Before launching a capital campaign or other major fundraising project, it is wise to test the feasibility of your plans in the community. Conducting a planning (feasibility) study will provide you with valuable information that will help you be well-prepared for launching a campaign. Our expertise in conducting planning studies will position you for campaign success.

While it is difficult to determine the likelihood of success of any fundraising initiative with great certainty, there are key indicators of whether or not an organization is in a good position to launch a campaign and ultimately be successful in reaching their goal. How do your donors feel about the organization’s goals? Does your case for support have emotional and dramatic appeal? Can you identify enough major donors to secure 40% of your campaign goal? A planning study will help answer these questions and others that are crucial to campaign readiness.

In addition to testing the feasibility of your campaign goal, the purpose of a planning study is to test the case for support, identify lead gift prospects and key volunteers, and identify issues or challenges that might affect the success of the campaign. A planning study also offers a wonderful opportunity to engage donors and bring them closer to your organization by involving them in the initial planning stages of the campaign. The input obtained from your prospective donors prior to launching a campaign is vitally important to your fundraising success.

It is important that the study be conducted by objective professionals who are experienced in conducting and assessing the information gathered through the study process. Our analysis and comprehensive planning study report will help guide your campaign planning, as well as determine the feasibility of your fundraising goals. At the end of the study, you will have the information you need to start a campaign or recommendations on steps to take before launching a campaign in order to be well-positioned for success.

We have conducted numerous planning studies and have helped organizations be in the best possible position prior to launching a major fundraising initiative. You will want to allow 14-16 weeks for a planning study to be completed. Contact us to learn more about Ovation Fundraising Counsel’s expertise with planning studies.