Ascension School Camp and Conference Center
Ascension School:
who are they?
Ascension School Camp and Conference Center is a vital ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon. Situated on approximately 100 acres of land, they are, in their own words, "A Place Apart to connect with God's mystery, celebrating the dignity, diversity and oneness of all creation."
Ascension's identity is rooted in the core values of the diocese: human dignity, creation care and spiritual formation.
Phase I: feasibility
We worked with leadership to understand if and how, through collaborative partnerships, they could raise funds for capital projects that would transform their facilities, impacting campers and their families and conference attendees, as well as the local community at-large. Our feasibility study laid the foundation for a healthy capital campaign. In this phase of our work together, we:
honed in on and articulated the vision for a potential capital campaign
created spaces for listening to current and potential donors, as well a variety of stakeholders (campers and their families, conference attendees, diocesan contacts, several community partners, and neighbors in Cove) to understand what is important to them and where their concerns or resistance may lie
created opportunities for relationship-building and strengthening of partnerships for a common cause
determined the quantifiable level of financial support that can reasonably be anticipated for the proposed projects and determine a feasible fundraising goal
The feasibility study showed 100% support for a capital campaign (a first for us!) and excitement to get started immediately.
Phase II: solicitation
This capital campaign is one of the entire diocese, as well as the community of Cove, OR. We will begin by raising funds for the pool, which will be open to the entire Cove community, and also used for camp. Kickoff for this is at Cherry Fair, a day where people come from all over the region for a "family-friendly day of old-fashioned fun, music, and food" on the grounds of Ascension School.
We then turn to the diocese by kicking off at the convention in the fall of 2024. A series of "Come and See" events will take place where all members of the diocese are welcome to come and experience Ascension School, and the magic it offers that just can't be communicated through words.
All in, we are working to raise funds for the pool, the endowment to care for the costs of the pool, and to build the organizational endowment for long-term sustainability.
The solicitation phase of capital campaigns requires dozens of volunteers, dedicated staff time, and imagination. Walking alongside them we are leading the campaign through:
writing and designing the case statement ← check it out!
event planning
tracking of gifts
training and coaching solicitors
creation of strategy as the campaign unfolds
