A capital campaign is a targeted fundraising effort that takes place over a defined period of time. Capital campaigns include two phases: the quiet phase and the public phase. Capital campaigns are long-term, labor-intensive projects.   They require an organization to raise significantly more than they are used to, but they can be extremely effective in gathering sizeable donations for your project. 

Here are 3 ways that prospect research can assist with your capital campaign:

Determine Campaign Leadership

When you’re in the process of determining campaign leadership you are looking for someone with close ties to your organization.  But you are also looking for someone with many connections.  Prospect research can help you determine who has a strong affinity to your organization and your cause as well as connections and capacity.

Identify Major Donors

Major donors are vital to your campaign’s success. Approximately 60% of your capital campaign’s total will consist of funds from major donors (mostly acquired during the quiet phase).

Prospect research is essential when you are looking for major donors for your capital campaign.  Major donors can be identified from your pool of constituents (looking at a history of involvement with your organization as well as capacity); or from those not currently involved with your organizations (who have giving interests that align with your organization as well as capacity). 

As well as individuals, prospect research can identify corporations and foundations who would be a good fit for your organization. 

Determining Strategy and Ask Amounts

Following identification of individuals, prospect research profiles can assist in creating a strategy for solicitation by finding contact information, interests and personal & business connections. 

Following identification of corporations and foundations, prospect research profiles can assist in creating a strategy for solicitation by finding contact information, key contacts (staff, board) and interests. 

Wealth indicators to determine capacity for individuals include past charitable giving, political giving, real estate ownership, luxury items, stocks and income.  Wealth indicators focus on how much an individual is able to donate.  After you have determined how much they are able to donate looking at affinity to your case and/or organization is essential in determining how much to ask for. 

Wealth indicators to determine capacity for corporations and foundations include their revenue, assets and past giving amounts.  After you have determined their capacity it is also essential to look at the types of organizations they have given to in order to determine how much your organization should ask for. 

A capital campaign is a monumental fundraising endeavor. Prospect research can help make the campaign a successful one!