All About Capital Campaigns: Nonprofits, Fundraising, Major Gifts, Toolkit

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Andrea Kihlstedt sits down with Cindy Mewhinney, Director of Advancement at the Shaw Festival, and Richard Quinn, Senior Advisor with Capital Campaign Pro, for a behind-the-scenes look at the Shaw Festival’s bold and inspiring $150 million capital campaign: All.Together.Now.

Cindy and Richard unpack how a campaign that began with a simple plan to rebuild the Royal George Theatre transf...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, co-founders Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt explore one of the most pressing and often overlooked issues in campaign planning: staffing. Whether you’re leading a small shop or part of a more established development office, running a capital campaign on top of your existing workload presents real challenges—and demands smart staffing decisions.

Amy and Andrea outline practical strat...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein hosts a conversation with Stephanie Wilensky, Development Director at CooperRiis Healing Community, and Capital Campaign Pro Senior Advisor Xan Blake.

Together, they share a compelling story of how a small fundraising team kept momentum alive in the face of extraordinary circumstances, including a devastating hurricane that left the organization temporarily disconnected...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt explore a topic too often overlooked: how to include your full staff—not just your fundraising team—in the campaign process.From front-desk staff to program leaders, finance officers to communications teams, everyone has a role to play. Andrea and Amy walk through how different departments are affected by a campaign and why it's crucial that each gr...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein welcomes two experienced Capital Campaign Pro advisors, Paula Peter and Kristin Raack, for a deep conversation about assessing campaign readiness. With decades of combined experience guiding nonprofits through the early stages of major fundraising initiatives, Paula and Kristin offer practical insights to help organizations determine if the time is right for a campaign—...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt answer a key question: Do you need a feasibility study before launching a capital campaign? Their answer is a clear yes—and they explain why skipping one can lead to poor decisions, missed opportunities, and campaign failure.

They walk through how traditional feasibility studies have often kept donor feedback behind a curtain, leaving nonprofit leade...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt tackle a common challenge: well-meaning board members whose ideas can derail a campaign. From insisting on fundraising galas to asking for gifts too early—or too small—board members often act with good intentions but without a clear understanding of how campaigns actually work.

Amy and Andrea share real-life examples of how campaigns have gone off co...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt explain how to set a realistic, aspirational fundraising goal for your capital campaign—without pulling a number out of thin air.

They share three essential factors to consider: the cost of your project, a multiple of your current fundraising capacity, and the potential size of your top gifts. You'll learn how these inputs come together to form a...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt unpack a common but costly mistake nonprofits make—treating donors as checkbooks instead of partners. Sparked by recent federal funding cuts to arts organizations, this conversation challenges fundraising teams to rethink how they communicate with their most committed supporters during a crisis.

Too often, when a major grant disappears or budgets fal...

In this episode, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt tackle one of the most pressing concerns for campaign leaders: the fear of failure. They explore the nuanced definitions of campaign success and failure, revealing that it’s not just about meeting financial goals but also about setting the right expectations and navigating unexpected challenges.

Listen in as they recount real-life stories of organizations that faced campaign obsta...

In this insightful episode of the All About Capital Campaigns podcast, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt delve into the pivotal role of feasibility studies in capital campaigns. They present three compelling reasons why conducting a feasibility study is not just beneficial but essential for campaign success.​

Amy and Andrea also introduce Capital Campaign Pro's innovative Guided Feasibility Study model, which empowers no...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt tackle a pressing challenge faced by many nonprofit organizations: managing unexpected government funding cuts. They explore strategies for launching a successful gap funding campaign, a targeted approach to securing crucial short-term donations to sustain vital programs.

Amy and Andrea explain what distinguishes gap funding campaigns from trad...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt explore how to evaluate your board's readiness for a capital campaign. They discuss key indicators such as consistent board meeting attendance and annual financial contributions from all board members, emphasizing that these factors reflect the board's commitment and engagement.

The episode also introduces a free Board Readiness Assessment too...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt delve into the challenges of managing time effectively when preparing for a capital campaign.

They offer four practical strategies to enhance efficiency, discuss the importance of investing in better systems, and explore how to secure board approval for these investments. This episode is essential for nonprofit leaders seeking to balance their...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt break down the essential quiet phase—the period that can make or break your campaign. They clarify that while it's called "quiet," this phase is actually an active and strategic time for securing major gifts before making a public announcement.

Amy and Andrea share three critical tips to ensure a successful quiet phase:

1️⃣ Identif...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, hosts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt challenge the common mindset around feasibility study interviews and make a compelling case for expanding the list beyond your current top donors.

A simple question from a prospective client—“Why do we have to interview more than 12 people?”—sets the stage for a deeper discussion about how nonprofit leaders often confuse necessity with opportun...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt share expert tips on how nonprofit staff, board members, and key leaders can make the most of donor events. Too often, staff members stick together, leaving guests feeling disconnected. Instead, events should be an opportunity to strengthen relationships and move fundraising forward.

Listen in as Amy and Andrea cover essential strategies, including:

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt sit down with nonprofit expert Cherian Koshy to discuss the urgent federal funding crisis affecting organizations across the country. With government funding decisions shifting rapidly, many nonprofits are unsure how to secure financial stability. Cherian breaks down the latest legislative updates, what executive orders mean for nonprofit funding, a...

Volunteers are the backbone of a successful capital campaign—but how do you truly engage, activate, and motivate them to take action? In this episode, fundraising experts Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt explore the key strategies to transform passive supporters into passionate advocates.

From setting clear expectations to creating accountability structures and celebrating wins, Amy and Andrea share practical, proven techniques t...