Beaufort Academy

As consultants, we do a lot of talking: suggesting strategies, encouraging volunteers, reporting on progress. For Beaufort Academy, however, it was our listening skills that paid off for their $4 million campaign.

An independent day school celebrating its 50^th anniversary, BA sought support for a renovation and expansion project to create space where students can play, create, connect, engage, learn, and grow. The community was generously supporting the campaign, but volunteers had not been able to secure the lead gift until our consultants picked up on a seemingly innocuous comment at a monthly report meeting.

The volunteer had no idea that he was revealing a diamond in the rough when he reported that a forthcoming gift may not be large because of the trust established by the donor that named the school as its beneficiary. Immediately, Capstone consultants recognized that if that gift had not been recorded previously, the school could count it toward the campaign.

After lots more talking – and listening – Beaufort Academy was able to determine the details of the gift and convert the irrevocable estate gift into a pledge for the campaign’s lead gift, moving the school significantly closer to building a facility that matches its commitment to student-centered learning.