Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians has lived for centuries in the Coachella Valley of California. Today, Palm Springs is in the heart of the Agua Caliente reservation and has become a fertile crossroads of Native and non-Native cultures. In planning a new facility, the Agua Caliente Museum invited Benefactor Group to capture the Band’s history, the present stewardship of artifacts and wisdom, and the tribal vision for a landmark education museum and repository in a case for support. The case is now being used to conduct strategic cultivation and solicitations for creation of a museum that honors Agua Caliente heritage, offers a premier tourist destination, and is a source of civic pride for the surrounding desert communities.

American Folklore Society

The American Folklore Society, begun in 1888, is a collective of humanities scholars, museum anthropologists, and private citizens. The Society asked Benefactor Group to help establish a permanent endowment. Benefactor designed the initial endowment building and planned giving program including appropriate policies and procedures, a preliminary case for an endowment fund, marketing materials, and strategies to engage the board in attracting planned gift donors.

American Music Center

The American Music Center, established by Aaron Copland and his contemporaries in 1939, provides extensive professional services to composers and performing musicians around the country. Benefactor Group was invited to review and evaluate AMC’s governance structure and development initiatives. To enhance resources and engage AMC leaders in fundraising initiatives, Benefactor created a comprehensive, tactical three-year development plan.

Arizona Endowment Building Initiative

The Arizona Endowment Building Initiative is a collaborative program designed to assist Arizona nonprofit organizations in establishing and building endowments through an intensive 18-month proprietary course based on Diana Newman’s book, Nonprofit Essentials: Endowment Building. Benefactor Group helped to design the program and has facilitated a training session in each of the past three years. The Initiative is now hosting its third class of teams comprised of six to eight nonprofits. The organizations represented in the first two classes have already collectively raised more than $50 million in current and deferred gifts from their endowment building efforts.

BalletMet Capital Campaign

BalletMet is an acclaimed dance company and home to one of the largest schools of dance in the Midwest. In planning for the future, BalletMet leaders crafted a bold strategy to purchase a facility and transform it into a dynamic dance center that could accommodate rehearsals for the professional company, classes for more than 1,000 dance students, a "black box" theatre for informal performances, and administrative offices. Benefactor Group conducted a community-wide feasibility study, which affirmed BalletMet's capacity to raise $6 million. Subsequently, Counsel guided them through every phase of the capital campaign, which secured more than $6.2 million in gifts, and helped the company achieve financial stability.

Beaches Area Historical Society Capital Campaign

For more than 25 years, a committed group of volunteers maintained a modest archive to preserve the distinctive history of northeast Florida's beach communities. To celebrate the region's history and open the archive to broader public use, the board of the Beaches Area Historical Society developed plans to build a new museum and hire professional staff. Benefactor Group developed a Case for Support and guided the board through a planning retreat that launched the $3 million project for a new facility. Counsel then structured and managed a capital campaign to fund construction and start-up of the museum. Today, the Society's stately 12,000 square-foot museum and community center commemorates more than a century of history in coastal Florida and draws tourists and local residents alike to a wide range of changing exhibits, archival displays, and community activities.

Columbus Metropolitan Library Fundraising Assessment & Plan

Columbus Metropolitan Library is consistently ranked among the top four libraries in the United States. With more than 44% of the county’s population holding library cards and at least 8.5 million users annually, it outranks urban library systems in New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles. With diminishing government support for operations, the library engaged Benefactor Group to explore the potential for increased philanthropic support. Through internal and external assessments that included current and prospective donors, board members, community leaders, and staff; extensive review of library records and materials; and competitive benchmarking, Counsel provided a detailed and comprehensive development plan. Benefactor is currently providing general consulting services to assist in the implementation of the plan.

Columbus Museum of Art Assessment & Capital Campaign

With an internationally recognized collection of fine art and the steadfast support of the community’s philanthropic leaders, the Columbus Museum of Art is one of the most venerable arts organizations in Ohio’s capital city. Benefactor Group was initially retained to conduct an assessment of the institution’s fundraising operations and recommend strategies to strengthen fundraising initiatives and relationships with donors. Building on these successful efforts, Museum leaders developed a bold vision for a larger Museum and stronger endowment. Benefactor Group is now guiding staff and volunteers through an $80 million capital campaign. During the "quiet phase," the Museum secured nearly half the goal and the largest gift in the Museum's history—$10 million from an individual major donor.

Eastman School of Music Pre-Campaign Planning

The Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, engaged Benefactor Group to provide a variety of pre-campaign planning and positioning activities to help the school clarify its fundraising goals. Counsel adjusted the table of gifts and campaign structure to reflect more thoroughly the capacity of Eastman donors and volunteers; and led the development of a comprehensive case for support and campaign communications plan.

Greater Columbus Arts Council General Consulting

The Greater Columbus Arts Council (GCAC) set out to demonstrate the importance of endowment funding for the arts and to encourage donors to create and/or strengthen endowments held by arts organizations and community foundations. GCAC retained Benefactor Group to conduct benchmarking research—comparing Columbus with six other cities—and to develop a compelling case for building stronger arts endowments. The study was published in September 2005 and is being used to strengthen endowment-building strategies among local arts organizations. Benefactor was then engaged to assist with strategic planning and, more recently, has created a development plan and helped to restructure the organization.

Columbus Zoo and Aquarium Membership Program/Ongoing Consulting

Columbus is home to one of North America’s most successful zoos. For eight years, Benefactor Group has been instrumental in strengthening every aspect of this zoo’s fundraising operations. Counsel conducted an assessment of the Zoo's governance and evaluated and fortified its development and membership programs; created a strategy to increase gifts of $1,000 and above through an upper-level membership/donor society; and worked closely with senior staff to implement this strategy. Benefactor Group has guided the solicitation of leadership gifts, assessed the giving potential of the zoo's more than 49,000 member households, and created appropriate materials to reach these members, as well as prospective members and donors.

ISIS (International Species Information System) Capital Campaign

For 30 years, ISIS has gathered data from the world’s zoos, organized it into various data banks, and made it available globally. ISIS has grown into a network of more than 650 zoos in 72 countries that have sheltered two million individual animals representing 10,000 species. As a nonprofit organization with a modest budget, however, ISIS strained to keep pace with rapid changes in technology and growing demand for access to information. Benefactor Group was retained to help the leaders of ISIS secure funding for a new state-of-the-art “Noah’s Ark” database; a significant challenge given ISIS’ lack of relationships with donors. Counsel developed a strategy that rallied the worldwide conservation community and has secured more than $7 million in grants, pledges, and program-related investment.

Central Ohio Technical College Feasibility Study

To meet growing workforce needs in the region, Central Ohio Technical College (COTC) engaged Benefactor Group to assess support for additional educational facilities in an adjacent county. As the primary regional resource for people seeking career advancement through two-year educational curricula, COTC maintained a direct linkage between its programs and employer requirements and discerned the need for a campus that would serve other communities in the region. Through a feasibility study, Counsel conducted 35 confidential interviews and provided recommendations that would guide the college through strategic prospect cultivation and detailed preliminary campaign planning.

Chefs Collaborative Development Assessment & Plan

Chefs Collaborative, a national network of food-related professionals—chefs, farmers, fishers, and educators—as well as other food-lovers, promotes locally grown, sustainable foods and products. To make the best use of limited human and financial resources and implement the goals of its strategic plan, Chefs Collaborative engaged Benefactor Group to conduct a development assessment. Based on study findings, Counsel created a comprehensive, three-year plan to increase membership and visibility and to enhance staffing and governance. Benefactor provided board training and staff coaching as well as precise tactical steps to increase the effectiveness of this broadly decentralized collaboration.

Heidelberg College Board Training

A liberal arts school in northwestern Ohio, Heidelberg College sought the advice of Benefactor Group to strengthen its board leadership and fundraising capabilities in preparation for an $18 million capital and endowment campaign. Benefactor Group conducted board training that combined coaching sessions—using specific individual donor strategies and case studies—with role play scenarios that included “How to Ask” for a gift to the campaign.

Broad Street Presbyterian Church Capital Campaign

With a vision for expanded and revitalized facilities at their historic urban location, Broad Street Presbyterian Church retained Benefactor Group to help plan and implement a capital campaign. Counsel conducted a thorough assessment of the congregation’s fundraising capacity. Beginning with strategic cultivation activities, Counsel assisted the church in conducting a $5.1 million campaign, which was launched with $2.7 million of the goal already pledged.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church Feasibility Study & Campaign

Benefactor Group conducted an assessment of the fundraising capacity of this unique congregation. Though members worship in a picturesque colonial church, the parish is distinguished by its energy and a momentum that has drawn new members and new ministries to this quiet rural setting. The church was fast outgrowing its fellowship and meeting facilities. Based on the feasibility study, Counsel recommended a $1.5 million campaign to replace the parish hall. Today, Emmanuel has exceeded its campaign goal and continues with fundraising initiatives that will cover all remaining costs of the new facilities.

Columbus Medical Association Foundation Feasibility Study

Through the Columbus Medical Association Foundation (CMAF), central Ohio physicians have, for decades, addressed emerging and emergency healthcare needs. The Physicians Free Clinic and Central Ohio Trauma System—both major projects of CMAF—are integral to emergency healthcare in the region and both suffer from the rising costs of medical supplies and services. When CMAF considered a campaign to help stabilize the future of the free clinic and the trauma system, the foundation invited Benefactor Group to conduct a feasibility study. With 40 interviews and the cooperation of an ad hoc study committee, Counsel tested a $4.1 million endowment campaign that would give these two projects long-term financial stability and independence. Based on the results of the study, Benefactor Group provided options—rather than a single campaign strategy—to help each project cultivate a firmer, broader donor base and wider recognition for the vital services each offers to the community.

Community Foundation of Abilene Endowment Building

The Community Foundation of Abilene is dedicated to building endowments that enrich the quality of life in Abilene and the surrounding areas. It invited Benefactor Group to present a series of workshops for staff and board members of nonprofit organizations in the region. The workshops focused on strategies, skills, and tools to encourage their supporters to invest in permanent endowment funds that support their organizations—both now and in the future.

Community Foundation of Delaware County General Fundraising Capacity

When the Community Foundation of Delaware County was ready to consider its first endowment building campaign and assess its readiness for its first full-time president, it called on Benefactor Group. Benefactor conducted a feasibility study, designed a development campaign for both annual fundraising and endowment building, and planned and executed a search for a CEO. Since then, they have hired a president, developed the Quiet Campaign for operating funds, attracted more than 50 separate philanthropic funds, and awarded $690,000 in grants in 2008.

Foundation for Appalachian Ohio Leadership Development

Greater Cincinnati Foundation and Knowledgeworks Foundation Endowment Campaign

Benefactor Group served these two community organizations as they evaluated the possibility of launching a scholarship program that would offer the promise of a college education to students in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky urban core. Benefactor designed the subsequent fundraising campaign. The early organizing phases of this transformational project and cultivation of prospective donors are in process.

Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego Endowment Building

In its work with donors, the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego found that many people hesitate to give large gifts during their lifetimes, yet enjoy leaving bequests through their wills or trusts. Through its Endowment Leadership Institute, the Foundation has received scores of new—often major—bequests from people of seemingly modest means. A Benefactor Group principal is an annual presenter for the Institute.

Mid-Ohio FoodBank Feasibility Study & Campaign

Mid-Ohio FoodBank supplies million of pounds of nutritious food annually to more than 550 hunger relief agencies across 20 Ohio counties. With the demand for food increasing every year, the organization has outgrown its present location. Benefactors Council conducted a feasibility study and recommended a $15 million campaign to purchase and renovate new facilities that support expanded capacity and distribution capabilities. With more than $12 million pledged to date, the Mid-Ohio FoodBank has just kicked off the public portion of its campaign.

Community Research Partners Board Assessment & Training

Community Research Partners (CRP) is a unique collaboration between the city of Columbus, United Way of Central Ohio, the John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University, and the Franklin County Commissioners. A nonprofit research center that provides cutting edge research, community-based information, and data evaluation, CRP came to Benefactor Group to strengthen and focus its diverse board. Counsel specially tailored a board retreat to teach governance skills and strategies through individualized member assessments, coaching, and guidance.

Council on Foundations Leadership Development

The Council on Foundations is the national association for community, private, and corporate foundations. Since 2001, when Diana Newman was asked by the Council to design a three-day course for new staff and board members of community foundations, she has taught and revised the curricula for “Community Foundations Fundamentals” and “Community Foundations Asset Development” courses. She also conducted research into inclusive practices and wrote “Opening Doors: Pathways to Diverse Donors,” published by Jossey-Bass in 2002 under the sponsorship of the Council on Foundations.

Girl Scouts Seal of Ohio Council Feasibility Study

For urban, suburban, and rural scouts as well as girls from underserved areas in 17 counties, camping and outdoor activities play an integral role in cultivating independence and lifelong friendships, and environmental knowledge. To address the aging state of camping facilities for these girls, the Seal of Ohio Council invited Benefactor Group to assess the support for a campaign to renovate and redesign four deteriorating camp sites. Benefactor wrote a case for support, assessed internal capabilities to support a campaign, and conducted 37 confidential interviews. As a result of the study, Counsel recommended specific internal organizational steps and prospect and donor cultivation strategies in preparation for a capital campaign.

Mayfield Senior School Pre-Campaign Planning/Campaign

For 75 years, Mayfield Senior School has helped to shape young women academically, socially, and spiritually. The school was established by the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and is firmly rooted in its Catholic heritage. To determine its readiness for a capital and endowment campaign, the school retained Benefactor Group. After a thorough pre-campaign study, we recommended the school take a number of steps to strengthen relationships with alumnae, parents, and the community; Counsel has guided school leaders through this process. Now, Mayfield is on the threshold of launching the most ambitious campaign in the school’s history and has secured a number of pace setting gifts.