Rice Memorial High School

Rice Memorial High School in Burlington, Vermont, kicked off its capital campaign in November 2019. A combined request – capital campaign and annual appeal – the Investing in Our Legacy Capital Campaign was on track until the world ground to a halt with the COVID-19 pandemic. But school leadership didn’t panic. With guidance from the Steier Group, the Rice team adjusted expectations, changed plans and, most importantly after a brief pause, continued asking for support. A day of giving, scheduled for March, transitioned to a day of intentions. This change focused on community building over funds raised. Plans to raise funds for new construction were taken out of the campaign – lowering the goal and focusing on debt reduction and tuition assistance. Rice also changed its fundraising approach. The circumstances were considered for each major gift prospect. In some cases, that meant share a gift chart instead of a specific request amount to allow flexibility during a tough time. Once the campaign was ready to begin again, a PR blitz and new kickoff date helped provide momentum. Despite the challenges, the Rice Memorial High School community raised more than $4 million.