Capital Development Services has worked with Transitions LifeCare since long before it was called “Transitions,” and even before Hospice of Wake County had a residential hospice home in Wake County.
CapDev started working with Hospice of Wake County as the organization was formulating plans for its first major campaign to build a residential hospice. Since the completion of that successful campaign in the 1990s, CapDev has led the organization through a second successful major capital campaign, conducted a search for its development VP, and has produced a development assessment/plan to guide the organization into its next phase of philanthropy.
All of this work has been ably led by Senior Counsel, Ann Thomas, of whom Transitions LifeCare CEO, John Thoma, said, “Ann Thomas has been a trusted advisor for Transitions LifeCare, founded Hospice of Wake County, for over a decade. Ann has guided Transitions LifeCare through two successful capital campaigns that have improved access to care for thousands of individuals struggling with serious illness and their families. Ann is very knowledgeable yet not overbearing. She works well with volunteers, staff, the executive team and the board of directors by enhancing teamwork and a common vision for success.”
Key to Transitions’ success has always been its leadership – from the top staff level to board and campaign leadership. The leaders of this organization are happy to give their all to support it.
Transitions LifeCare is an excellent example of the four key components CapDev espouses for building a culture of philanthropy:
• Infrastructure: Assessing and establishing a core strength in staffing, database, record management systems, materials and processes is essential to executing development plans
• Case for Support: A well-written case demonstrates not only what clients do and how, but also why their services are critical to the community they serve, as well as aligning leadership in support of the nonprofit’s priorities
• Donors: Knowing and growing the nonprofit’s circle of supporters is critical to the process of identifying and retaining individual, corporate and foundation donors
• Leadership: Without good leadership at the helm, no fund development initiative can succeed. Enlisting a well-connected board and recruiting top staff makes or breaks campaigns, and pulls these four elements together