Capital Campaigns Grow in Frequency and Duration

A common lament among fundraising professionals, nonprofit board members and wealthy donors is that capital campaigns have become constant. Once noteworthy, these intensive, multiyear efforts — which raise money through methods including phone banks, direct mail and one-on-one conversations with wealthy individuals — are now run-of-the-mill. Some are virtually overlapping, with organizations quietly preparing for another campaign before ending the previous one.

Yet such campaigns are growing in length, ambition and frequency for an uncomplicated reason: They are highly effective.