This document outlines the timeline and details of a $1 billion endowment campaign conducted by The Chicago Community Trust from 2008-2016. It involved preparing for 7 years through feasibility studies and hiring staff before launching. The campaign had goals of raising $500 million for business as usual and $500 million for endowment. Through solicitation of estate commitments and converting family foundations to donor advised funds, the campaign surpassed its $1 billion goal two years early in 2013 and continued raising funds until concluding in 2015.

1. A MODEL ENDOWMENT CAMPAIGN
THAT WORKS
(FOR ANY SIZE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION!)
Jamie Phillippe, CFRE
Vice President of Development and Donor Services
The Chicago Community Trust
October 18, 2014

2. Timeline:
 Prepare April 2008 – September 2009
 Launch & Conduct October 2009 –
December 2015
 Close & Recognize December 2015 –
May 2016

3. Types of Gifts:
 Estate Commitments
 Conversion of Family Foundations to
Donor Advised Endowment Funds

4. Dollar Goals
“
“Business as Usual”
$500,000,000
“Endowment”
$500,000,000
Total
$1,000,000,000

5. Volunteer Leadership Organization Chart
Civic Leadership
Committee
Co-Chair
Co-Chair
Campaign Committee
Chair
Campaign Marketing
Committee
Chair
Stewardship Committee
Chair

6. Timeframe:
Preparation
April 2008 – September 2009
 Seven development/donor services staff
hired
 Study Committee convened
 Feasibility Study conducted
 Internal Assessment conducted
 Donor Perception Survey conducted

7. Implementation
Timeframe:
October – December 2009
 October: Campaign launched
 Volunteer Leaders recruited for 4 committees
 Inaugural committee meetings held

8. Implementation: (continued)
2010
 January: New donor database/CRM system
installed
 May: Established Legacy Society
 May: First solicitations occur
 May: Marshall Field converts family foundation
to DAEF
 July: Marshall Field confirms CCT is in his
estate for $60 M
 CCT holds 95th Anniversary event
 Dec: Total raised - $148 M

9. Implementation: (continued)
2011
 Jan: Gift policies
approved
 96th Anniversary event
held
 Dec: Total raised - $410
M
2012
 CCT hosts Nobel
Summit
 May: First marketing
material complete ($680
M raised)
 Dec: Total raised - $718
M

10. Implementation: (continued)
2013
 April: 98th Anniversary event held
 June: Secondary Campaign marketing
materials ready ($910 M raised)
 December 4: Campaign surpasses $1B two
years ahead of schedule (endowment
bucket is undersubscribed)

11. Implementation: (continued)
2014
 Feb: Campaign Committee sunsetted
 Select Volunteer Leaders retained as
Campaign Cabinet
 May: CCT hosts 99th Anniversary event, “On
The Table”
 July: Endowment goal bucket is met
 October: Total is at $1,162,000,000

12. Implementation: (continued)
2015
 Dec: Campaign
will conclude
 Total raised: ?
TBD
2016
 May/June:
Appreciation and
recognition events
will be held