Nonprofit Adviser

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It may surprise you, but capital campaigns aren’t just for the biggest nonprofits. According to a 2024 study by Capital Campaign Pro, organizations with annual budgets under $1 million raised $3.3 million to $9.5 million, on average, in ambitious, multiyear fundraising drives.

When universities or hospitals embark on capital campaigns, they’re typically raising funds for a new building or program. But small nonprofits may use a multiyear campaign to expand a program or inspire supporters with an audacious annual fundraising goal. Such efforts may also be called comprehensive campaigns.

My colleague Lisa Schohl spoke with veteran fundraisers who have launched multiyear campaigns for small organizations, and they said these endeavors are well worth the effort — even in today’s uncertain economic climate.

“People are going to be asking philanthropists for gifts,” says Matthew Naylor, CEO of the National World War I Museum and Memorial. “You may as well be one of those.” The museum is in a campaign right now, and is currently on track to beat its $50 million fundraising goal by 50 percent, Lisa reports

Amy Eisenstein, CEO of Capital Campaign Pro, agrees. “You can’t time the market,” she says. Historically, recessions last about 10 months, and capital drives run for three or four years, she says, so it’s likely you’ll see both ups and downs before you’ve finished. But keep in mind, the wealthiest donors — who are crucial to the success of these campaigns — tend to get richer amid stock-market fluctuations.

One big tip before you get started: Conduct a readiness study to determine whether your nonprofit has the systems and capacity to manage a multiyear campaign — including staff to do the work, a culture of fundraising at the organization, and a donor database that enables you to track and steward supporters properly. In particular, make sure your board is ready to pitch in on a multiyear fundraising endeavor.

For more insights, read Lisa’s full article, How Small Nonprofits Can Run a Strong Capital Campaign: 8 Tips.

Have a great week,

Emily Haynes
Senior Editor, Nonprofit Intelligence

When you’re managing employees from four different generations, it’s important to keep workplace policies flexible. Alexandra Bernadotte, founder and CEO of Beyond 12, a nonprofit that supports first-generation college students, says her younger employees often want more opportunities for in-person interaction and on-the-job mentorship. Meanwhile, her seasoned staff prefer remote work. To ensure that she meets the needs of her whole team, Bernadotte has adopted flexible policies to ensure that in-person work is meaningful while also permitting employees to work remotely when they wish. For more leadership tips, listen to the latest episode of our podcast, “The Power of 4 Generations Working Together.”

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Opioid Use Disorder Treatment: The Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts is accepting applications to support U.S. community-based organizations’ capacity to address opioid use disorder and overdose mortality in local communities. The Community-Driven Responses to Opioid Use Disorder and Overdose Mortality 2025 request for proposals will fund specific activities or projects designed to strengthen an organization’s operations, leadership, technology, programmatic, and administrative capacity. Requests may propose to enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen communication, strengthen and evaluate programming, foster collaborations, or include other activities. Nonprofit and fiscally sponsored community-based organizations are eligible to apply. Grants up to $75,000 per year for up to two years; application deadline July 2.

Youth Food and Nutrition: The Hunger to Health Collaboratory’s 2025 Prizes for Innovation recognize organizations working to drive systemic change in food and nutrition and advance health equity for youth in the U.S. Two $100,000 prizes will be awarded to organizations advancing health equity for youth through food and nutrition policy change. In collaboration with Newman’s Own Foundation, four $25,000 prizes will be awarded to organizations working in nutrition education and school food and Indigenous food justice for youth. Nonprofit programs and projects based in the United States and focused on youth up to age 18 that align with the prize categories are eligible. Two $100,000 prizes and four $25,000 prizes will be awarded; application deadline July 1.