SUCCESS STORY
Dayton Children’s
Ohio-based pediatric hospital foundation launches a comprehensive campaign to support the behavioral and mental health continuum of care, care transformation, and optimal child health outcomes.
The Situation
Research has shown that 80 percent of a child’s health is determined by his or her environment. But many children face significant barriers to optimal health, especially in Ohio, which ranks toward the bottom of national health-metric lists. For more than a half century, Dayton Children’s has provided exceptional medical care in more than 35 specialties to the region’s babies, children, and teens. They realized the need to expand innovative and advocacy programs, including mental health services, to keep the youth of their region thriving. They also realized the crucial role philanthropy would play in enhancing their offerings and programs. Yet Dayton Children’s had completed a capital fundraising project for an eight-story patient tower only a few years prior. Did supporters have continued interest in supporting Dayton Children’s and their efforts to meet the emergent needs of those they serve?
The Solution
Graham-Pelton partnered with Dayton Children’s on a Campaign Readiness Assessment and Planning Study for a five-year, comprehensive fundraising campaign. Through dozens of internal and external strategic discussions, as well as two focus groups, we gathered insights from the community to inform the direction of the campaign and the early case for support, which focuses on behavioral and mental health, optimizing child health outcomes, and care transformation.
In addition to the Campaign Readiness Assessment and Planning Study, Graham-Pelton partnered with the Foundation to develop their prospect pool by conducting a wealth screening and research, as well as giving high-level guidance on top prospect cultivation and solicitation strategies. Recognizing the importance of campaign leadership, we also trained campaign staff and volunteers and counseled Foundation leadership on the formation of a campaign plan that will guide efforts in the years ahead.
The Success
By providing a detailed timeline and recommendations for the initial planning phase, quiet phase, and public phase of the campaign, Graham-Pelton provided Dayton Children’s with the tools needed to successfully execute their comprehensive fundraising effort, including a renewed focus on building the culture of giving through annual support, expanding the partnership with physicians, aligning Foundation staff, and elevating board support.
