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

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns , Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt break down a true story about a $2.5 million gift — and how it started with a donor who originally gave just $1,000 a year. Andrea shares a firsthand account from one of her coaching clients who transformed a modest corporate gift into a major, multi-year commitment. What made it happen? A mix of persistence, timi...

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...

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. A...

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 o...

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 camp...

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...

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 behi...

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 examp...

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...

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...

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 org...

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 Feasib...

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 distingu...

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...

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 nonpro...

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...

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 leader...

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 c...

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...

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...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns, marketing and strategy expert Seth Godin joins Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt from Capital Campaign Pro for a conversation about storytelling, outreach, and engagement. Seth shares insights on crafting messages that inspire action and build stronger connections. This discussion explores ways organizations can communicate effectively, especially...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns , Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt break down how to plan and run meetings that keep campaign volunteers engaged, energized, and eager to contribute. Discover practical strategies for structuring meetings, creating effective agendas, and ensuring that every participant feels heard and valued. Drawing from real-life campaign experiences, Andrea shar...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns , we’re sharing the audio from a recent webinar addressing the uncertainty nonprofits are facing due to the federal funding pause in early 2025. While we usually record standalone podcast episodes, this discussion was too important not to repurpose. Hosts Amy Eisenstein, Andrea Kihlstedt, and Sarah Plimpton of Capital Campaign Pro break down the impac...

In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns , Amy Eisenstein and Andrea Kihlstedt dive into one of the most pressing challenges for nonprofit leaders: managing a capital campaign on top of an already packed workload. If you’re an executive director or development professional, you know the demands of juggling end-of-year fundraising, annual campaigns, galas, and donor management. Adding a $5 mi...

In this episode, Andrea Kihlstedt talks with Alexandra O’Connor about her journey in capital campaign fundraising. From learning the ropes at Community MusicWorks to leading an ambitious endowment campaign at The Gordon School, Alexandra shares insights on donor engagement, strategic planning, and balancing operations with relationship-building. They also discuss the challenges of increasing campa...