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Campaign Components

Campaign Wrap-Up

The Steier Group's primary appeal strategy is personal, face-toface visits with a request for a specific amount. This technique is used because it allows the nonprofit to raise the most amount of money it can to address its needs. We realize it is unlikely for most organizations to personally meet and solicit every donor prospect in their databases. In order to ensure everyone has the opportunity to advance your vision, the Steier Group implements phone-a-thon solicitations followed by direct mail appeals at the end of the campaigns.

The phone-a-thon is set up to make a personal contact with the donor prospects who we were not able to personally solicit and to contact those prospects who have little or no giving history to the organization. The benefit to telephone fundraising is that it gives these prospective donors the opportunity to speak directly with the organization, learn more about the needs and plans to address them, ask questions and make a gift.

A final sweep mailing is sent to those who haven't responded, except major gift prospects who we recommend are solicited through the pledge period, to offer them one final opportunity to support the campaign. The mailing should include a cover letter with a request for a specific gift or gift options, a pledge card and a return envelope. The key to this piece is to provide a "hook." For example, the appeal could say "a gift of just $1 a day over the three-year effort will underwrite a student's scholarship and you will be recognized on our donor wall."

The overall objective of incorporating these strategies is to invite every constituent to participate in the capital campaign and maximize the fundraising potential of the effort.

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Other Campaign Components articles:

Campaign Leadership—The Core of Every Effort
Communication—Making a Connection With Your Donors
Components of a Development Plan
Distinctive Events
Donor Evaluation
Job Descriptions
The Feasibility Study Debate
Volunteer Relationships
Solicitation Training
Challenge Gifts
Building Relationships
Organizing & Soliciting Leadership & Top Prospects
Uniqueness of Community Campaigns
Effective Communication
Annual Appeal vs. Capital Campaign

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