A typical timetable for a capital or major gifts campaign is shown below:
Goal: $5 Million
Month 1
The Board of Directors or Trustees along with the CEO determine that a specific project needs to be built. The Board approves the
Project.
Month 2
An internal task force reviews the project, its goals, and needs, and recommends to the Board that a Campaign Planning Study or Feasibility Study be conducted.
Month 3
The institution submits request for a proposal to three or five consulting firms to conduct a study. This may not be necessary if the institution already has a relationship with one consulting firm
already, who is capable of conducting studies and campaigns.
Month 4
The Task Force reviews the responses to the Request for Proposal and notifies the selected firms that there will be interviews set over the next 2 - 4 weeks. Usually three firms are selected for interviews and the interviews all take place on the same day.
Month 5
The Consultant is selected and study begins. (See Feasibility Studies for more details on the conducting of a Feasibility Study or Campaign Planning Study.)
Month 7
Consultants report to the Client with their recommendation and a Plan of
Action for a campaign, if warranted.
Month 8
Board of Directors approve the campaign plan and retain consulting firm to launch the
Campaign.
Month 9
Board accepts the recommendations and appoints the Campaign Steering
Committee to direct the efforts.
Month 10
Steering Committee selects a Chairman and the Campaign process begins. The type of campaign, timeline and other pertinent facts are designed based on the results of the
Campaign Planning or Feasibility Study and should not, in most Campaigns, exceed twelve months from this point.
Month 11 to 23
Campaign is conducted over not more than 12 months. (Solicitation period should not take more than 12 months.)
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