St. John's School

St. John’s School in Houston, TX, embarked on the largest campaign in their history with a $50 million goal when the Director of Development received an offer for his dream job as headmaster of another school.  At the same time the key campaign staffer was diagnosed with a fatal illness which quickly incapacitated her.

GGTS was able to provide stability and continuity for both the campaign and the ongoing development program during several months of staffing turmoil.  Providing mentoring to other staff members, GGTS guided and completed the majority of the campaign through the direction of the former Annual Giving director who had no previous campaign experience.  Not only did GGTS provide the counsel and education which led to the successful conclusion of the campaign, the consultant was able to assist St. John’s School as they hired a new experienced Director of Development.

Family and Children's Center

When Family and Children's Center (FCC) called GGTS in January 2005 to conduct a campaign readiness study for their first capital campaign they did so with confidence in the 58-year old firm.  The LaCrosse, Wisconsin human services agency had used GGTS several years earlier to help build their advancement infrastructure and improve the impact of their board.  "Frankly, everything our GGTS consultant told us to do back then was spot-on," says John Burgess, CEO. 

With an impressive track record for serving the human services needs of Western Wisconsin and Southeastern Minnesota, FCC had both capital and annual fund needs.  The campaign readiness study conducted by GGTS discovered potential for major and annual gifts from both existing donors as well as business and community leaders who had never given before. 
 
"We were delighted with the thorough research and service we received from GGTS, says Burgess, "the study identified new prospects and laid out a plan for cultivating those relationships.  We received one gift of $1 million dollars, one for $500,000 and another of $250,000 from individuals who had never given to FCC before."

Marian High School

When Marian High School decided a few years ago to fine tune its advancement program, they called on GGTS to assist.  Today, the Annual Fund has more than doubled, from $198,000 to over $400,000 each year.  The Fund now has multiple gifts of $10,000+, a significant increase from top gifts of less than $2,000.  The Marian Society, the new planned giving recognition society, boasts more than 30 members, up from only one or two know planned giving arrangements previously.  Involvement of Board members in advancement has grown significantly over the years.  The Board provides approximately 12% of the Annual Fund and assists in soliciting gifts each year.  The School has launched a capital campaign with a goal of $10 million, exponentially larger than its last campaign of $3.5 million.  The partnership between Marian High School and GGTS has resulted in a more sophisticated advancement program and significantly more funds for the school.

Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary

In the midst of a significant economic downturn in November of 2000, AMBS engaged GGTS to assist with preparation for a much needed comprehensive campaign to build their endowment, construct a new library, and sustain the annual fund. With a compelling case for support, the strong commitment of the President and development staff, a solid campaign plan, and support and counsel from GGTS, AMBS boldly launched a $20 million campaign. 

 In January 2006, having survived an economic recession, a transition of advancement vice presidents and the death of a key development officer, AMBS exceeded its campaign goal and in 2008 they dedicated their new, state of the art library.  Throughout the entire five year campaign, AMBS successfully sustained its annual fund on which they depend for more than 40% of the yearly operating budget.  GGTS was pleased to provide counsel throughout this successful campaign and congratulates AMBS for a stellar performance in achieving and surpassing its goals and conducting the most significant campaign in its history.

Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary located in Elkhart, Indiana, serves the Mennonite Church USA and the Mennonite Church Canada.

Missionaries of the Precious Blood

With declining revenue, a fledgling development office, a small but committed donor base, and no campaign experience, Missionaries of the Precious Blood located in Dayton, Ohio, decided to explore their readiness to conduct a comprehensive campaign in the fall of 2004.  MOPB engaged GGTS as counsel for their first campaign in more than 40 years, a visionary $7 million effort to provide program support and endowment for their mission programs in Central and South America, undergird their current operations, and fund a significant capital project to provide housing for their senior members. 

Campbell University

Campbell University, a Baptist affiliated university in Buies Creek, North Carolina. began working with GGTS in 1969 when it was the two-year Campbell College. Campbell College hired GGTS consultant Dr. Robert Stuhr to help fulfill the college’s vision of becoming a four-year institution with a major graduate school. Now a comprehensive university comprised of an undergraduate college as well as five graduate schools all of which aim to intertwine Christian ideals with higher learning, the University has worked with three generations of GGTS consultants, over a 35 plus year partnership. Campbell University is now one of the leading Baptist universities in the United States.

In 2008, Campbell University dedicated the new 3,500 student John W. Pope Jr. Convocation Center. This building is home to the basketball and volleyball courts as well as host to other major events. Under the guidance of GGTS, Campbell University successfully raised all of the funds for this $34 million project using only philanthropic sources. Instrumental to this success was GGTS’s guidance on actively engaging selected Board members, Presidential Advisors, major donors, and local community leaders to serve as volunteer leaders for this campaign. University leaders also worked closely with the Campaign Cabinet on donor identification, cultivation, and gift solicitation. Through its partnership with GGTS, Campbell University organized, launched, and completed this campaign in just three years.

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy

Hillcrest Lutheran Academy is a two-year junior high and four-year high school located in Fergus Falls, MN.  As a school focused on providing a Christian, holistic education, Hillcrest recognized both the need for fundraising success as well as their need for comprehensive advancement counsel.

After choosing GGTS in 2007 to assist them in strengthening their advancement program and to help prepare for and execute their first comprehensive campaign,  Hillcrest implemented a system of personal donor visits and expanded volunteer involvement in their advancement program.  

Despite a limited history of donor visits and volunteer involvement in the advancement program, Hillcrest was pleased to receive enthusiastic and positive responses from donors and volunteers alike.  Additionally, a prospect identification and evaluation program was instituted and has proven to be successful.   A campaign readiness study indentified major gift prospects, and based on conversations with the GGTS consultant, most of the strategic initiatives of the campaign found support and at gift levels substantially greater than previously experienced by the institution.  GGTS is grateful for the opportunity to serve Hillcrest Lutheran Academy, providing counsel so that they are positioned to achieve the highest gift totals in their history.