The Situation
The organization’s attendance and cultural and educational programs were growing as the facility was crumbling. With no major work done for over 50 years, the building lacked critical safety and accessibility features, and could no longer accommodate the growing needs of its patrons. Though attendance and membership had increased steadily, the organization had done little to pursue major gifts.
The Solution
The theatre screened its list of 9,000 members, donors and patrons which it had collected in Agile Ticketing with DonorSearch, and discovered more than half were potential major donors. The screening uncovered a number of connections between Belcourt board members, supports and staff and potential major donors, as well as projected ask amounts. That data was loaded into DonorPerfect to manage. The theatre also rebranded itself to raise awareness of their status as a nonprofit.
The Results
Over $2.2 million alone was raised from 50 donors. The theatre began the renovations when it raised 80% of its original goal; the goal was later increased to $5 million. Reconstruction was completed in 2016. The theatre also reinvigorated its sustaining annual giving society, the Hillsboro Society, as a way to recruit and further cultivate new major donors as discovered through extensive research from the capital campaign.
