With the COVID-19 pandemic coming on the heels of a long and significant period of economic growth, many nonprofits are now finding themselves in the midst of aggressive comprehensive growth, capital or endowment campaigns. While over the past few weeks we have focused first and foremost on the personal well-being of our staff and constituents as well as the operational considerations needed to advance our mission in significantly new circumstances, for those organizations in or on the verge of launching campaigns the question has become, what now?

In this webinar, members of Orr Group’s Senior Leadership team – Steve Orr, Kelly Dunphy, Craig Shelley, and Becca Bennett – address some of the key challenges and opportunities impacting campaigns across the nonprofit sector.

Depending on where an organization is in its campaign, there are different considerations to take into account. Key takeaways from each campaign phase include:

1. Feasibility Phase: Consider holding off on planning for your campaign until the economic forecast becomes more clear. Once the economic outlook becomes clearer, donors will have a better understanding of how they will be impacted.
2. Readiness Phase: Use this time to strengthen your case for support, ensure your systems are in order, and deepen your donor relationships. This is also a great opportunity to test your case for support with key stakeholders and gain feedback and create buy-in.
3. Quiet Phase: Revisit your campaign gift table. Pay attention to your leadership prospects and adjust as needed. Be flexible and creative with your lead prospects and understand that your runway will most likely be longer, so use this time to check-in and provide updates. Consider also leveraging blended and planned gifts to align donors’ giving priorities with your campaign goals.
4. Public Phase: Recalibrate your campaign messaging to reflect the current realities and highlight what you’re doing right now. What is the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on your organization? How does it change your organization’s ambitions? It’s important to remember to communicate your long-term needs in addition to your present needs.