Is It Feasible to Do Your Own Feasibility Study?

Kate TroelstraAssistant Headmaster for Development

Providence Day SchoolCharlotte, 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 QuantitativeWhat to Ask?

General Involvement The Heart of the Matter Wrap-up

Providence Day SchoolGeneral 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 SchoolInvolvement 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 SchoolWrap-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 QualitativeWho 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?

RatingsThe 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 SaidThe Down Side to Doing It Yourself

QUESTIONS?