# Capital Campaigns Without a Traditional Board: How Small and Grassroots Organizations Raise Big Money

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/all-about-capital-campaigns-nonprofits-fundraising-major-gifts-toolkit-2136244/capital-campaigns-without-a-traditional-board-how-small-and-grassroots-organizations-raise-big-money
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/all-about-capital-campaigns-nonprofits-fundraising-major-gifts-toolkit-2136244/capital-campaigns-without-a-traditional-board-how-small-and-grassroots-organizations-raise-big-money.md
Podcast: [All About Capital Campaigns: Nonprofits, Fundraising, Major Gifts, Toolkit](https://stenobird.com/podcast/all-about-capital-campaigns-nonprofits-fundraising-major-gifts-toolkit-2136244)
Published: 2026-01-13T13:00:01+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/capital-campaign-pro/episodes/Capital-Campaigns-Without-a-Traditional-Board-How-Small-and-Grassroots-Organizations-Raise-Big-Money-e3dj6cu
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/46e7ddbc/podcast/play/113923934/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-0-13%2F042e7d4f-e1c0-a1b5-8193-b8da18b9f848.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/all-about-capital-campaigns-nonprofits-fundraising-major-gifts-toolkit-2136244/episodes/capital-campaigns-without-a-traditional-board-how-small-and-grassroots-organizations-raise-big-money
Duration seconds: 2102

## Resource

When your board lacks time, wealth, or fundraising experience, does that mean a capital campaign is out of reach? In this episode of All About Capital Campaigns , host Andrea Kihlstedt is joined by fundraising trainer, author, and longtime colleague Andy Robinson to explore how capital campaigns succeed in small, grassroots, and unconventional organizations. Drawing on decades of experience and two detailed case studies, Andy challenges common assumptions about board driven fundraising and shows what really makes campaigns work when infrastructure is thin and capacity feels limited. Together, Andrea and Andy unpack what happens when organizations face urgent needs, limited systems, and boards that care deeply about the mission yet cannot carry the bulk of fundraising activity. Andy shares the story of a tiny, lay led synagogue with a modest annual budget that raised over $775,000 across a multi year capital effort, even after part of the building was condemned. The campaign relied on a handful of committed leaders, strong belief in the mission, and steady persistence rather than a large or wealthy board. The conversation then shifts to a very different setting, a member owned food cooperative that raised more than $2 million to relocate and expand. The board focused on complex business negotiations while a volunteer campaign committee led community fundraising. Through a blend of gifts, community loans, fiscal sponsorship, and impact investing, supporters gave generously and stayed deeply engaged in the future of the co op. Throughout the episode, Andrea and Andy connect these stories back to core capital campaign principles that apply across sectors and organizational structures. They discuss why people give, what truly motivates participation, and how engagement and…

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