Highlights
Growth Strategy
Strategic Goals
Prospect Assessment
The Challenge
As a 148-year-old institution, Chautauqua set out to re-define the Chautauqua experience for the 21st century. Just prior to the global pandemic, Chautauqua completed a visionary strategic plan, 150 Forward, defining the four pillars of its strategy for the future:
- to optimize its summer season,
- to expand its convening authority to a year-round season,
- to drive the comprehensive health and sustainability of Chautauqua Lake, and
- to grow and diversify revenue to address critical needs and fuel resiliency.
The Solution
Schultz & Williams undertook the complex undertaking of planning BOUNDLESS, Chautauqua’s aspirational comprehensive campaign in three phases. First, we conducted an internal assessment to explore and understand all aspects of Chautauqua and define its key planning issues. Through a series of in-depth internal interviews with Board and staff, a review of multiple planning and financial documents and a review of past development activity, S&W began to understand the complex issues facing this historic institution. Second, S&W conducted a series of external interviews with key donors and stakeholders discussing responses to the new strategic plan and receiving input into S&W’s draft Case for Support. Third, S&W created a detailed campaign plan outlining the various phases of the campaign and providing an action plan for executing the campaign. S&W participated in multiple board meetings and training sessions of both Board and campaign cabinet members. A multi-platform Case for Support was completed. To date, Chautauqua has raised $56 million.
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