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Arts capital campaign consulting

Raise major investment for your arts, culture or heritage project with a clear, fundable strategy. We plan and deliver capital campaigns in the UK, across Europe and internationally.

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What we help you achieve

A clear and realistic fundraising target, wherever your organisation is based.
A tested case for support that resonates with funders and donors.
A major donor strategy tailored to your network, sector and geography.
A funding mix plan across trusts, statutory sources and philanthropy.
A campaign roadmap your team and trustees can confidently deliver.

What we offer

Campaign strategy and planning

Goals and targets that make sense for your organisation, mapped to income streams and timelines.

Feasibility studies

We assess whether your project is fundable and how to position it, ending in a clear go or no-go recommendation.

Major donor and funding strategy

Donor pipeline, trusts and foundations, statutory alignment and campaign phasing.

Campaign management and delivery

From kickoff to close: timelines, budgets, donor records and campaign materials.

Case for support and materials

Your project explained clearly and persuasively, with key messaging and donor-facing materials.

Communications and events

Campaign communications, launch events, VIP tours and donor recognition to fit your budget.

Training and handover

We train your team to manage fundraising after the campaign ends.

Talk to us about your project

Why work with us

We have run capital campaigns from £250K to £5M+, in the UK and internationally.
We build a feasibility study into every campaign, so you know your target is realistic before you commit.
We work with your board and leadership team, not around them.
We stay with you through delivery and handover, not just the planning stage.

Questions we are asked

  • A capital campaign is a focused fundraising effort to raise a significant amount of money for a specific project, such as a building, refurbishment, or long-term infrastructure investment.

    For arts organisations, this often includes:

    • Theatre or studio renovations

    • New cultural or community spaces

    • Accessibility improvements

    • Equipment or digital infrastructure

    Unlike regular fundraising, a capital campaign is typically time-limited and structured in phases, combining income from trusts and foundations, public funding (such as Arts Council England or National Lottery), and major donors.

  • You should start a feasibility study before launching any capital campaign or approaching major funders.

    A feasibility study is usually needed when:

    • You have a defined project idea but no confirmed fundraising target

    • You are considering applying for large grants (e.g. Arts Council or Lottery funding)

    • Your board or leadership team needs confidence in the project’s viability

    • You are unsure how much you can realistically raise

    Starting early helps you avoid overestimating income, strengthens your case for support, and ensures your campaign is built on realistic assumptions.

  • 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.

  • Most arts capital campaigns rely on a mixed funding model, rather than a single source of income.

    A typical funding mix may include:

    • Trusts and foundations

    • Public funding (e.g. Arts Council England, National Lottery Heritage Fund, local authorities)

    • Major donors and philanthropic gifts

    • Corporate partnerships (in some cases)

    The exact balance depends on your organisation, project scale, and network. For many arts organisations, public funding and trusts form a core foundation, with major donors playing an increasingly important role in closing the gap.

  • 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.

  • Yes. We support arts, heritage and environmental organisations across Europe and internationally, including projects that want to access UK funding sources. We help you understand which routes are genuinely open to you and build your campaign around them.

  • Our core specialism is arts and culture, but the same capital campaign approach applies to heritage restorations, historic buildings, environmental projects and other non-profit capital appeals. If your project has a clear cultural, heritage or environmental case for support, this service applies.

  • We're currently working with Château Cramirat, a heritage restoration project in France, on feasibility and funding strategy across UK and European funding routes.

  • Yes, where it's genuinely available to you. Some UK trusts and foundations give internationally, and there are routes such as UK partnerships or fiscal hosting that can open up funding that wouldn't otherwise be accessible. We help you understand which of these apply to your specific project. Read more: Can an overseas organisation access UK funding?

  • 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.

Talk to us about your capital project.

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