If you are in the silent phase of a new philanthropic campaign, you are no doubt on the hunt for inspiration. The conferences you might attend are full of innovative ideas and new ways to think about how you structure and execute a comprehensive campaign—but how do you sort through all that you hear and select ideas that might help you?
For me it’s a bit like an estate sale. I live in a town that has interesting colonial history and lots of historic homes. A favorite Sunday afternoon activity is to swing by an estate sale and look for treasures. It’s easy when I’m standing there amidst the Georgian architecture to imagine that the elaborate winged back chair with the vintage upholstery is just what our guest room needs. Only to come home an hour later and get real about the actual dimensions and style of our house!
I think the same thing happens at conferences—everyone is sharing innovative ideas and you want to find ways to bring them back and use them at your institution. So how do you take the inspiration of your peers, but map it back to your very specific goals and culture?
Understanding where your institution is in its philanthropic lifecycle will help you prioritize the kinds of ideas you are looking for, and ultimately help you make good choices about how you design your campaign.