Feasibility Studies

Preparing to raise large sums of money requires a laser-like focus on finding out where gifts are likely to come from and who is best to secure them.

What is a Feasibility Study?

A Gifted feasibility study is a qualitative research process that usually 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.

In some respects, the study can be regarded as a visit to your organisation’s most respected and valued supporters to seek the benefits of their wisdom, before you embark upon a major venture. The combination of the influence that these supporters might have on key prospects and their willingness to use what affluence they have, to help realise the 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.

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:

The key benefits

  • You will establish just how ready you are to embark on a capital campaign or major fundraising endeavour
  • You will be able to identify what resources you need to deliver immediate, short and long-term fundraising goals
  • You will be able to identify where alternative courses of action might prove more suitable for your organisation's needs
  • The study will reveal potential leaders and givers for any future fundraising campaign

Your study needs to focus on three key questions:

In addition to 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?

"Gifted provided us with an insightful Feasibility Study which gives the Governing Body at DCGS the confidence and reassurance to press ahead with a number of ambitious fundraising plans. Participants who took part in the study really enjoyed meeting with Chris and appreciated his professionalism. We are delighted with the end results."
Clare Atkinson, Director of Development, Dr Challoners Grammar School, Deputy Chair IDPE

"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."
Henrietta Carter-Mayers, Putney High School

Further information

Client assignments
  • Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust
  • Aylesbury High School
  • Bede's School
  • Beds & Herts Historic Churches Trust
  • Bolton NHS Charitable Foundation
  • Bradford Hospitals' Charity
  • British Judo Association
  • British School at Rome
  • Camphill Milton Keynes Communities
  • Canterbury Cathedral Trust
  • 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
  • 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
  • Nene Park Trust
  • Myton Hospice
  • Pangbourne College
  • Peterborough Cathedral
  • Queen Street School Preservation Trust
  • Richmond House School
  • Riverside School
  • Rochdale Development Agency
  • Saffron Walden Almshouses
  • St Peter's Church Stockton
  • Society of Chemical Industry
  • St Luke's Church Lodge Moor
  • St Mary's Collegiate Church Warwick
  • Stratford Upon Avon Rugby Club
  • Stratford Upon Avon School
  • The Air Ambulance Service
  • The Airey Neave Trust
  • 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
Services list

Feasibility Studies
Campaign Management

Strategy Reviews and Development Audits
Periodic Consulting

Legacies
Communications

Feasibility study resources

Webinar Videos

Trust Foundation Report Insights

Gifted Asking: Asking Well

Gifted Asking: Getting Ready To Ask

How Can Churches Come Back Stronger?

Winter Webinar Three: Getting Back To Asking

Webinar One: Planning For A Major Project

Insights Videos

Finding A Way Through Your Next Fundraising Challenge

Advice For Health And Welfare

Advice For Sports And Recreation

Advice For Churches And Cathedrals

Newsletters

Update - Spring/Summer 2023

Read about the latest Gifted updates from Spring/Summer 2023.

View Newsletter

Update - Autumn/Winter 2022

Read about the latest Gifted updates from Autumn/Winter 2022.

View Newsletter

Update - Autumn/Winter 2021

View Newsletter

Update - Spring/Summer 2021

View Newsletter

Update - Autumn/Winter 2020

View Newsletter

Update - Spring/Summer 2020

View Newsletter

Update - Autumn/Winter 2019

View Newsletter

Update - Spring/Summer 2019

View Newsletter

Update - Autumn/Winter 2018

View Newsletter

Update - Spring/Summer 2018

View Newsletter

Update - Autumn/Winter 2017

View Newsletter

Update - Spring/Summer 2017

View Newsletter

Update - Autumn/Winter 2016

View Newsletter

Service Videos

Feasibility Studies

Surveys

The Fundraising Landscape - Survey Results

View Survey

Guides

How To Appoint A Fundraising Consultancy

View Guide

The National Lottery Heritage Fund

View Guide

Conducting A Feasbility Study

View Guide

Find out more

To arrange a no-obligation discussion of your fundraising needs, contact [email protected]