Project Development

Our ultimate goal is to help you and your organization prepare for and conduct a successful campaign.   During this initial period we refer to as Project Development, your organization is establishing a firm foundation from which a successful campaign can be conducted.  Your ability to clearly define your vision will prove to be instrumental to your success.  We bring years of experience to your leadership team as you finalize your vision into a clearly stated Vision Statement.  Once your vision has been clearly defined, we are there to provide the guidance necessary to help you pull all of the necessary pieces together for a successful project.

·    Campaign Leadership

     Identifying and securing the support of key community leaders is essential for a capital campaign to be successful.  This begins with the evaluation of your own Board and influential constituents.  If you do not have the key leadership involved directly with your organization, they will need to be recruited.  The cultivation of these key leaders may take time, but it is essential to your success.  We are there to help you identify and secure the support of these key individuals.

·    Donor Cultivation

The most important factor in defining the success of your campaign will be effective donor cultivation.  Working with your leadership as a team, we help identify and cultivate donors, creating the positive momentum that carries throughout the campaign. Donor cultivation is all about establishing credibility.  Our experience will greatly increase your ability to establish credibility, ultimately leading to a successful campaign.

The Planning Study (Feasibility)

Once your organization has successfully completed the Project Development components of the campaign, you are now well prepared to test the community's support by conducting a Planning Study. A professionally managed study will allow your organization to further cultivate your top donors while determining an attainable campaign goal and defining to what degree the following four essential "Elements of Success" are assured as you proceed with your campaign.

• The community should have a favorable opinion of your organization

• The community should endorse the proposed plan, based upon a sound understanding of your mission and need for the proposed project

• The community should be in a position to support the proposed capital campaign, which includes being receptive to the idea of a capital campaign and the gifts necessary for a successful capital campaign should be identified and available

• Key leaders from the community should be willing to commit to the capital campaign both through the giving of their time and their financial resources

Campaign Solicitation

Once your organization has properly prepared to proceed with a successful campaign our process includes the campaign management tools and action plans you will need to "stay on track" and be successful.  Identifying these steps is the easy part.  Having the professional experience to know how to handle the hurdles that come up on a daily basis is what sets us apart.

·    Case Development

Heritage Funding Solutions can help you move your non-profit organization forward by providing the professional leadership you need during this critical stage of the campaign.  Your Vision Statement needs to be molded into an effective "Case for Support" based upon your needs and what your community will be willing to support.

·    Prospect Identification and Solicitation

We provide the level of service and professional experience that is necessary to identify and effectively solicit your top donors.  Our system utilizes a simple but effective "team approach" during the identification and solicitation process, which leverages the strengths of key staff members, volunteers and our years of experience – ensuring donor commitments are maximized and your integrity is not compromised.   

      ·    Collaborations Are Often Essential

With the growth in the demand for capital and the increased cost to construct new facilities and operate programs, collaborations have become an essential part of many capital campaigns, as communities are looking to maximize the impact of the dollars they spend on facilities and infrastructure.  Whether it is utilizing existing facilities more effectively or building new, the ability to combine the resources of several organizations with support from the public sector is often a very attractive “package”.  We help you examine and secure every opportunity for collaboration in a community.

·    Campaigns Are Built Around Large Gifts

Securing key leadership gifts early is essential to the success of your campaign.  Identifying these gifts and effectively cultiviating prospective donors is essential to the solicitation process.  The effective solicitation of these donors is the final key to success.  Our "team approach" to prospect solicitation has proven to be the most effective process available, utilizing your organization's leadership, relationships and vision to ensure the proper request is made of each prospective donor.