GRCA_CommerceQuarterly_Winter2018 - 51

GreaterReadingChamber.org

What agencies have conducted approved capital
campaigns in recent years?
The following agencies received approval over the past 10 years:
Reading Area Community College, Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Reading and Berks, Hawk Mountain Boy Scouts Council, Girl
Scouts of Eastern PA, South Mountain YMCA Camp, Greater
Berks Food Bank, Vision Resource Center, Olivet Boys and Girls
Club, Safe Berks, YMCA of Reading, Caron Foundation, Alvernia
University, and Kutztown University.
When other regions are disbanding their Capital
Campaign Review Boards, why is Berks County reenergizing theirs?
With that in mind, in 2016, the CCRB conducted a survey
with the business community about the capital campaign review/
approval process. Based upon results demonstrating compelling
support for the CCRB, a decision was made to strengthen the
process by creating a managing director position. This role includes
the implementation, management, communication, and marketing
of the CCRB process. When possible, referral and guidance will be
provided to smaller nonprofits.
What is the affiliation of the Greater Reading Chamber
Alliance with CCRB?
Along with the United Way of Berks County, The Wyomissing
Foundation, and the Henry Janssen Foundation, the Greater
Reading Chamber Alliance is a financial partner that supports the
new position of managing director for the CCRB.

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Why should nonprofit agencies contemplating a capital
campaign contact the CCRB?
By vetting and channeling solicitations for future capital funds,
the CCRB attempts to alleviate over-solicitation of funders for
capital campaigns in a given year. The goal of the CCRB is to
help our nonprofit community to run successful appeals without
competing head-to-head with numerous other capital campaigns.
As a voluntary process, no agencies or institutions are required to
notify the CCRB of their intentions to conduct a capital campaign
in the future, but in the spirit of communication, we ask that
agencies entertaining the idea of raising more than $250,000
contact the CCRB via the website or email.
We believe it is important to improve the overall awareness
of large appeals and remove the mystery around the process. We
truly want to enhance communication across all lines, and most
importantly, try to ensure that nonprofits entertaining the idea
of a capital campaign are poised for success. Although colleges,
universities, and large religious institutions are not requested to go
through the CCRB process, we do ask to be notified of future large
campaigns because overall increased awareness will help the CCRB
with its decision-making timeline.

capital campaigns by local nonprofit agencies and institutions. We
established a stand-alone CCRB website: www.BerksCCRB.org.
Comments and questions about the website are welcome.
A nonprofit community informational meeting was held at the
Chamber's "Center for Business Excellence" in September 2017.
In spring 2018, we will hold a joint informational meeting with
the Association of Fundraising Professionals Berks Chapter. This
meeting will provide information about the CCRB along with
how to write a compelling case statement. For details, visit www.
afpberks.org.
We are in the process of compiling a list of volunteer financial
advisors to consider assisting small nonprofits who cannot afford
professional consultants. We also plan to speak with business
leaders and philanthropists about the value of the CCRB "stamp
of approval" with the suggestion of budgeting annually to support
the nonprofit community.

What has happened so far with the CCRB and what are
plans going forward?

The Capital Campaign Review Board members, the Association
of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and Alvernia's Leadership
Berks program are important resources for the CCRB as we move
forward, improving the review process.

The CCRB met three times in 2017 with the on-going focus
to consider the purposes, justification, and viability of proposed

For additional information, visit: http://berksccrb.org or
contact Virginia Rush at vrush@BerksCCRB.org.

51
http://www.GreaterReadingChamber.org http://www.DrivewayLady.com http://www.BerksCCRB.org http://www.afpberks.org http://www.berksccrb.org
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