Lessons from a Campaign Trail: Strategic Fundraising Insights with Courtney Leonard

In this episode, Amy Eisenstein of Capital Campaign Pro sits down with fundraising expert Courtney Leonard, who shares her experiences from an 18-year career in philanthropy. Currently serving as the Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Clark University, Courtney delves into the challenges and triumphs of leading a $40 million comprehensive campaign at a small university. Courtney shares how her team leveraged strategic restructuring and pre-campaign planning to ensure they stayed on track while balancing the demands of a swift timeline. She emphasizes the value of cultivating donor relationships during the quiet phase of the campaign and how maintaining open communication with constituents helped build momentum without compromising on strategy. This episode is packed with practical advice for nonprofit leaders, from how to approach capital campaigns in smaller institutions to the importance of following a structured plan. Tune in to hear Courtney's reflections on lessons learned, unexpected challenges, and how the right planning can set a campaign up for long-term success.