Campaign Steps to Success
1. Establish a Steering Committee
Recruit cross-sections of age and expertise
Include parents and undergraduates
Committees: alumni programming/communications, design/construction, finance, legal, major gifts, special events and volunteer recruitment

2. Conduct a capital needs assessment
What are resident halls, apartments and other fraternities offering?
What are your minimum needs?
What would you do if money was not in question?
Estimate minimum to maximum costs of the project

3. Hire an alumni programming/fundraising consulting firm
Ask your headquarters, University and other fraternities for possible firms
Make sure the feasibility study goes beyond supplying data - strategy, leadership, strength and weaknesses, case, timetable, budget, volunteers/donors, etc
Hire the right people to represent you
Quality and quantity - conduct interviews with those of affluence and influence and input from as many people as possible
Educate volunteers on the process
Be cautious of a report that only tells you what you want to hear

4. Alumni/parent programming
Records management
Newsletters
Directory/web site
Events
Recognition
Annual fund

5. Develop case statement/project summary
Vision - preliminary plans and costs
Timeline
Ways of giving
Named gifts/wall of giving
Pyramid of giving

6. Feasibility study
Prospect research
Alumni/parent/undergraduate surveys
In-person/phone/mail/web surveys
Develop “ownership in the process” among alumni
Identify minimum number needed of gifts/volunteers
Results/plan of action/adjust project as needed

7. Finalize timetable
Alumni programming
Architecture/construction
Volunteer recruitment/leadership
Campaign
Financing

8. Architectural plans
Choose architect
Front elevation schematic
Floor plans
Suite schematic
Interim housing
Construction budget

9. Volunteer recruitment/leadership
Recruit steering committee
Recruit general/decade chairman recruitment
Recruit volunteers for missing periods
Recruit parent/undergraduate volunteers
Train volunteers/choose prospects

10. Campaign
Time period - 6 to 18 months
Solicitation phases:
Steering committee/board
Major gifts
Volunteers (general/decade/class)
Undergraduates
Special gifts (personal prospects/identified donors)
Parents
General Campaign
Communication
Brochure/pledge form
Volunteer/campaign updates
Email/web
Phone
Meetings/events
You must be persistent

11. Construction timetable
Find temporary housing for chapter
Determine construction start and finish
Recruit construction manager

12. 75 percent of goal raised
Secure financing - construction, bridge financing and possible mortgage
Select a construction firm
Good reputation
Fraternity experience
Open bid vs. negotiated big
Complete construction documents
Arrange for storage

13. Begin construction
6-12 months
Weekly on-site meetings
Promote progress/on-going fundraising
Walk-thru/punch list

14. Move-in
Grand opening
Donor recognition and special thanks to volunteers

15. Post-campaign
Alumni/parent programming
Property management plan
Pledge collection
Annual/planned giving