Capital investment

Capital campaigns are more than raising money to get a new building.  They are an opportunity to transform your archive service or organisation. A capital campaign can build the overall strategic focus, increase delivery capacity and multiply the public benefit achieved by your organisation, as well as laying the foundation for substantially improved ongoing fundraising.

This presentation will help you to understand:

  • what is involved in a capital campaign
  • how to lay the foundations for a successful capital campaign
  • how to develop a vision and strategy and get others involved
  • the phases in developing a capital campaign plan
  • how campaigns can be used to continue relationships and grow fundraising

The presentation will also help you assess your organisational readiness for a capital campaign and includes a Case Study on The Women’s Library.

This example of setting a fundraising goal will help you think about the resources required for a capital campaign.

Developing capital campaign prospect analysis and gift tables will help you understand if you have a big enough pool or ‘pipeline’ of potential donors for your campaign.

This case study shows how Plymouth and West Devon Record Office built a successful and diverse partnership to lead an ambitious capital project for heritage in the South West.

Planning and delivering a new archive building or store or refurbishing an existing building can be a significant challenge. The National Archives facilitates a networking group called MAPLE that enables organisations to share information about planning and managing such projects. You may find the related guidance helpful.

This case study illustrates how the Black Cultural Archives secured investment from a range of supporters including the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Mayor of London, Lambeth Council, Foyle Foundation, Bloomberg, Biffa Award and Garfield Weston.

There are various sources of funding that your project may be eligible for too.