SUCCESSSTORY: Rainbow Village

Moving Forward After A Disappointing Feasibility Study

Duluth, Georgia-based Rainbow Village has been providing transitional housing to homeless families with children for over 25 years. In 2008, the organization’s leadership determined it was time to significantly expand their mission… with a goal of tripling the number of families they serve. They took all the rights steps. A board-led strategic planning process helped to define their goals, costs were researched and a goal of $7 million established, and a consultant was brought in to complete a funding feasibility study. That’s where it almost fell apart before Convergent was engaged.

Convergent revisited the individuals originally interviewed and it was immediately apparent that the total scope and impact of the campaign had not been properly explained. The re-interview process directly led to two separate $1 million pledges. Phase I of the campaign, managed by Convergent, raised over $3.9 million, allowing Rainbow Village to break ground on a new transitional housing facility and a Family Service Center. By the end of the campaign, once Phase III was completed, Rainbow Village had secured over $9 million and become home to 30 homeless families with children.

A magnifying glass icon for capital campaign support case study

The Situation

At the end of a board-led strategic planning process, Rainbow Village estimated they would need to raise upwards of $7 million to actualize the vision they set forth. After the consultants who completed their funding feasibility study reported a disappointingly low recommended goal, Rainbow Village CEO Nancy Yancey found herself remembering one sentence she heard while attending Convergent Principal Tom Ralser’s presentation at a Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness conference:

“What if I told you that you already had all the donors you need?”
Nancy’s recollection of this seemingly simple question can be looked at as the turning point in Rainbow Village’s Capital Campaign. After determining that the original firm’s “old school” philosophy was not the right approach, Rainbow Village ultimately hired Convergent to manage the campaign.

A target fundraising icon for capital campaign fundraising

Funding Goals

Raise $7 million.

A question mark inside a lightbulb icon for capital campaign challenges

The Challenges

• Campaign launched in the midst of a major economic recession.
• Organization’s first ever capital campaign.
• Previous consultants told Rainbow Village to expect to raise no more than $1.5 million.

Rainbow Village signature image
Checkmark icon for capital campaign fundraising case studies

The Convergent Approach

Convergent revisited the individuals interviewed by the previous consultants during their feasibility study. It was immediately apparent that the total scope—and impact—of the campaign had not been properly explained. In fact, the process of re-interviewing these individuals directly led to two separate $1 million investments, which provided significant momentum from the outset of the campaign.

As Rainbow Village’s expansion plans continued to grow, Convergent recommended conducting the campaign in three distinct phases. The rationale was to secure adequate investments in Phase I to break ground on the initial expansion. By doing so, future investors would have a powerful visible motivation to support Rainbow Village’s goal of tripling the number of families it serves.

Case study growth chart icon for capital campaign support success

The Results

Phase I of the campaign, managed by Convergent, raised over $3.9 million, allowing Rainbow Village to break ground on a new transitional housing facility and a Family Service Center. Building upon the momentum from Phase I, Rainbow Village was able to manage Phase II of the campaign on their own, securing funding for an on­site Community Center and bringing their total dollars raised to over $6 million. Phase III has also begun with the construction of a third three-bedroom apartment building for six additional families. This building, in partnership with HomeAid of Atlanta, will increase their capacity from 12 to 18 families. At the end of the campaign, when the final two apartment buildings of phase III are completed, Rainbow Village will be home to 30 homeless families with children. Thanks to the training and motivation they received in Phase I, they have been met with resounding success. In fact, the Rainbow Village team feels so confident in raising the remaining funding needed that they increased their overall goal to $9 million, far exceeding the original goal and allowing them to significantly increase the impact they will have on homeless families in their region.

$3,946,574 raised

They were the first to truly educate us about the entire paradigm shift in nonprofit fundraising, focusing on communicating outcomes. Nonprofits do add tremendous value and community impact, but we don’t always communicate that message effectively.”

Rev. Nancy Yancey
Past CEO, Rainbow Village

Other Case Studies