A Roadmap for Growth

The Nashville Public Library has inspired reading and supported learning in and around “Music City” for decades. With its collection of more than two million items and a calendar filled with engaging programs, the library captivated an audience of over 350,000 cardholders each year. Residents frequented its 21 branches nearly four million times per year.

The Nashville Public Library Foundation (NPLF), the library’s fundraising arm, has helped make these accomplishments possible by mobilizing philanthropy to fuel the library’s essential work. Looking to the future, NPLF sought to elevate its impact by creating a strategic roadmap that would capitalize on new opportunities—such as a menu of upcoming projects designed to inspire donors—while addressing challenges such as a shifting fundraising landscape and the need for a refreshed staffing model. To develop this plan, NPLF engaged Benefactor Group.

“Nashville’s library system is a cornerstone of education and engagement in our community,” shared NPLF President Shawn Bakker. “We knew that to continue growing, we needed a clear, actionable plan. Benefactor Group helped us develop that roadmap.”

The Benefactor Group Approach

Benefactor Group’s approach was rooted in three key principles:

• Partnership: Benefactor Group worked closely with NPLF to develop major-, middle-, and broad-based giving strategies aligned with the foundation’s goals. Even after the initial project concluded, NPLF valued Benefactor Group’s continued guidance. “Benefactor Group really understood us,” Bakker emphasized.
• Perspective: Benefactor Group helped NPLF’s board embrace change, including the implementation of a new staffing model designed to strengthen relationships with major individual and institutional donors. “Benefactor Group demonstrated how the proposed model was informed by data-driven insights. It’s helpful for a major change like that to come from an outside entity with a proven method,” Bakker explained.
• Persistence: Benefactor Group helped turn what could have been an overwhelming task into a structured, manageable plan by setting priorities, deadlines, and clear ownership.

“We have a roadmap! As with most change, it can get a little messy. When you clean your house, you have to pull everything out before you put it all back. Benefactor Group’s work gave us the guidance we needed to put it all back in the right place.” Bakkar stated.

With this roadmap in place, NPLF strengthened its ability to support the library and adapt to a changing philanthropic landscape, ensuring that Nashville’s libraries would continue to thrive for generations to come.

A Campaign for the Future

Years earlier, the Nashville Public Library Foundation embarked on an ambitious effort to expand its impact through a $15 million fundraising campaign. The foundation engaged Benefactor Group to assess the community’s support, refine its campaign strategy, and provide guidance throughout the process.

“In 2009, the Nashville Public Library completed a strategic planning process that identified a need for additional fundraising to enhance its impact on literacy and education in the Nashville community,” shared then-President Tari Hughes. “In response, the Library Foundation sought help from Benefactor Group to determine the community’s level of support and passion for the public library.”

Campaign Planning and Execution

Lisa Buckley, Senior Consultant at Benefactor Group, led a campaign planning study to evaluate philanthropic support and leadership for a major fundraising effort. The study helped NPLF clarify its goals, assess donor enthusiasm, and determine the feasibility of a significant campaign.

“I was so impressed with the involvement and passion of the leadership and staff,” Buckley shared. Benefactor Group collaborated closely with NPLF to develop a preliminary case for support and conduct confidential interviews with key stakeholders. After analyzing the findings, Benefactor Group recommended that NPLF move forward with the campaign.

The foundation launched its $15 million campaign with Benefactor Group’s continued support. The consulting team provided guidance on securing major gifts, donor engagement strategies, and a public fundraising effort. As the campaign progressed, NPLF entered the final phase—the Public Phase—setting a goal to raise the final $1 million needed to reach $15 million. Benefactor Group helped NPLF leverage best practices for peer-to-peer and crowdfunding techniques to maximize community involvement.

“We are getting close to the finish line, and for the first time, are inviting the entire Nashville community to support the library with gifts of any size,” shared Hughes. “We look forward to stewarding new donors and inviting the public to be part of the story! Benefactor Group has been with us every step of the way providing guidance, best practices, and fresh insights.”

With the successful completion of the campaign, NPLF secured vital resources for the Nashville Public Library’s programs, ensuring that literacy and learning would continue to thrive throughout the city. The campaign laid the foundation for NPLF’s ongoing efforts to build a stronger future for the library system—efforts that would later be supported by the strategic roadmap developed in partnership with Benefactor Group.