Bentz Group - Case Study: Mahoning Valley Historical Society

Case Study: Mahoning Valley Historical Society

Youngstown, Ohio

The Campaign for the Mahoning Valley History Center

$6 Million Capital and Endowment Campaign

The Challenge

Founded in 1875, The Mahoning Valley Historical Society currently makes its home at the historic Arms Estate. While the Arms mansion and carriage house are beloved local landmarks, the limited exhibition and storage space impairs the Society’s ability to archive its current collection properly, add to its holdings, or share its vast collection with the public through larger-scale exhibits and educational programs. The primary challenges facing this campaign included:

Need for a new facility with greater space that is better suited to the Society’s endeavors;
Lack of visibility and understanding of the Society’s scope of work by both local leadership and the general public;
Less than a dynamic regional economy;
Limited number of easily identifiable potential major gift prospects; and
Small existing membership base.

The Bentz Group Approach

With the selection of the historic downtown Burt Building as the Society’s future home, the Bentz Group was able to showcase the property’s attributes in a compelling Case Statement and campaign materials. Highlighted was the Burt Building’s status as a historic landmark that would not only be preserved, but contribute to Youngstown’s emerging Arts & Entertainment District. By creating a distinct brand for the campaign and identifying strategic communication points, we were able to incorporate our client’s existing (but largely unacknowledged) strengths, including its crucial role as the primary steward of the area’s history, the vastness and importance of its collection, and its role in the collective quality-of-life impact of the region’s many cultural institutions. Included in the campaign messaging strategy were the inherent traits of the Mahoning Valley: an immense sense of civic pride and a rich tradition of innovation.

Emerging from the campaign planning was a more focused Society with the ability to articulate its vision. The core stakeholders were galvanized by this process, and under Bentz guidance were formed into an effective leadership team that is succeeding in bringing new individuals and resources to the project.

The Results to Date

With strong volunteer leadership now in place under the direction of a Bentz resident campaign manager, the campaign has already raised nearly $3.2 million as it moves smoothly through its quiet phase. Plans for the Burt Building are beginning to take shape that will provide numerous naming opportunities and attract additional major gifts. With the successful campaign branding, the public phase of the campaign is expected to be an energizing force for the Mahoning Valley as it moves forward from its steel-producing industrial past to the next chapter in its history.

News and Quick Takes