Feasibility
Studies
Are you fundraising ready?
Preparing to raise large sums of money requires a laser-like focus on where gifts are going to come from and who might be best to secure them. A Gifted Feasibility Study is a qualitative research process that addresses your organisation’s readiness to mount a capital fundraising campaign. It’s based on a series of confidential, behind the scenes interviews with a cross-section of your organisation’s leaders, givers, influential friends, staff members and other prospective supporters.
Key Benefits
- Establishing how ready you are to embark on a capital campaign or major fundraising endeavour
- Identifying what resources you need to deliver immediate, short and long-term fundraising goals
- Understanding where alternative courses of action might prove more suitable for your organisation's needs
- Revealing potential leaders and givers for any future fundraising campaign
What do you need to know?
As well as providing answers to timescale, milestone and resourcing questions, your Study will determine:
1 – Case for Support – do people support and believe in your vision?
2 – Money – where are the top ten to fifteen gifts that will typically deliver as much as half of your fundraising target?
3 – Leadership – which people are prepared to lead by example, make a gift themselves and ask others to join them?
The Study is an opportunity to engage with your most valued supporters to seek the benefits of their wisdom, before you embark upon a major fundraising venture. The combination of influence and affluence these supporters might, especially when it comes realising your vision, is a critical factor. When directly engaged through a Study, often their access to others with these qualities helps open doors that have previously been considered inaccessible.
"By utilising an independent company to conduct a feasibility study we have gained invaluable insight into our donor community. Furthermore Chris’ experience and approach to his work made the process very smooth and he put the participants at ease. Feedback from interviewees about the process and their experience has been extremely positive."
The key elements of a Feasibility Study
Planning and undertaking a Feasibility Study, whatever the size or shape of your organisation, usually involves the following tools:
Further information
- Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust
- ADVANCE charity
- Age UK, Herefordshire & Worcestershire
- Alameda Institute
- Aylesbury High School
- Bede's School
- Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust
- Bolton NHS Charitable Foundation
- Bradford Hospitals' Charity
- Bretforton Grange and Theatrebarn
- British Judo Association
- British School at Rome
- Calderdale & Huddersfield NHS Charity
- Camphill Milton Keynes Communities
- Canterbury Cathedral Trust
- Challenging MND
- Chigwell School
- CARA/Universities UK
- Castle Froma Neuro Care
- Chesham Grammar School
- CPRE Peak District & South Yorkshire
- Dr Challoner's Grammar School
- Dr Frost Learning
- Dr Johnson's House Trust
- Dublin Bay City Council
- Essex & Herts Air Ambulance Trust
- English Heritage
- Gloucester Cathedral
- Godolphin & Latymer School
- Great St Bartholomew's London
- Horris Hill School
- John Thornhill Memorial Trust
- King Edward VI Camphill School for Boys
- Kenilworth School and Sixth Form
- Kent Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Service
- Lancaster Royal Grammar School
- Lapal Canal Trust
- Leeds Children's Charity
- Link4Life
- Lord Williams's School
- Malvern St James Girls' School
- Mid Yorkshire Hospitals' charity
- Moulsford School
- National Rehabilitation Centre (NRC)
- Nene Park Trust
- Myton Hospice
- Pangbourne College
- Peterborough Cathedral
- Queen Street School Preservation Trust
- Richmond House School
- Riverside School
- Rochdale Development Agency
- Royal Veterinary College
- RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield & Bradford
- Saffron Walden Almshouses
- Shree Krishna Mandir, Leamington Spa
- Skinners School
- Society of Chemical Industry
- St James the Great old Milverton
- St Luke's Church Lodge Moor
- St Mary's Beverley
- St Mary's Collegiate Church Warwick
- St Peter's Church Stockton
- Stratford Upon Avon Rugby Club
- Stratford Upon Avon School
- Team Domenica
- The Air Ambulance Service
- The Airey Neave Trust
- The Egypt Exploration Society
- The Goldsmiths' Company
- The Kennel Club Charitable Trust
- The Lord Leycester Hospital
- The North Yorkshire Moors Historical Railway Trust
- The Skinners' Company
- The Omère Foundation, Dubai
- Treetops Hospice
- Ullswater Yacht Club
- Uttoxeter Heritage Trust
- Vintage Trains Charitable Trust
- Wakefield Grammar School Foundation
- Wimbledon High School
Feasibility Studies
Campaign Management
Strategy Reviews and Development Audits
Periodic Consulting
Legacies
Communications
Feasibility study resources
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List
Bringing Partners together in a joint fundraising initiative.
akt, National LGBTQ+ Youth Homelessness Charity
Finding a bespoke solution for your charity.
The Lord Leycester Hospital
Achieving success with the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Bede's School
Investing in a feasibility study can be the fuel for your fundraising ambitions.
How To Appoint A Fundraising Consultancy
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Conducting A Feasbility Study
Finding A Way Through Your Next Fundraising Challenge
Advice For Health And Welfare
Advice For Sports And Recreation
Advice For Churches And Cathedrals
Update - Spring/Summer 2026
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Spring/Summer 2026.
Update - Autumn/Winter 2025
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Autumn/Winter 2025.
Update - Spring/Summer 2025
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Spring/Summer 2025.
Update - Autumn/Winter 2024
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Autumn/Winter 2024.
Update - Spring/Summer 2024
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Spring/Summer 2024.
Update - Autumn/Winter 2023
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Autumn/Winter 2023.
Update - Spring/Summer 2023
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Spring/Summer 2023.
Update - Autumn/Winter 2022
Read about the latest Gifted updates from Autumn/Winter 2022.
Update - Autumn/Winter 2021
Update - Spring/Summer 2021
Update - Autumn/Winter 2020
Update - Spring/Summer 2020
Update - Autumn/Winter 2019
Update - Spring/Summer 2019
Update - Autumn/Winter 2018
Update - Spring/Summer 2018
Update - Autumn/Winter 2017
Update - Spring/Summer 2017
Update - Autumn/Winter 2016
Gifted Talks Fundraising Podcast 7: Myths of fundraising
In this episode, we discuss some of the most common fundraising myths encountered, including :
- The misconception that companies and grantfunders will be the biggest givers.
- That the campaign leaders only need to give time.
- Launching ambitious development programmes without making a commensurate investment in effective campaign management.
Please send your questions or suggestions for future discussion topics to: [email protected]
Gifted Talks Fundraising Podcast 2: Planning your next Christmas/Winter Campaign
Gifted Directors Amy Stevens, Chris Goldie and Andrew Day share their extensive fundraising experience, reflecting on current challenges and emerging opportunities across the Third Sector. These candid "kitchen table" conversations offer practical insights and helpful tips on a range of fundraising topics.
In this episode, we discuss how to turn the season of 'good cheer' into fundraising success:
- Being clear about the objectives for your Christmas Campaign.
- When is the best time to engage your prospects?
- Are Christmas Cards worth the effort?
- Keeping the engagement personal, and meaningful.
Please send your questions or suggestions for future discussion topics to: [email protected]
Gifted Talks Fundraising Podcast 1: School Bursaries - fundraising that changes lives
Gifted Directors Amy Stevens, Chris Goldie and Andrew Day share their extensive fundraising experience, reflecting on current challenges and emerging opportunities across the Third Sector. These candid "kitchen table" conversations offer practical insights and helpful tips on a range of fundraising topics.
In this episode, we discuss how the bursaries at independent schools:
- Have a powerful fundraising case.
- Are grounded in a long history of educational philanthropy.
- Not only transform the prospects for specific children, but strengthen the overall school culture.
Please send your questions or suggestions for future discussion topics to: [email protected]
Feasibility Studies
2025 Trusts and Foundations Insights Survey
Our latest report on the trends, challenges and opportunities in the Trusts and Foundations sector.
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