Capital Campaigns in a Values-Driven Community: 5 Essentials for Jewish Nonprofits

Launching a capital campaign is one of the most ambitious — and transformative — endeavors a Jewish nonprofit can undertake. Whether you're expanding a building, renovating sacred spaces, or developing a new community hub, the stakes are high. The impact can be generational. 

But success isn’t just about bricks and dollars. For Jewish organizations, it's also about values, people, and vision. 

At The Lapin Group, we help synagogues, day schools, JCCs, and other Jewish nonprofits across the country and across the globe, design capital campaigns that go beyond fundraising to build community, deepen engagement, and tell a powerful story about the Jewish future. 

Here are five essential strategies to ensure your capital campaign is grounded in purpose and poised for success. 

1. Start with Purpose, Not Projects 

Too many campaigns begin with a wish list: more classrooms, better lighting, larger social halls. These are important — but alone, they don’t inspire giving. 

A successful capital campaign begins with clarity of purpose: 

• What future are you building for your community? 

• How does this campaign reflect your Jewish mission? 

• Why is now the right time? 

Donors don’t give to construction. They give to vision. They want to know how this project aligns with Jewish values like l’dor v’dor (from generation to generation), and kehillah (community). 

2. Conduct a Thoughtful Pre-Campaign Assessment  

Before setting a fundraising goal or printing a brochure, invest in a professional and comprehensive Pre-Campaign Assessment. This isn’t just about testing how much money you can raise — it’s about: 

• Listening to your top stakeholders 

• Identifying champions and potential challenges 

• Refining your messaging and goals 

• Assessing organizational readiness 

A well-run study can save your campaign from costly missteps — and help turn early conversations into early commitments. 

3. Build a Leadership Team That Reflects Your Community 

A campaign is only as strong as the people leading it. Your campaign leadership team should: 

• Reflect the diversity and values of your community 

• Include people with influence, reach, and credibility 

• Represent different giving levels — not just top donors 

• Be trained and supported to speak about the campaign with confidence 

Remember: leadership donors are watching who else is involved. And your community is more likely to get behind a campaign that feels like theirs. 

4. Communicate Early, Often, and Transparently 

Capital campaigns unfold over time — sometimes 18 months, sometimes 3 years or more. Don’t wait until the ribbon-cutting to keep your community informed. 

Create a communication strategy that includes: 

• Regular updates on progress (even internal phases) 

• Stories about how the campaign connects to Jewish life 

• Photos, renderings, and videos to build excitement 

• Honest answers to common concerns (cost, disruption, equity) 

Transparency builds trust — and trust fuels generosity. 

5. Align Your Campaign with Long-Term Development Strategy 

A capital campaign can supercharge your fundraising — but it can also derail it if it isn’t integrated into your broader development plan. 

Ask: 

• How will this campaign drive annual giving? 

• What is the plan for stewardship and follow-up? 

• Are you using this opportunity to identify future legacy and endowment prospects? 

• Will your campaign elevate the skills and confidence of your fundraising team? 

At The Lapin Group, we help Jewish nonprofits treat capital campaigns not just as a way to raise money, but as a catalyst for building long-term fundraising capacity. 

A Capital Campaign is a Sacred Opportunity 

For Jewish nonprofits, a capital campaign is more than a construction project — it’s a sacred moment of community vision, leadership, and transformation. 

When grounded in values, guided by strategy, and fueled by relationships, a capital campaign can do more than raise funds. It can reinvigorate your mission, deepen donor connections, and write the next chapter of your organization’s Jewish story. 

Thinking about a capital campaign?  The Lapin Group brings deep experience guiding Jewish nonprofits through every stage — from feasibility to fundraising to follow-through. Let’s talk about how to make your campaign a success.