Advancement

Capital Campaign Consulting

Independent schools turn to The Gowan Group when they are ready to take a bold step forward—but want to do it with clarity, confidence, and a plan that reflects who they are. Our capital campaign consulting helps schools design campaigns that are mission-driven, market-aware, and tailored to the culture of the unique school community. We partner with heads of school, advancement leaders, and trustees to clarify campaign priorities, articulate a compelling case for support, and structure a campaign that is realistic and ambitious. From early visioning through quiet phase and public launch, we help you sequence the work, align leadership, and create the strategies that sustain momentum over time.

Campaign Feasibility Studies

A feasibility study is not just a test of how much a school can raise—it is a chance to listen deeply to your community and strengthen the relationships that will make your campaign successful. Our feasibility studies provide schools with a clear, honest assessment of philanthropic capacity, readiness, and appetite for the priorities you are considering. Through confidential conversations with key donors and stakeholders, paired with careful data and market analysis, we help you understand what your community is ready to support, where there is enthusiasm, and where more work is needed. You receive practical, school-specific recommendations on timing, goal, case, leadership structure, and next steps, so that campaign decisions are grounded in reality rather than guesswork.

Comprehensive Campaign Services

Our campaign consulting team stays with you to help turn strategy into action. We guide schools through the full arc of a capital campaign—from building the case and organizing volunteer leadership to planning solicitations, managing quiet and public phases, and sustaining stewardship. We work alongside your advancement and leadership teams to integrate campaign work into the life of the school, instead of treating it as a separate initiative. That means aligning communications, enrollment messaging, and governance with your campaign goals so that every touchpoint reinforces the same story. Our goal is to leave you not only with a successful campaign, but with stronger systems, deeper relationships, and a community that understands and believes in your long-term vision.