Our Blog

Hey Nonprofit Leaders, We have a tough question for you today. This might take a few hours to answer, so buckle in. Would you rather have: $100 ORRRRRR… $102 Tough one, right? Now that we got the sarcasm out of the way, here’s the real question we ask at Midwest Studies Group: If you chose […]

A new capital campaign building can feel like a dream come true. The renderings look amazing, the board is fired up, donors are saying things like “this is transformational,” and suddenly everyone is picturing packed rooms and programs bursting at the seams. It’s exciting. It’s energizing. It’s also the moment where phrases like “we’ll figure […]

The end of the year is here, which means you may be preparing to send out countless donation letters asking supporters to pledge to your organization. Before you dive in, here are a few things to consider: Timing matters. Have you factored in how long it takes to put a mailing together, including design and […]

You might be wondering what the trick might be. To save you some time here is the answer . . . . Step 2. Step 1 comes before Step 2. No trick answer. The end. The concept is so simple YET we waste so much time by trying to constantly make shortcuts: The crazy thing […]

Having a great mission doesn’t guarantee that funding will follow. At Midwest Studies Group, we encounter far too many nonprofit leaders who believe their powerful mission—or a compelling story about one person they helped—is enough to attract donors. Get up and do something. Talk to your funders. Recruit board members who not only love the […]

You’ve got to love those classic Mars Blackmon and Michael Jordan commercials from back in the day. They were a slam . . . (No, we won’t stoop to making that low-hanging of a joke.) But here's the amazing thing: take a random pair of shoes—they might sell, or they might not. Now slap a […]

At Midwest Studies Group, we often work with organizations eager to launch a capital campaign. They come to us with impressive plans, sometimes complete with architectural drawings and a clear sense of purpose. However, there's one crucial step that’s sometimes overlooked: determining if the project is financially feasible. We often hear, "Our project would make […]

At Midwest Studies Group, we are frequently asked about capital campaigns. Fundraising firms often recommend starting with a feasibility study, which is something we’ve discussed before, such as in this post: Want a Successful Feasibility Study? Be a Trombone. When starting a feasibility study, there are two main concerns that often arise: Here are a […]

In just the past 6 months we have been asked many of times at Midwest Studies Group . . . "We want to do a capital campaign. Should we do a strategic plan or feasibility study first?" What a great question this is, as it has a good "chicken or egg" feel to it. As […]

We get asked by clients all the time about how they can get their nonprofits better known in the community. Usually the purpose is because they want to expand their fundraising abilities. If your nonprofit is looking to be seen more in the community, here are just a few tips we give to our clients: […]