A. Case for Support
Is your case for support clear, urgent, and compelling? Can
you convincingly answer the question, “What will happen
to our community if our doors closed tomorrow or if we do
not seize the moment with a campaign?” Does your case
flow from a greater strategic vision for the organization?
Do you know specifically what you need and how much it will
cost or do you have a random shopping list?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 2 = ______
B. Leadership
Does your organizational leadership, the Board, CEO, and top
management, agree with and accept the need for support? Is
the leadership prepared for the intensive involvement that
is necessary for campaign success? Are the leaders capable
and willing to give maximum financial support and to ask others
to do the same?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 3 = ______
C. Market Research
Has your organization done its homework and tested the case
objectively with an appropriately dispassionate professional,
your supporters and current constituents? Do your core constituencies
understand the needs/opportunities to be addressed and support
your capital plan?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 1 = ______
D. Prospective
Donors
Has your organization identified your major gift prospects
and how they feel about the campaign? Are there at least three
to five prospective donors identified for every major gift
needed for success? Will the prospective donors make contributions
at a level necessary for success?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 2 = ______
E. Volunteers
Are there sufficient volunteers available to assist the staff
with the campaign? Are there enough volunteers willing to
solicit four to five major gifts from the prospect pool? Are
the volunteers capable of making personal gifts of the same
magnitude they will seek from others? Are the campaign volunteers
motivated, trained and excited about the organization’s
future plans? Is the staff prepared to support the volunteer
structure?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 1 = ______
F. A History of
Support
Has the organization’s development program been in existence
for several years? Does it have a history of fund-raising
success? Has it developed the internal procedures to solicit
gifts and steward them well? Are the results on the upswing?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 1 = ______
G. Planning
Is there a detailed campaign plan developed that outlines
the following aspects of the campaign: the timetable; benchmarks;
role of CEO/governing board/staff/ counsel; communications;
involvement activities; the budget; strategies for prospect
identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 1 = ______
H. Timetable
Is there a realistic timetable that incorporates intermediate
benchmarks that will buoy and maintain a sense of urgency
over the long haul?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 1 = ______
I. Staffing
Are there staff members and/or outside consultants who are
knowledgeable and experienced about campaign management and
major gift fund raising?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 2 = ______
J. Records and
Research
Are the prospect, donor and membership records clean, up-to-date,
and easy to use? Is there accurate information about prospective
donors and the research capability to prepare solid briefing
materials about these prospective donors? Is there a workable
system for volunteer assignments, pledge payments, gift
acknowledgments, and reporting?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 1 = ______
K. Budget
Has an adequate budget, approximately 6% to 12% of the goal,
depending upon the type, size, and history of your organization,
been specifically developed for the campaign that takes into
account the cost of staff, outside counsel, training materials,
travel, phone bills, office supplies, publications and promotions,
meeting expenses, events and contingencies?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 2 = ______
L. Motivation
Are the CEO/President/Executive Director and Director of Development
prepared to devote the required energy to this campaign? Are
they personally motivated to meet the goal, support the volunteers,
and keep focused on the most important part of a campaign:
asking for gifts?
Yes
-- Uncertain -- No -- Score: _____ x 1 = ______
Total Weighted Score:
______
Did
You Hit the Campaign Mark?
After completing
the checklist, compare your Total Weighted Score to the Scoring
Summary shown below to determine your preparedness to launch
a campaign.
Scoring Summary
Score of 36–a perfect
score: If you answered “Yes!” to all of these
questions and scored a perfect 36, then you are ready to launch
your campaign.
Score of 21 or higher: If
you scored 21 or higher, you could be ready to launch. For
a more objective and accurate assessment, and to maximize
your chances for success, consider a feasibility/planning
study conducted by outside counsel. A planning study can help
you put these important pieces into place by furthering the
continuing cultivation of your members, donors and prospects.
source: Demont & Associates
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