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:
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?
Further information
- 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
Feasibility Studies
Campaign Management
Strategy Reviews and Development Audits
Periodic Consulting
Legacies
Communications
Feasibility study resources
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 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 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
Feasibility Studies
The Fundraising Landscape - Survey Results
How To Appoint A Fundraising Consultancy
The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Conducting A Feasbility Study
Find out more
To arrange a no-obligation discussion of your fundraising needs, contact [email protected]