For 40 years, Special Olympics Missouri has been spreading the message that people with intellectual disabilities can – and will – succeed when given the chance. With more than 15,000 athletes and 995 coaches training and competing all over the state, Special Olympics Missouri saw an opportunity to unify training for all their efforts under one roof and launched a campaign to build a centralized training facility.

Before this campaign, Special Olympics Missouri relied on contributions primarily from direct mail and special events. To help the St. Louis staff secure more major gifts from individual donors, our consultants partnered with the Special Olympics Missouri’s Development Director to coach her on outreach to potential donors. Using phone, email, and “snail” mail, we provided guidance on what to say, how to say it, and ultimately how to successfully solicit a gift face-to-face. Most importantly, we worked with her to develop necessary fundraising instincts and develop her own style, which would benefit her long after our project was complete.

The campaign was a success, raising nearly $16 million, and today the staff person continues her work with Special Olympics Missouri, bolstered and confident as a result of her experience soliciting significant gifts through the campaign.