Capital Campaign Consulting

Your heritage campaign begins with expert capital consulting

We plan and run capital campaigns for arts charities and cultural institutions. Our team helps with feasibility studies, campaign strategy, major donor cultivation, statutory funding applications, and full campaign management. Everything is tailored to UK funders and the needs of arts organisations.

Black and white Iconic Royal Albert Hall in London, Da

Who This Service Is For

  • Cultural organisations planning building projects or venue upgrades.

  • Museums, galleries, theatres, and arts centres aiming for multi-year capital funding.

  • Arts charities seeking major gifts or statutory match funding.

  • Boards and trustees that need a structured campaign plan before committing.

  • Organisations that want an independent feasibility assessment.

What We Offer

  • Campaign strategy and planning

    We set campaign goals and fundraising targets that make sense for your organisation. We map out income streams and timelines. The campaign aims are aligned with funder priorities and your audience’s needs.

  • Feasibility study and readiness review

    We test whether your project can realistically meet its capital target. This includes interviewing stakeholders, major donors, and trustees. We check financial assumptions and project risks, then provide a clear recommendation and phased plan.

  • Major donor and statutory funding strategy

    We identify likely major donors, relevant government or lottery grants, and trust funders. We build stewardship plans and cultivation paths for each. Our team creates tailored approaches for private donors, trusts, and public funders.

  • Campaign management and delivery

    We manage the campaign from kickoff to close. This includes maintaining timelines, budgets, and donor engagement records. We coordinate the creation of fundraising materials and plan donor events as needed.

  • Case for support and campaign materials

    We write a compelling case for support and adapt it for proposals, brochures, bid packs, and donor meetings. We also prepare supporting documents and template reports to use during the campaign.

  • Communications, donor engagement, and events

    We help design campaign communications for public appeals and major donor briefings. We can plan launch events, VIP tours, and donor recognition activities that fit your budget and audience.

  • Training, handover, and internal capacity building

    We train your team to manage fundraising after the campaign. Sessions cover donor stewardship, reporting, and integrating the campaign into long-term fundraising. We make sure you’re set up to succeed post-campaign.

A Group of People Looking at the Laptop
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London, UK

Why work with us

  • We specialise in arts and cultural fundraising, so we know the funding landscape.

  • We understand funder expectations in the UK and how to meet them.

  • We balance ambition with realistic budgets and timelines.

  • We focus on practical plans that your team can actually deliver.

  • We provide clear reports that help your trustees make decisions confidently.

Get Started

How We Work

  • Project scoping

    We start with a briefing with your trustees and senior staff to understand the project.

  • Feasibility research

    We conduct stakeholder interviews and funder research to test the case.

  • Strategy development

    We deliver a campaign strategy and financial model based on our findings.

  • Case and materials

    We prepare a compelling case for support that you’ll need for donors and funders.

  • Cultivation and bids

    We support major donor cultivation and begin writing key grant applications.

  • Campaign delivery

    We help oversee the campaign implementation, reporting, and a final handover to your team.

FAQs

  • It includes interviews with staff, trustees, and potential donors. We test project costs, timeline, and donor interest. You receive a clear go/no-go recommendation along with options.

  • Smaller capital projects might run 6–9 months. Large appeals can span 1–3 years from planning to completion. The timeline depends on your target, donor readiness, and external funding cycles.

  • We will prepare applications and guide you through submissions. We can’t guarantee any grant (no one can), but we will improve the quality of your bids to boost your chances.

  • Yes. We often collaborate with in-house staff, design agencies, or PR teams you’ve already hired. We set clear roles and updates to avoid duplication of effort.

  • It varies based on the campaign scope and length. After an initial consultation, we’ll provide a detailed proposal with a clear cost breakdown and options.

Next Steps

Book a free 20-minute consultation to discuss your capital project and get a proposal with timeline. Feel free to email info@aliraarts.co.uk or visit our contact page to get in touch.