Dakota State University Foundation
Case Study: Dakota State University Foundation – Elevating a Capital Campaign
Background
Dakota State University (DSU) embarked on a transformative $17 million campaign to support annual academic and athletic scholarships, endowments, and unrestricted funds. As the university added a state-of-the-art Information Technology facility and other strategic projects, the campaign goal expanded to $32 million, requiring a significant escalation in scope and complexity.
The Challenge
The DSU Foundation faced critical challenges in managing the expanded campaign:
A lack of infrastructure to support the statewide and national coordination effort required for a campaign of this scale.
Increased demands for volunteer engagement, donor relations, and campaign management stretched existing resources.
A pressing need for expert guidance to ensure the campaign remained effective despite its growth.
The SNS Solution
Strawhecker Nonprofit Services (SNS) was engaged to provide the expertise and leadership necessary to advance the campaign. The consultants brought:
Proven experience in university advancement and campaign management.
Familiarity with South Dakota’s philanthropic landscape and its unique needs.
Advanced campaign planning expertise, including creating a comprehensive roadmap for campaign execution.
SNS’s approach was collaborative and solution-focused, ensuring the DSU Foundation gained the tools and strategies needed to continue the campaign independently after significant progress was achieved.
The Outcome
With a detailed campaign plan in place, DSU was positioned to effectively coordinate its statewide and national efforts. The campaign gained structure, enabling the foundation to manage increased donor and volunteer demands. SNS’s guidance laid the groundwork for sustained success.
The Impact
The partnership with SNS equipped the DSU Foundation with the strategic framework to pursue its ambitious $32 million goal confidently. By overcoming infrastructure limitations and aligning resources, DSU advanced its mission to enhance academic and athletic excellence, ensuring long-term growth and impact for students and stakeholders.