Case Study
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Regional History Museum
Fundraising Feasibility Study
A regional history museum completed a major expansion with new galleries for an ambitious schedule of scholarly changing exhibitions, a new library and archives center for researchers and genealogists, and improvements across a sprawling campus that would make the institution the envy of any town and peer.
Challenge
A prior capital campaign paid for campus construction but projected annual fundraising and other operating revenue would eventually be insufficient to support the program vision and cost of expanded operations.
Solution
Plan A Advisors conducted a Feasibility Study to gauge likely response to a proposed campaign to build the museum’s endowment. Plan A also tested prospective donor response to investments in several major program initiatives. The campaign originally imagined was recast in response to Feasibility Study feedback and Plan A was engaged to facilitate it.
Process
• A Steering Committee was formed to help shape the Case for Support and identify prospective participants.
Result: The Case was developed with input from key voluntary leaders along with a prospect list of 100 names.
• Plan A conducted 35 one-on-one confidential interviews with prospective donors including some close to the organization and others less engaged.
Result: The Case for Support was revised after ½ the interviews were completed in response to feedback, and a second version tested thereafter.
• Plan A made a series of recommendations that flowed from Feasibility Study feedback around the museum’s marketing and programs, and the “argument” for endowment.
Result: The board approved moving forward with a campaign that responded directly to prospective donor interests while designed to accomplish the museum’s financial goals.