"..For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts,” Middlemarch by George Eliot Reflection questions: Have you removed a prospective foundation or donor who funds similar nonprofits just because you don’t think you can compete? How can you shift your mindset to being confident in the impact your campaign will have? Reflection on quote: Can we compete? Is our campaign too small? Smaller capital campaigns have a greater impact in our small towns and rural communities. Yet, when applying for capital grants or preparing to meet with a major donor, it is easy to fall into a mindset that our campaign is just too small to compete. For example, we don't serve as many clients as a similar urban nonprofit, or our grant request will be outside of the normal range for a foundation. This mindset can cause us to view the smaller nature of our campaign as a detriment or a flaw. This is a true challenge.  However, a change in mindset can help us compete confidently in grant requests and when discussing a campaign with donors.  We start with changing our mindset by understanding the impact our organization has in our communities. Often when we consider…

"..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…

“But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts,” Middlemarch by George Eliot Reflection questions: What are the long-term impacts that your capital campaign will have on your community?    If you are not in a capital campaign yet, what greater impact could your mission have on the community with a bigger or better suited space?  Reflection on quote: Did you know that the largest capital campaign completed in 5 years was for $9.6 billion that’s billion with a b through Harvard University?  That number is astounding to me.  And, yet, in my opinion when a small nonprofit raises $10 million to build a new home for their services, that campaign will have a deeper and more lasting impact on the lives of the client they serve in their small town. Across the United States right now, I know that Boards and Executive Directors are planning capital campaigns and their work is hidden from view of major fundraising journals because those campaigns will never begin to approach the records. The capital campaigns being planned in small towns and rural area are dependent on unhistoric acts;…

"...But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts..." Reflection question: where are you comparing your work with urban fundraising? Reflection on quote: You’ve just googled capital campaign and now you are overwhelmed. How do I know that?  Because I’ve talked to clients just like you. I have found that many capital campaigns in small towns and rural areas are launched out of necessity: your building is too small to serve increased need, your lease can’t be renewed, or your building was damaged.  In these moments of necessity, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with the prospect of a capital campaign and wonder if a campaign is even possible in your area.  As you google capital campaigns, you see the news of $100 million raised for one campaign and over 4,000 donors to a different campaign.  You sit with a question: Are there enough donors who live in our community that would be able to fund our $5 to 10 million project?  In that moment, it’s easy to fall into the scarcity mindset.  Yet, I have found that rural generosity is deeper and more expansive than…

As we wrap up Season 4 of this podcast, we're re-airing one episode from each of our nine series—a chance to revisit the foundational wisdom on capital campaigns, from navigating uncertainty to leading with integrity. Next season, we're turning our attention to the specific context of rural giving, exploring what makes small-town fundraising different, how deep relationships shape generosity, and how to build capital campaigns that honor the unique dynamics and constraints of rural communities. Episodes in the Leading with Integrity series: 155: Leading with Integrity - Inviting Scrutiny 156: Leading with Integrity - Honesty Builds Trust 157: Leading with Integrity - Clarity for the Giver 158: Leading with Integrity - Openness About Setbacks 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

As we wrap up Season 4 of this podcast, we're re-airing one episode from each of our nine series—a chance to revisit the foundational wisdom on capital campaigns, from navigating uncertainty to leading with integrity. Next season, we're turning our attention to the specific context of rural giving, exploring what makes small-town fundraising different, how deep relationships shape generosity, and how to build capital campaigns that honor the unique dynamics and constraints of rural communities. Episodes in the Developing Discipline series: 150: Developing Discipline - Inviting Donors 151: Developing Discipline - Prioritizing Tasks 152: Developing Discipline - Planting Seeds to Raise Awareness 153: Developing Discipline - Following Up 154: Developing Discipline - Ongoing Stewardship 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