Campaign Initiatives vs. Need

In the past three weeks, I have been pleasantly surprised, and very appreciative, to have a number of organizations reach out to me and to Hallett Philanthropy regarding potential campaign feasibility work. After 12-to-15-months of complete dormant times around campaign discussions, nonprofits are finally getting back into looking into the future and trying to find resources to meet their community’s needs.

What I find interesting in these initial conversations is trying to get to some level of understanding regarding “case” or what is needed. For many years, fundraisers have sometimes had struggles with planning and finance areas of the organization and trying to get details about what is the specific needs, and more importantly, the measurable outcomes of philanthropic dollar investment. During my calls over the past 21 days, a few organizations indicated their leadership just “needed the resources” after losses due to COVID-19. That lack of connection between need/outcomes at what philanthropists tell us is important will only hinder the efforts.

Coming out of COVID-19 times, it’s critically important organizations review their plans from a strategic perspective or create new strategic plans that include specific outcomes the community can understand and invest in. While Boards of nonprofit should always remain at a strategic level, the staff will need to impart the details of any capital or program need that encompasses specific impacts on the community to meet current donors’ and prospects’ perspectives of wanting to make a difference.