The funding feasibility study is widely considered to be a key component of the capital campaign process, and that was definitely the case here. RCS had to come up with a strategy to raise the funds needed for its renovation without the support of any state funding, and it had no way to guarantee local parents that their children would be able to attend the school and utilize the new facility.
Roxboro Community School’s Managing Executive Director, Natalie Brozy, updating attendees on progress at the campaign kickoff.
To overcome these obstacles, community members were asked to participate in the feasibility study and provide their thoughts on how best to complete renovations to the cotton mill so that the new facility would be an asset to the entire community. This input helped shape the plans for the size and specifications of the renovation so that the finished product would provide a new and much-needed event space for the community.
In order to complete the campaign as quickly as possible, RCS engaged Convergent on a full-time basis, meaning the project director was on-site five days a week, ensuring the campaign moved forward on schedule. Additionally, the project director made the ‘ask’ on behalf of RCS, relieving the staff, board members, and volunteers of the responsibility. Our professional solicitations focused on the return on investment that investors would receive by supporting the new facility, instead of relying on personal connections to justify the pledge amounts requested.
Another unique component of this campaign was the student-run telethon, which was covered by local radio and TV stations. It was important to school officials that students were given the opportunity to take ownership of the campaign, and a telethon was the ideal way to achieve this goal. In just one and a half days, a team of student volunteers was able to raise $100,000 by calling parents, grandparents, and local community businesses. While our team did provide direction and insight on how to most effectively run a telethon, the credit for the success of the telethon definitely belongs with the students, parents, and teachers who committed their time and energy to the event.
