the more challenging times of a capital campaign,  it can be helpful to step back and reflect on the greater impact your capital campaign is and can have for your community.

What do you think? Send me a text.

To explore small town capital campaign coaching deeper and to schedule an free explore coaching call, visit ServingNonprofits.com.

Music credit: Woeisuhmebop