6 resources to take your capital campaign to the next level

Strong communications are the cornerstone of every successful capital campaign. The right messages and materials can inspire donors, help them see themselves in the campaign, and motivate them to become campaign ambassadors.

Whether you’ve just completed a feasibility study or donor research, have your campaign goals pinned down, or are writing and designing campaign materials for the first time, we hope these resources will prove useful.

• Download our ebook, Capital campaign communications: Creating the tools for your nonprofit to raise millions. It outlines what capital campaign communications need to do and the materials needed to do it (with examples), and includes a free checklist to make sure your campaign is brand-aligned intentionally.
• Watch a video on creating a powerful case for your capital campaign. Sarah Durham, Big Duck’s CEO, will walk you through developing a strong case for support. She discusses how to brand a capital (or any large) campaign, print and digital materials, and creating an inspiring theme to spark fruitful conversations with lead donors.
• Read about how to ensure your capital campaign advances values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Rich with sources around the connection of DEI and philanthropy, Hannah Thomas, Big Duck Strategist, shares advice on how to cultivate diverse donors and address race in capital campaigning.
• Listen to our podcast episode: Do you need a capital campaign consultant? Capital campaign experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt talk about how the model of capital campaign development is changing—from nonprofits relying on consultants to lead the process to embracing online resources and tools staff can use themselves.
• Check out the case study of our capital campaign work with Old Westbury Gardens. We created an elegant campaign identity and case statement for their ambitious campaign to fund critical preservation projects and lay the groundwork for future programming.
• See the modular case statement we developed with the Jewish Theological Seminary for their nine-figure campaign. The flexibility allowed fundraisers to customize conversations with lead donors based on their interests and passions in transforming the Jewish future.

If you need a hand or thought partner during the process, contact Big Duck. We’d love to help or recommend some of our other favorite resources.