Bentz Group - Campaign Readiness Assessment

Services > Capital and Endowment Campaigns

Campaign Readiness Assessment

Our Campaign Readiness Assessment replaces the traditional feasibility study by determining how money can be raised rather than if it can be raised. To that end, we focus on your institution’s preparedness, as well as the interest of the relevant philanthropic community. The objectives are:

To evaluate the capabilities of the internal development department;
To determine the commitment of the board and community leadership to the institution;
To identify major donors, campaign leaders, and volunteers; and
To establish a realistic campaign goal.

Following are the steps of a Campaign Readiness Assessment:

Development of the Case Statement

The development of a well-crafted Case Statement is the foundation of a successful campaign. The Bentz Group is noted for the quality and thoroughness of its Case Statements that present a compelling narrative of an organization’s history, mission, and programs, as well as the rationale for the proposed fundraising.

Interview Process

After it is approved by the client, the Case Statement is distributed to approximately 40-60 key people. The Bentz Group then conducts individual interviews that are designed to elicit specific, quantitative information and to prompt a candid discussion about the institution and the proposed campaign.

Final Analysis and Report

Information obtained from the confidential interviews form the basis of the Campaign Readiness Assessment Report. After a final analysis is made by the Bentz senior management team, a comprehensive written report and presentation include:

Assessment regarding the institution’s visibility and perceptions about it;
Recommended campaign goal;
Availability of campaign leadership;
Suggestions for positioning in the philanthropic marketplace; and
Campaign plan of action with timeline.

Pre-Campaign Plan

If the Campaign Readiness Assessment concludes that an organization is ready for a campaign, then the client is advised about how to proceed. Should some areas require special attention, the Bentz staff is available on a consulting basis to complete necessary pre-campaign planning efforts. Regardless of the pre-campaign planning method, the Bentz Group bases its analysis on the ten factors that determine campaign readiness.