Memorial Medical Center Foundation (Memorial Care) has been committed to providing high-quality healthcare to the community. To enhance its fundraising efforts and ensure the sustainability of its services, the foundation engaged Benefactor Group for support in developing a compelling case for support and conducting a campaign planning study. These initiatives aimed to articulate the foundation’s mission, engage potential donors, and strategize for future philanthropic efforts.

Case for Support

Memorial Care continued its partnership with Benefactor Group to develop a comprehensive case for support that articulates the hospital’s differentiating assets, describes the essential role of private philanthropy in supporting the hospital, and provides a consistent rationale for all subsequent marketing materials and donor communications.

The Benefactor Group team identified an internal review team, reviewed existing marketing materials, and interviewed individuals to clarify compelling hospital initiatives. The process included creating an outline of the major themes and content areas of the case, drafting the case, holding a review meeting for feedback, and submitting the case for final delivery after two rounds of editing and refinement.

Campaign Planning Study

In early 2018, Memorial Medical Center Foundation partnered with Benefactor Group to assess the philanthropic appeal and potential for leadership gifts for a proposed $170 million campaign to construct a Children’s Village, support temporary operating funds, and strengthen the endowment.

The study included 29 individual interviews, an analysis of historical and self-identified giving, and an assessment of the region’s philanthropy. Participants shared perceptions of the plans and commented on the project’s potential to attract leadership gifts and campaign leaders. The study found that while Memorial Care is held in high regard, previous leadership transitions had strained donor relationships. Interviewees expressed strong support for the plan but were surprised by the $170 million goal.

All campaign objectives were viewed as important, but only a quarter of the interviewees identified as willing to volunteer. Philanthropic support was seen as abundant, but the $170 million goal was deemed unrealistic for setting Memorial Care up for success.

Benefactor Group recommended a three-year $60 million major gifts initiative to engage community leaders and donors in fundraising opportunities for the Children’s Village, instead of the $170 million goal. This initiative aimed to renew the foundation’s focus on essential fundraising elements: a strong culture of philanthropy, internal systems, a compelling case for support, volunteer leadership, and healthy, well-tended donor relationships.

As of April 2021, Memorial Care has raised $40 million of their $60 million goal.