Three Steps to Prepare Your Board for a Successful Capital Campaign

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt outline three essential steps that nonprofit leaders should take to prepare their boards for a capital campaign. Many board members come to the table with limited or inaccurate ideas about what a campaign involves. Amy and Andrea explain how to bridge that knowledge gap, address common anxieties, and set clear expectations so that your board feels confident and prepared to support your campaign.

The conversation begins with the importance of a Campaign 101 session. Board members need a clear understanding of what a capital campaign is, how it works, and what makes it different from annual fundraising. Amy and Andrea share simple ways to introduce these fundamentals, from inviting a consultant to lead a workshop to using Capital Campaign Pro’s Board Members Guide to Capital Campaigns as a discussion tool.

Next, the hosts highlight the importance of clarifying board roles and giving expectations. They talk about how to create space for meaningful conversations about what each board member will contribute, both in terms of financial support and active involvement. These conversations help reduce uncertainty and ease fears about asking for gifts. Amy and Andrea emphasize that preparing your board is an ongoing process that should unfold over multiple meetings rather than a single session.

Finally, the episode covers the often-overlooked need for investment in campaign resources. Too often, organizations underestimate the financial and staffing requirements of a campaign, assuming existing staff can manage everything. Amy and Andrea explain why dedicating a budget for campaign support, whether through additional staff or experienced consultants, is critical to success. They illustrate how early investments in expertise and planning prevent costly mistakes and set campaigns on a strong trajectory.

Throughout the discussion, listeners will hear real examples from Amy and Andrea’s work with nonprofit leaders and boards, including common pitfalls that organizations face when they try to “go it alone.” The episode underscores that preparing your board is not a one-time task but a thoughtful process that builds confidence, clarity, and commitment.

Whether you’re a nonprofit executive, development professional, or board leader, this episode will provide practical insights you can use right away to prepare your board for the challenges and opportunities of a capital campaign.

For more board engagement tips, be sure to download our free Board Member’s Guide to Capital Campaign Fundraising. It answers the questions board members most frequently ask, or wish they could ask.