A major university in Michigan is preparing to launch the public phase of its third comprehensive fundraising campaign and is seeking a partner to provide comprehensive campaign counsel services. The campaign has ambitious goals to inspire significant philanthropic support, enhance the university’s visibility, and mobilize donors, alumni, faculty, staff, students, and community partners around a unified vision for the future.

The ideal partner will possess extensive experience in higher education and mission-driven fundraising campaigns. Responsibilities include assessing and enhancing the principal and transformational gift pipeline, advising on prospect strategy and management for top-level donors, and providing strategies to sustain campaign momentum and donor engagement, especially during periods of leadership transition. The selected firm will also support university leadership and campaign volunteers in deepening engagement with principal donors.

Additional services include recommending compelling structures and rationales for institutional investments and campaign-related costs, offering models for coordinated campaign planning across academic and administrative units, and suggesting flexible policies and governance practices for effective campaign management and stakeholder involvement.