Fundraising Planning and Strategic Management Flashcards

A 'feasibility study' conducted before a capital campaign is designed to:

Answer: Assess whether the campaign goal, leadership, and donor base can support the planned campaign

A feasibility study interviews key stakeholders and major gift prospects to evaluate whether the organization is ready to launch a campaign at the proposed scale.

Which of the following is the correct sequence for conducting a capital campaign?

Answer: Feasibility study → campaign planning → silent phase → public phase

Capital campaigns follow a structured sequence: feasibility study first, then campaign planning, followed by the quiet/silent phase to secure lead gifts, and finally the public phase.

What is a 'gift range chart' (also called a table of gifts) used for in campaign planning?

Answer: Showing how many gifts at various levels are needed to reach the campaign goal

A gift range chart mathematically models the number of gifts at each level required to reach a campaign goal, helping planners identify how many prospects are needed at each tier.

In a major gifts campaign, what is the recommended ratio of prospects to gifts needed at each level?

Answer: 3:1 to 4:1

Major gift fundraising generally requires a 3:1 to 4:1 ratio of prospects to gifts expected at each level, accounting for those who decline or cannot give.

Which of the following best describes the 'silent phase' of a capital campaign?

Answer: The early phase when major gifts are solicited quietly before public announcement

The silent (or quiet) phase is when fundraisers solicit lead gifts from top prospects, typically aiming to secure 50–70% of the goal before any public announcement.

A 'campaign readiness assessment' typically evaluates which of the following factors?

Answer: Leadership capacity, donor base strength, staff readiness, and organizational credibility

Campaign readiness assessments evaluate organizational factors including volunteer and board leadership, donor pipeline depth, staff capacity, and mission credibility before committing to a major campaign.