Case Study
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Major Community Library
Fundraising Feasibility Study & Campaign
A public library serving a sizable town and surrounding communities was eager to update its facilities last renovated decades earlier with a layout that no longer met the needs of contemporary users. The library planned to change the location and character of its children’s room, replace periodicals stacks with a grand new reading room, add multiple small meeting spaces for groups to sign out, and relocate and expand the teen library.
Challenge
Construction would need to be largely underwritten with contributed support. But plans had not been tested with philanthropists, nor with the public. And the publicly-appointed board of the library did not generally include people with the resources to make leading gifts.
Solution
Plan A Advisors conducted a Feasibility Study to gauge interest in the library’s plans and identify potential campaign leadership. The library’s architects were available through the process to adjust the schematic plans should public response prove unsupportive.
Process
• A Steering Committee was formed to identify prospective Feasibility Study participants and to vet the Case for Support.
Result: Nearly 100 families were identified for Feasibility Study invitations, and the Case was developed with input from voluntary leaders.
• Plan A conducted 35 one-on-one confidential interviews with prospective donors including some close to the organization and others less engaged.
Result: Participants embraced the need for a library renovation but objected to the priorities set by library leadership. As a result, plans were modified to include a major new theater space and conference complex, and plans to change the beloved Children’s Room were shelved.
• Plan A tested the revised schematic plans for the library’s renovation for the second half of the Feasibility Study process.
Result: Enthusiasm for the revised library plans and confidential commitments to a library campaign convinced library professionals and the board to proceed with a campaign.
• Plan A was engaged to facilitate a $20M campaign for library renovations.
Result: The library met its fundraising goal and the project was completed within two years.