Planning Studies

Take the guesswork out of campaign planning

Planning Studies provide the insights needed to determine if now is the right time for a fundraising campaign.

Launching a campaign without a plan can lead to costly mistakes

Wasted resources. A misaligned campaign can drain your budget, stall momentum, and weaken donor trust, making future fundraising efforts more difficult
Uncertainty and Misalignment. Without clear direction, board members, staff, and donors may lack confidence, leading to confusion and decreased support
Missed Opportunities. Launching at the wrong time or with the wrong message can leave major gifts untapped, limiting your organization's ability to grow

What is a Planning Study?

A feasibility study simply means testing whether a proposed fundraising goal is attainable. In a Mission Advancement Planning Study, we go further. We test whether the need is truly the right need for your organization at this moment, and whether the plan to meet that need is clear, compelling, and worthy of stakeholder investment.

Through confidential interviews and strategic analysis, we equip your organization with the insights, leadership, and readiness needed to begin and execute a campaign with confidence, not just around the number, but around the vision itself.

Here is what you can expect:

Preparation and objectives: Clarify the vision, refine the case, align leadership, and define what must be tested.
Donor and stakeholder identification: Identify the individuals whose perspective and potential investment will shape the outcome.
Confidential interviews: Conduct confidential conversations to test the need, plan, leadership credibility, and potential support.
Analysis of data: Assess alignment, risk, capacity, and overall readiness.
Presentation of findings and next steps: Deliver clear recommendations on goal, timing, leadership, and strategy so you can move forward with confidence.

Campaigns should never be a guessing game

We understand launching a campaign is a major undertaking, and uncertainty can lead to costly missteps. That’s why we’ve helped hundreds of nonprofit leaders gain the clarity and confidence they need through our proven Planning Studies process.

What a study will do:

What a study will NOT do:

How a Planning Study sets you up for success

Make Data-Driven Decisions

Assess donor interest, feasibility, and internal readiness to launch a successful campaign

Strengthen Buy-In

Align key stakeholders with a well-founded, research-backed campaign strategy

Launch at the Right Time

Ensure your campaign is structured for long-term success, maximizing both participation and fundraising results

Investment and Timeline

A well-executed Planning Study not only saves your organization time and money in the long run, but also ensures your campaign is launched with precision and confidence. The insights gained ensure your fundraising efforts are well-timed, well-supported, and positioned for maximum impact.

Starts at $42,500

Factors impacting your investment:

– Expected number of interviews

– Additional study complexities

– Specific team requirements

Timeline

Month 1: Study Organization & Planning

Months 2-3: Conduct Interviews & Assessments

Month 4: Analysis and Report delivery

Confidently launch your next campaign in 3 easy steps

1. Listen & Assess

We meet with you to understand your needs and initiate a study

2.Engage & Evaluate

We interview key stakeholders, gather feedback, and analyze organizational readiness

3. Deliver Actionable Insights

We present a comprehensive report with clear recommendations and next steps for your board

You deserve clarity and confidence in your next big move

Nonprofit leaders often struggle to determine if now is the right time for a capital campaign. A Planning Study eliminates the uncertainty by providing clear, data-driven insights—so you can move forward with confidence and set your campaign up for success.

Considering a campaign? Ensure you have the right foundation before moving forward. Let’s talk.

Want to gain clarity before committing?

Download our free 5 Key Questions to Assess Your Campaign Readiness to determine if a Planning Study is right for you.

What Planning Study clients have said

"The Planning Study created buzz and got our families talking. It wasn’t just about feasibility—it was about building relationships and understanding donor perspectives. The insights we gained helped shape our case for support and gave us the confidence to move forward with clarity and purpose.'"

Tim Holland

Head of School, Caldwell Academy

$500 million in food and funds over three years

Achieving our goal of $500 million in food and funds over three years requires us to strategically focus on building relationships with the key stakeholders and supporters who can make this happen. The Mission Advancement team is bringing a renewed spirit, energy, and strategy to help us grow our people-centered fundraising efforts and continue the fight against hunger in North Texas.

Erica Yaeger

North Texas Food Bank

At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships

We have worked with Mission Advancement on our Capital Campaign, they taught us everything from how to build the campaign, develop messaging, and make asks – I don’t know where we would be without them! We are grateful for our relationship with their team.

Carol Maxwell

Juliette Fowler Communities

A partner that we found to help further our mission

Partnering with Mission Advancement was one of the most significant decisions we have made at TCS. As a result of their counsel, we have seen our scattered fundraising efforts mature into a fully functioning and successful development team. We have seen great growth in our fundraising, but, more importantly, we have gained a sense of confidence and security in our ability to provide foundational support to our school.

Dr. Stephen Cox

Trinity Christian School

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