Tennessee-based Capital Quest, Inc. is a truly unique organization devoted to helping non-profit entities throughout the United States develop and execute successful capital fundraising campaigns. Since 1992, Capital Quest has conducted more than 400 workshops, studies, and capital campaigns for a variety of health, human service, cultural, educational, and religious organizations. Often these organizations are new to capital fundraising, and they turn to Capital Quest to help them navigate unfamiliar territory.

“Like anything new or different, it’s hard because they don’t know what to expect or where to start,” explains Capital Quest President William Krueger. “Most clients learn how the process works fairly quickly, and then it becomes about doing the work. It’s still hard, but they approach it with a sense of confidence instead of trepidation.”

Generally speaking, says Krueger, organizations that seek Capital Quest’s services typically know they need help. The uncertainty is what exactly they need and how Capital Quest can help them.

Getting the word out
Capital Quest has always known its marketing message, but the company needed to find the right way to deliver it. Krueger decided to take a proactive approach and educate clients and prospects with a regular newsletter.

“Before partnering with Proven Systems, we had a sporadic eNewsletter that wasn’t really hitting the mark. The primary marketing source was direct mail,” Krueger says. “The eNewsletter and other work with Proven Systems has built on that base very well.”

Proven Systems has helped provide a springboard for ideas and a process that keeps the newsletter production on track without additional burden on Krueger and his team.

“By giving us ideas to build off of, we are no longer starting with a blank sheet of paper,” Krueger says. “In a relatively brief phone conversation, we can develop the storylines, and then put Proven Systems into contact with the necessary people to create the drafts and versions we need to review. It makes the process more efficient, freeing our executives up for other work.”

The result has been a regular eNewsletter that is consistent in both timing and messaging, which has helped create invaluable brand awareness for Capital Quest.