Capital Campaign Consultants · DickersonBakker

When it comes to assuring the growth of your nonprofit, few activities will yield as significant an impact as a capital campaign, helping you take a substantial leap forward towards the fulfillment of your future goals.

Capital Campaigns

At DickersonBakker, we have helped hundreds of nonprofit groups just like yours raise hundreds of millions of dollars for their capital campaigns.

Our team of capital campaign consultants works all across the country with a wide variety of nonprofit organizations, including churches, Christian schools, colleges/universities, rescue missions, camps, and national/international organizations, among many others.

A capital campaign is a complex undertaking. It is critically important that it be done right, and you generally only have one shot at it. With so much at stake, most groups wisely choose to retain a capital campaign consulting firm to help guide their capital campaign through to a successful completion.

We manage capital campaigns at any stage, including beginning new campaigns and turning around stalled or troubled campaigns, and would welcome the opportunity to assist your organization in achieving its goals.

“We have worked together with DickersonBakker through two successful campaigns that helped us significantly advance our mission by relocating our campus and in the construction of new buildings. They are committed to providing current and innovative ideas in regard to capital campaigns and other aspects of fundraising, and we are proud to call them our friends.” Dr. Robert Burton - Former President, Madison Academy

Learn more about our Church Capital Campaigns

Churches are unique

Let’s face it. Churches are unique. You don’t raise money for a church capital campaign like you would for any other type of group.

When you engage Dickerson, Bakker & Associates with your church capital campaign we will guide you through our Five-Phase Church Capital Campaign process that incorporates best practices based on our 30+ years of experience managing hundreds of campaigns. At the same time, we recognize that each church is unique, and will work with you to design a customized campaign plan that will best fit your own needs, circumstances, and budget. Most importantly, we will conduct ourselves in such a way as to bring honor to the Lord and respect to your church.

Biblical stewardship principals

At Dickerson, Bakker & Associates, we believe that fund-raising in a stewardship context is more than just secular fundraising with a few Bible verses sprinkled in. For starters, we believe that all capital campaigns must first be programs that emphasize and teach Biblical stewardship.

“We have used Dickerson, Bakker & Associates in our past three fund raising campaigns. On each occasion we have found their services to be exceptional. I am convinced it is because their approach is one of Stewardship Ministry and not just fundraising.”Wayne Unger, Pastor - Grace Community Church, Ceres CA

Continue learning about our Capital Campaign Services for Churches

Learn about Feasibility Studies and the other phases of a Capital Campaign

When you engage our firm for your campaign we will walk you through a structured campaign process that incorporates best practices based on our 30 years’ experience managing hundreds of capital campaigns.

At the same time, we recognize that your situation is unique, and we will work with you to design a customized campaign plan that will be the best fit for your own unique set of needs, circumstances, and budget.

Five Phases of a Dickerson-Bakker Capital Campaign

3 months

Feasibility Study
- Assess strength of the case for support
- Recommend a realistic goal
- Review likely sources of support
- Estimate budget, timeline, and plan of action
- Identify leadership
- Uncover negative factors needing to be addressed
3 to 6 months

Pre-Campaign Planning & Preparation
- Determine the campaign structure
- Research advance gift prospects
- Goal setting for each sub-group
- Staff and volunteer leadership recruitment and training
- Craft the campaign case for support
- Produce campaign printed materials, audio-visual, and digital media
3 to 12 months

Leadership Giving/Quiet Phase
- Solicit advance gifts from staff, Board, and other insiders
- Solicit leadership gifts from top tier donors and prospects, comprising at least 60% and ideally 70% or more of the total campaign goal
6 months

Public Phase
- Launch campaign with public event(s)
- Roll out campaign to all constituent groups to challenge every possible donor in as effective a way as possible to commit to the campaign
2 to 3 years

Fulfillment Phase
- Close out campaign with a celebratory event (e.g. ribbon cutting)
- Ensure pledge commitments are paid and donors are properly stewarded through to final completion of their commitments to the campaign

Capital Campaigns

Capital Campaigns

Learn more about our Church Capital Campaigns

Churches are unique

Biblical stewardship principals

Learn about Feasibility Studies and the other phases of a Capital Campaign

Five Phases of a Dickerson-Bakker Capital Campaign

3 months

Feasibility Study

3 to 6 months

Pre-Campaign Planning & Preparation

3 to 12 months

Leadership Giving/Quiet Phase

6 months

Public Phase

2 to 3 years

Fulfillment Phase

Learn More

The Three Most Important Ingredients of a Successful Capital Campaign

Five Ways a Feasibility Study Can Make or Break Your Campaign

Don't Be Trigger-Happy ... Four Consequences of Going Public Too Early

Four Common but Avoidable Mistakes of Capital Campaigns

Are You Ready for a Capital Campaign? Use this Checklist to find out

Three Reasons You Need a Consultant for Your Feasibility Study

What does forward look like for you?