The Challenge: First Ever Capital Campaign
When Family and Children’s Center (FCC) in LaCrosse, Wisconsin called Gonser Gerber in January 2005 to conduct a Campaign Readiness Study for their first capital campaign, they did so with confidence in the 58-year old firm. The Wisconsin human services agency had used Gonser Gerber several years earlier to help build their advancement infrastructure and improve the impact of their Board. “Frankly, everything our consultant told us to do back then was spot-on,” says John Burgess, CEO.
With an impressive track record for serving the human services needs of Western Wisconsin and Southeastern Minnesota, FCC had both capital and annual fund needs. The Campaign Readiness Study conducted by Gonser Gerber discovered potential for major and annual gifts from both existing donors, as well as, business and community leaders who had never given before.
“We were delighted with the thorough research and service we received from Gonser Gerber, says Burgess, “the study identified new prospects and laid out a plan for cultivating those relationships. We received one gift of $1 million, one for $500,000 and another for $250,000, from individuals who had never given to FCC before.”
John Burgess
CEO
Family and Children’s Center
