Episode Description
What does it actually take to launch a $40 million campaign when your organization has almost no fundraising history?
Andrea Kihlstedt sits down with Wendy Connors, CEO of the Hertz Foundation, for a candid, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most remarkable campaign transformations in recent memory. The Hertz Foundation supports science and engineering PhD students — but for most of its history, it barely fundraised at all. When Wendy joined to lead development, the board didn't even know the difference between an annual gift and a campaign gift.
What happened next is a masterclass in what capital campaigns can actually do for an organization.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why Wendy refused to outsource the feasibility study interviews — and what she gained by doing them herself
- How the Hertz Foundation tripled its volunteer force and what it did to giving
- The pivotal moment two co-chairs made major gifts that unlocked the entire public phase
- How a community that preferred anonymity and didn't pledge learned to give at a transformational level
- Three things Wendy says every nonprofit leader should do before launching a campaign
This is a must-listen for any nonprofit leader who wonders whether their organization has what it takes — and wants to hear from someone who found out firsthand.
Ready to start your own campaign study? Get the full guide at capitalcampaignpro.com/feasibility-study-ultimate-guide/