A Diary of a Mad Capital Campaign: Confessions from the Frontlines

Presenters:

Jacqueline House, CFRE, VP Communications & Community Engagement, Safe Children Coalition; and Jill Gass, Vice President of Philanthropy, Easterseals Southwest Florida

In this candid session, Jill Gass and Jacqueline House, two seasoned fundraising professionals, share the unfiltered journeys of launching their organization’s capital campaigns without hiring outside consultants. A Diary of a Mad Capital Campaign: Confessions from the Frontlines reads like a real diary, full of scribbled strategies, midnight doubts, surprise plot twists, moments of unexpected triumph, and what it takes to run a successful campaign with limited resources, and limitless determination.From discussing a campaign strategy to securing gifts, the presenters will walk you through the highs, lows, and hard-earned lessons of a DIY campaign. From creating a case for support to surviving the silent phase, navigating internal politics, and celebrating the public announcement, the presenters will guide you through the rollercoaster of keeping momentum, and knowing when to pivot (or panic).This session is designed for development professionals, executive directors, and board members who are considering a capital campaign, or already deep in the trenches, and want to hear how it's really done when you go it alone. Come for the confessions, stay for the practical insights, and leave with a renewed belief that it is possible to pull off a campaign with guts, grit, and glory.

Takeaways:

• How to structure a DIY capital campaign
• Lessons learned from missteps and unexpected wins
• Tips for juggling multiple hats
• What we’d do differently and what we’d never change
• Encouragement for those forging their own campaign path