Brakeley Briscoe Inc.

A big producer of carbon in the atmosphere – and therefor global warming – is commuting to work. What are the implications for fundraising? https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/climate-change-and-fundraising/

Some organizations are trying to use less paper. One way to do this is to communicate totally or mostly by electronic means. What are the implications for fundraising? https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/climate-change-and-fundraising/

Some organizations are trying to decrease the use of fossil fuels so they produce less carbon dioxide in the air. One way to do this is to do less travel. What are the implications for fundraising? https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/climate-change-and-fundraising/

Heatwaves, droughts, melting glaciers in Greenland, rising sea levels, forest fires, larger icebergs breaking off from Antarctica, earlier springs, later falls, less snow for recreation or water replenishment, diminishing water for irrigation, electrical brownouts, and disappearing lakes are a few of the effects of climate change. Even some of the climate change skeptics are muting their cries of disbelief. It does appear this stuff is real.

So how does this effect fundraising?

Climate Change and Fundraising Heatwaves, droughts, melting glaciers in Greenland, rising sea levels, forest fires, larger icebergs breaking off from Antarctica, earlier springs, later falls, less snow for recreation or water re…

In the 20th century, donors often gave to the campaign because the community hospital was indeed the local gem. But in an increasingly complex and confusing world where donors are asked daily to give to all kinds of causes, the case needs to be clear, logical, compelling, and SHORT. It needs to appeal to the heart and the mind.

Two or three decades ago consultants tended to take complete charge of the campaign leaving staff to continue their existing duties. In the 21st century foundation staffs are more sophisticated and capable of managing the campaign. Using the consultant as “strategic counsel” rather than direct campaign manager is increasingly common.

Traditionally, capital campaign leaders looked to physicians as potential lead donors for various reasons: they often had the understanding of the hospital, a personal and financial interest in the successful outcome of the campaign, and the financial assets to make major donations. Now, in a time of change in healthcare delivery and financing, physicians are on the front lines of these changes.

Recent changes in healthcare financing have increased the focus of hospital leaders on the role of philanthropy in funding the bottom line. When effectively structured and conducted, community hospital campaigns raise philanthropic giving to a level previously thought beyond reach.

All of us at Brakeley Briscoe and Brakeley Search look forward to using our newly acquired knowledge in the next year to best serve you in your fundraising and executive search needs. You can reach out to us via our website, by emailing [email protected], or calling 650.344.8883.

We were honored to host local and remote speakers at our annual Advance – especially because the pandemic prevented us from meeting for years. Join us in thanking our distinguished guests.

Brakeley Briscoe and Brakeley Search came together as our consultants and employees shared knowledge about fundraising, executive search, navigating remote work, and becoming a single national company. Our newest blog has pictures from the invigorating event.

As a national company with international clients, Brakeley Briscoe had conducted some of our work remotely before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the pandemic pushed us to an almost completely remote mode. It also eliminated our ability to bring the whole company together for our annual company “Advances”. We are happy to report that this September, some of us were able to gather in Lakeville, CT, for the first time since 2018. We cherished the opportunity to gather together and continue our twenty-year-old tradition. Our week was chock-full of seminars, home-cooked meals, and fun for all.

Making a portfolio system work depends on a strong prospect information management and research system. Our recent blog goes into more detail, and how hiring consultants can help.

Our newest blog defines a few terms that are common in fundraising and philanthropy: Prospect Portfolios and Major Gifts. How do you define them?

You can’t give every one of your donors the personal treatment, but with a portfolio system you can give your major gift fundraisers (and your president and senior volunteer fundraisers) some tools and metrics to determine where you want to get and how far along you are toward your goals.

Many large fundraising programs have well developed prospect portfolio management systems and a substantial major donor list. The rest of us aren’t all so advanced. What are portfolios and why do we need them, too?

We’re excited to share news about one of our newest Search Consultants, Paola Ferrate, who recently passed her Certified Diversity Sourcing Professional - CDSP certification! https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/employee-shoutout-paola-ferrate/

Achieving the maximum benefit from a campaign requires the discipline of a well-structured operation with fixed assignments, goals and deadlines. Working within the defined parameters of a campaign can be exhilarating, creating an environment that builds morale, sense of purpose, and esprit de corps. So… do you want to have a campaign? https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/so-you-want-to-have-a-campaign/

In our newest blog, Executive Chair George Brakeley III discusses variables to consider before launching a campaign, including when NOT to launch a campaign. This doesn’t mean waiting for the mythical “right time”, but considering other, more tangible factors. https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/so-you-want-to-have-a-campaign/

Some level of risk is inherent in every campaign. As is the case with the decisions we make each day in every aspect of our lives, our assessment weighs the benefits against the risks. One helpful way to assess the risk is to seek the advice of experienced consultants who have not only the skill sets required to evaluate your chances of success but also the courage to give you sound advice, even if that advice is not quite what you wanted to hear. https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/so-you-want-to-have-a-campaign/

Sooner or later, every non-profit organization or institution considers conducting a capital campaign or, often, a “comprehensive campaign” that includes non-capital needs and counts nearly every dollar given during the official pledging period. The opening question is, of course, why go through the bother, expense and effort to launch a campaign in the first place? https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/so-you-want-to-have-a-campaign/

Performance benchmarking is a manager’s tool which positions today’s Chief Development Officer to answer the following questions: are you using your budget resources wisely and are you securing the best return on budgeted investment? If you fumble over these answers, we can help: https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/going-beyond-cost-per-dollar-benchmarking-against-the-best/

The performance value of benchmarking can be seen in the deliverables. Benchmarking is not a fixed outcome, nor an absolute number; it is a process toward a goal which is derived from the top performers in your industry. Learn more in our blog: https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/going-beyond-cost-per-dollar-benchmarking-against-the-best/

The objective of performance benchmarking is to identify and enable the incorporation of an industry’s best practices into your development program… The benchmark may be “hit”, but there will always be uncontrollable factors that are unique to each organization and its environment. https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/going-beyond-cost-per-dollar-benchmarking-against-the-best/

Our latest blog explains “benchmarking”. Benchmarking systematically compares one organization’s business processes and standards with that of industry leaders. The goal is to observe and create new and improved processes used by the top industry performers who set the standard that will enable your organization to improve its performance. https://www.brakeleybriscoe.com/going-beyond-cost-per-dollar-benchmarking-against-the-best/

George Brakeley III discusses the importance of strong campaign leadership and the steps of our formal leadership selection process.

Finding Campaign Leadership Every campaign I have advised, over more than four decades, has succeeded because it had strong leadership.

We often recommend a formal leadership selection process, replete with an ad hoc committee, at least one and sometimes a series of meetings, lots of strategizing, and a high level of candor and setting aside of personal agendas. Here’s how it works.

Finding Campaign Leadership Every campaign I have advised, over more than four decades, has succeeded because it had strong leadership.

Sometimes, during the pre-campaign planning and feasibility study, an obvious leader who evokes the admiration and respect of all emerges from the process. But more often than not, the volunteer leadership outlook is murky at best. So how do you find and recruit the “right” person or persons to champion your cause?

Finding Campaign Leadership Every campaign I have advised, over more than four decades, has succeeded because it had strong leadership.

Campaigns succeed because they have strong leadership. And when campaigns are less than successful, leadership is the heart of the challenge. The synergy and single-minded dedication of the leadership team—the CEO, the chief development officer and the volunteer chair or chairs—makes all the difference between a perfunctory campaign and a hugely rewarding one. When it comes to the pace-setting gifts at the top of the gift pyramid, moreover, there is no more important player than the volunteer chair or chairs. And these leaders are truly hard to find these days.

Finding Campaign Leadership Every campaign I have advised, over more than four decades, has succeeded because it had strong leadership.

After conducting a campaign feasibility study, our report includes findings, conclusions, recommendations, a stretch goal, and a plan for how to conduct the campaign with budget, timeline, staffing pattern, and volunteer structure. (A separate document contains a list of donors we have uncovered along with possible leadership candidates.) We review the plan with the Steering Committee, and then help the Steering Committee present/sell this plan to the board and any other group which may be influential for launching the campaign.

Conducting a Campaign Feasibility Study – Brakeley Briscoe Conducting a Campaign Feasibility Study Alden F. Briscoe, MAT When a client asks us to conduct a feasibility/planning study for a capital campaign, they want us to answer two questions: Assuming there are donors willing to give money to achieve the goals of their campaign, what does the institution....