Is It Feasible to Do Your Own Feasibility Study? Kate Troelstra Assistant Headmaster for Development Providence Day School Charlotte, NC
Feasibility Study Purpose Assess readiness of the institution Test institutional priorities with key supporters and general constituency Explore potential financial support Identify leaders
What Do You Need to Conduct an Objective Study? Trust Open Mind Time Staff
Benefits of Going In-House Firsthand feedback regarding priorities and potential Great cultivation tool Identify key volunteers Buy-in from staff as well as donors Quantitative and qualitative information
Providence Day Quantitative: Who Did We Talk To? Board of Trustees Key Donors Connectors Started with a list of 100 and ended up with 70 interviews
Providence Day Quantitative What to Ask? General Involvement The Heart of the Matter Wrap-up
Providence Day School General Questions How did you choose PDS? What do you see as strengths of PDS? What do you see as challenges for PDS?
Other General Questions Tell me about your best campus experience. How do you feel about (your institution name here)? What areas of the institution interest you today? How would you rate your interest in the institution?
Providence Day School Involvement Questions Do you volunteer your time with other organizations? If so, which ones? Where do you rate PDS among your philanthropic interests?
Other Involvement Questions How do you select the causes you support? What motivates you to volunteer for an organization? Why do you give to the Annual Fund?
Providence Day School Heart of the Matter Questions Given the following institutional priorities, which do you feel are most important? How much do you think we could raise in a school-wide effort over five years? This is a gift table for a campaign that size. Where do you see yourself if PDS were to move forward with a campaign in the near future? Do you know of anyone else who may be able to help us at that level?
Other Heart of the Matter Questions Have you made a capital gift to any cause? If so, tell me about it. Would you consider making a major gift of $_______ to [your institution] in the next five years? Would you ever consider making a major gift to the institution?
Providence Day School Wrap-up Questions Would you be interested in getting more involved at PDS? (use list) Do you have any concerns about PDS you’d like to share? What is the one thing that, no matter what, should NOT change at PDS?
Other Wrap-up Questions What one piece of advice would you give the institution as it plans for the future? Which classmates do you keep in touch with? How would you rate the institutional publications you receive?
A Fun Ending How would you finish the sentence: When I think of Providence Day School I think of……..
Providence Day Qualitative Who Did We Talk To? Anyone in the PDS community who had an interest 12 information sessions in and around Charlotte
Information Session Format Where? In someone’s home On campus Uptown for lunch What? Coffee/dessert Program follows social time 90 minutes total in length
Information Session Content Focus on school priorities Give some historical perspective Great opportunity for education We used our Board of Advisors as a sounding board for the presentation
Information Session Questions What priority is most important to you? What do you see as challenges for PDS in the future? What is the one thing at PDS that shouldn’t be changed?
Ratings The Other Piece of the Puzzle Electronic screenings Peer screenings Analysis of giving to your institution Rate Everyone!!!
Then what? Priority decisions General readiness feedback Potential goal Prospect analysis Interview results Double Productivity
The Final Report Introduction (method) Priorities Timing (readiness) Goal Key findings Recommendations Appendices (timeline, interview questions, interviewees, materials)
What Couldn’t Be Said The Down Side to Doing It Yourself
QUESTIONS?