Rose Bowl
Aquatics Center
Pasadena, California
Raised: $5,200,000
Recruiting Campaign
Leaders
Recruiting campaign
leaders is a relatively straightforward process. The challenge
usually comes out of a fear of actually doing it. Together with
board members and/or other key leaders, a list of potential
leaders should be created. These leaders should consist of the
best leaders imaginable in the community – and should include any
past donors, leaders or volunteers for your organization.
Seven committed board
members and a careful fundraising plan raised over $5
million of this Olympic training facility including
gifts of $1,000,000, $500,000 and several between
$100,000 and $250,000. These funds were raised even
though the organization was less than six months old.
Take in a football game and a cool swim - the aquatics
center is right next to the stadium.
Once the list is developed, then it is as
simple as identifying a current leader of the organization who
will set up an appointment (look under the "Soliciting Major
Gifts" section of this website for the Gift Solicitation Guide for
a step-by-step review of the entire process.
Capital Quest has had tremendous success in
involving new leaders in campaigns by asking them to do three
things, and promising them one thing:
Ask them to allow you to use their name
as a supporter. Then create a
growing list of these leaders. Once you have a few
well-respected leaders, an organization usually finds other
leaders will choose to be leaders as well. As you recruit a
leader, tell other potential leaders about your past
recruitment successes
Ask them to open doors to other
prospective leaders. Explain
that you would like to return and meet with them again to ask
their guidance in reviewing other prospects and seeking their
help in arranging meetings with a pre-determined number of
prospects, usually five. This limits their time involvement,
yet allows them to be a big part of the campaign.
Ask them to make a financial gift.
Ultimately, fund raising is what it is about so you have to
ask for a specific gift.
Tell them that they will not have to
come to committee meetings.
Community leaders hate committee meetings – especially
meetings that drag on and don’t accomplish any tangible goals.
Explain to the potential leader that whatever time they can
spend on the campaign will be spent doing the one thing the
organization can’t do without them – opening doors to other
potential leaders and donors.
Successful recruitment is also dependent
upon making wise use of the campaign leaders’ time.
