Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign? Key Insights from a Readiness Assessment

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—and what to do if it’s not yet.

The discussion begins by exploring the foundational elements of readiness: a clear and compelling vision, internal alignment among board and staff, and a solid understanding of what the campaign will fund and why it matters. Paula and Kristin highlight the importance of internal consensus and strategic planning to ensure that all key stakeholders are working toward a shared goal.

They also stress the value of early engagement among leadership teams. When boards and staff are out of sync—whether due to capacity concerns, unclear priorities, or lack of experience—the likelihood of campaign success diminishes. Through stories from their advisory work, they demonstrate how a readiness assessment can uncover disconnects and help organizations build internal alignment before launching a campaign.

Kristin introduces the concept of “campaign mindset”—a critical ingredient for success. Beyond having resources or experience, what matters most is an organization's commitment to prioritize the campaign. Are the board and staff prepared to make strategic decisions and sustain momentum even when the process becomes challenging?

The conversation moves to donor readiness. Paula and Kristin discuss what they look for in a donor base, including how well an organization understands its top supporters and how engaged those donors are. They debunk the myth that an organization must already have a mature major gifts program to succeed. Many organizations learn to raise major gifts through the campaign process itself.

Practical examples are shared throughout the episode, including:

• A social service nonprofit that had the vision and donor pool but needed to pause and address internal stress and operational changes before moving forward.
• A youth-focused organization with board-staff alignment and vision, but missing tactical pieces like CRM hygiene and prospect tracking.
• A national nonprofit transitioning from a founder to a new CEO, in need of a cultural shift toward collaborative planning.

Amy, Paula, and Kristin emphasize that a readiness assessment rarely ends with a flat “no.” Instead, it typically results in a roadmap of clear next steps so that organizations can move forward confidently in the next 6 to 18 months. Whether that means strengthening internal processes, clarifying goals, or building new donor relationships, a thoughtful preparation phase positions campaigns for long-term success.

Listeners will walk away with clarity on:

• What campaign readiness really means
• How to identify and address misalignment between board and staff
• What to look for in a donor base and how to develop one
• Tactical improvements that make campaigns less stressful
• Why campaign mindset matters more than past experience

To see if your organization is truly ready for a capital campaign, download this free Readiness Assessment. This guide will help you evaluate six aspects of your organization, including the board and your case for support.