Intriguing Projects

Client 1—Road Prep in your Pocket
Ever want your road warriors to focus on strategy, relationship-building, and making the ask? Client 1 wanted to free major gift officers from administrative tasks in order to focus on visits. Upon consultation with administrators, faculty, current students, and alumni, Coleman Hastings delivered proposal templates, executive summaries, FAQs, and web summaries for each of five priority projects. Need your dean to be prepped on talking points? How about a proposal template? A leave-behind to summarize a project? The MGOs had all this in their hip pockets—and on their tablets.

High 5 for MU
Graphic by FMB Advertising

Client 2—Gimme a Five!
Sports fans disagree when and where giving teammates a five originated, but we know when it did for Client 2. When this client needed assistance engaging alumni, Coleman Hastings created the High 5 MU campaign. During this project, Coleman Hastings built a flexible strategy to meet the client’s needs. She executed the plan, including drafting appeal sequences, scripts, training exercises, collaborating with the client’s marketing firm, and execution. Even the student athletes gave high fives! High 5 MU became the driver for the client’s Fund efforts for, well, some five years.

Client 3–Never Too Old to Try Something New
When Client 3 kicked off its 225th birthday celebration, the time was right to rejuvenate its leadership giving society. With the advancement shop in transition, staffing resources were powerful but scarce. Coleman Hastings created an integrated strategy to equip volunteers, part time staff, and Board members. During that year, the 1792 Circle doubled its membership…and continues to grow!

Client 4—I’ve Been Everywhere, Man
Coleman Hastings partnered with a 40-year higher ed veteran and philanthropy scholar to complete a comprehensive campaign feasibility study for Client 4. Fifteen months, three Board meetings, and some 60 visits and interviews later, the Board unanimously approved the recommendation to move forward with the Client’s largest campaign in its history.

Client 5—Help! I need somebody!
Client 5 was in transition. With the Executive Director position open, the Board saw opportunities to re-evaluate its overall operation. Coleman Hastings reimagined the program, creating an organizational structure with job descriptions to maximize usage of budgetary resources with room for expansion. As a complementary piece, she created and helped implement a three-year development plan. Armed also with an updated description for the Executive Director, she served on the hiring committee. When the new leader arrived, he had a plan and the ability to get started right away!

A cup for Dr. Gray Challenge
Graphic by Asbury Marketing/Communications

Client 6 —Let’s meet for coffee
When a beloved university president announced her retirement, Client 6 wanted to seize the opportunity to engage young alumni in an effort to honor her. Coleman Hastings, in partnership with the Client’s staff, took a deep dive into their data, immersed in the Client’s institutional culture, then went to work to create an annual fund campaign surrounding a beverage many of us depend on — coffee. With an integrated strategy that included involving a major donor, social media, eblasts, postcards, influencers, and testimonials, the effort continues to engage young alumni. Need a second cup?