The Y came to Campbell & Company with a unique proposal: they wanted to test feasibility separately—but concurrently—for three different capital projects.
One of the projects involved capital improvements to a summer camp facility, and the other two were new YMCA centers on opposite sides of Indianapolis, in communities in which the Indy Y had not previously had a presence.
Campbell & Company completed a campaign planning study, including a capacity analysis, case development work, and external interviews, with a twist: our Communications team developed three different case preview documents, and we tested only one project at a time in interviews.
At the end of the study, we recommended the Y move forward with a campaign for just one of the new centers, based on the passion for the project evidenced in our interviews. We are now providing counsel, including a communications engagement, for that campaign.
We were also able to present the staff and Board with an actionable plan to eventually complete all three projects. By staggering them, much of the campaign preparation done for the first new center can be easily repurposed for another campaign to build the second center.
Meanwhile, the camp can enhance its major gifts program to the point that it has a campaign-ready donor pipeline by the time both centers are complete.
"The Campbell & Company team was quick to understand a complex challenge involving opportunities for growth in new geographic areas. They have been both professional and very proactive in their approach, working side by side development staff to keep leaders and volunteers on task throughout all phases of the campaign planning process."
-Jim Wood, Senior Vice President & CDO, YMCA of Greater Indianapolis
Impressively, the Indy Y recruited 19 volunteer leaders for their Campaign Steering Committee during the first year of the campaign—including the mayor of the city and superintendent of schools—in a community they had no previous presence in whatsoever.
The Indy Y is working to secure some key gifts as we continue to work together.