An objective test of your goal, your donors’ readiness and your organization’s capacity — before you go public.
A capital campaign feasibility study is one of the most valuable investments a nonprofit can make before launching a major fundraising effort. It provides an objective assessment of whether a proposed campaign goal is realistic, identifies the philanthropic capacity and readiness of key prospective donors, and surfaces organizational strengths and gaps that will affect success.
What a Feasibility Study Typically Includes
A thorough study generally involves:
- Confidential interviews with board members, major donors, community leaders, and other key stakeholders
- Analysis of the organization’s giving history, donor pipeline, and previous campaign results
- Assessment of internal readiness, including staffing, systems, and board engagement
- Testing of the preliminary Case for Support and campaign goal
- Clear recommendations regarding goal, timeline, leadership structure, and next steps
Why Feasibility Studies Matter
Campaigns launched without adequate testing frequently encounter avoidable problems: goals that prove unreachable, insufficient leadership donor support, unclear messaging, or internal capacity shortfalls. A well-executed feasibility study reduces these risks by grounding decisions in evidence rather than optimism alone. It also begins the quiet cultivation of leadership donors and helps build early ownership of the campaign among key stakeholders.
What Does a Capital Campaign Feasibility Study Cost?
The cost of a capital campaign feasibility study varies according to the size and complexity of the organization, the proposed campaign, the number and location of interviews, the amount of preliminary research required and the level of senior consulting involvement.
Price alone, however, should not determine how a study is designed.
The more important question is whether the study will reach the people whose leadership and financial participation can establish whether the proposed campaign goal is realistic. A lower-cost study that interviews the wrong prospects may produce reassuring information without answering the most important question: can this organization secure the leadership and major gifts required to reach its goal?
The Huddleston Group scopes each Campaign Planning & Feasibility Study individually and provides the proposed professional fee and anticipated expenses before the engagement begins.
Organizations considering a study are welcome to contact us for a confidential discussion of the proposed campaign and an appropriate scope of work.
For a detailed description of our study process, see our Campaign Planning & Feasibility Study services.
The Huddleston Group Approach
The Huddleston Group conducts feasibility studies that are rigorous, respectful of participants’ time, and directly useful to decision-makers. Our process draws on more than four decades of senior campaign experience and is tailored to each organization’s size, sector, and culture. Findings are presented clearly, with actionable recommendations that position the organization for a successful quiet phase and public campaign.
Organizations that complete a thoughtful feasibility study enter their campaigns with greater clarity, stronger leadership commitment, and a higher probability of achieving or exceeding their goals.
Related reading
- Campaign Planning & Feasibility Studies — how we deliver a study as an engagement
- What is a Campaign Planning & Feasibility Study?
- Importance of the Campaign Feasibility Study
To discuss whether a feasibility study is the right next step for your organization, contact The Huddleston Group at (602) 920-3775 or ron@thehuddlestongroup.com.
About Ron J. Huddleston, CFRE, FAHP
Ron J. Huddleston, CFRE, FAHP, is President of The Huddleston Group. He brings more than four decades of fundraising and nonprofit executive experience and has advised organizations on capital campaigns, campaign planning and feasibility studies, major gifts, planned giving, board development and philanthropic strategy.