Testimonials

The ultimate yardstick of a professional service firm is the enthusiastic recommendation of those it serves.  Those who recommend CCS are among the leading philanthropists, board members, foundation officers, business leaders and institutional executives in the non-profit world.  

Higher Education 

"As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, John Carroll retained CCS to provide management and fund raising assistance during a critical time in the development of the University’s Advancement division.  CCS provided the guidance and hands-on-support to take our Advancement program to the next level.”

Reverend Robert L. Niehoff, S.J., President, John Carroll University

“CCS played a pivotal role in the success of St. John's capital campaign, Fulfilling the Dream.  Throughout our six-year partnership, CCS’s fund-raising experience, professionalism, and dedication to building a strong future for the University have raised the bar for our campaign, which has far surpassed its $250,000,000 goal.”

Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President, St. John's University

Health

“Martha Jefferson Hospital thanks CCS for its professional support with Our Community Healthcare Future:  The Campaign for Martha Jefferson Hospital.  Our success is directly attributable to their expertise, persistence and leadership.  Their “on-site” model worked for us to keep us on track and engaged everyday toward a successful conclusion of our ambitious goal.”

Ray R. Mishler CFRE, Vice President, Martha Jefferson Hospital

“With the support of outstanding professionals, CCS guided us through a capital campaign that generated an overwhelming response for our new hospice home. They understood our culture and worked closely with us to design and implement a successful campaign in a most challenging economic climate. We highly value our partnership with the firm.”

William G. Ries, Interim President & CEO, Hospice of Northeastern Illinois

"The CCS tenet that the 'client comes first' means so much.  They were there for us every step of the way and were a huge part of our success meeting and exceeding our campaign goal. We could not have done it without them."

Stephen A. Lundin, President, Alta Bates Summit Medical Center

“This organization is indebted to CCS for pushing us forward, for keeping us on track, and for helping us to achieve landmark success. When other organizations seek fund-raising counsel, I am always very happy to recommend CCS.”

Lisa Hillman, Senior Vice President/Chief Development Officer, Anne Arundel Medical Center

“Exceeding our campaign goal would not have been possible without the dedicated and full-time efforts of CCS.  After knowing ‘about’ CCS for many years, it was a joy and pleasure to experience their expert services first hand.  They were our right hand that made our campaign successful.”

Merv Webb, Vice President RMH Foundation, Rockingham Memorial Hospital 

Cultural

“The success of our capital campaign would not have been possible without the guidance and leadership given by CCS.”

Lial Jones, Director, Crocker Art Museum

“CCS has been an invaluable strategic partner for Nashville Symphony since the very inception of our “A Time for Greatness” campaign and they have played a critical role in our success. From the highly talented and energetic on-site consulting staff, to the depth of their experience and the research resources they have made available to us, everything about CCS’s work has been, well, exquisite. In the nearly 30 years I have been involved with orchestras, I have never had the pleasure of working with a more effective and professional team of fund-raising counsel. Bravo to everyone at CCS!" 

Alan D. Valentine, President and CEO, The Nashville Symphony

“CCS has done an outstanding job for us in getting our capital/endowment campaign structured and underway.  Our CCS director played the pivotal role in organizing our activities in getting the bond election passed.  I frankly don't know how we could have done it without them—the CCS team has the Colorado Symphony board’s admiration and gratitude for great work they have done for us." 

Douglas W. Adams, President & CEO, Colorado Symphony Orchestra

“Raising the funds to make Richmond CenterStage a reality has been one of the greatest and, ultimately, most rewarding challenges in my many years of working with nonprofits.  We were able to achieve tremendous success on a tightly compressed timetable thanks to a group of extraordinarily dedicated volunteers, a compelling project, and the support and guidance we received from CCS.  The CCS team was always there to create strategy and manage the efforts of dozens of volunteers.  CCS’s expertise, thoughtful counsel, and hard work was a key ingredient in the victory of The Campaign for Richmond CenterStage." 

Jim Ukrop, Chairman, Virginia Performing Arts Foundation

“The CCS Team distinguished itself in both the art and science of fund raising.  The firm brought strategy and management to the League of American Orchestra’s $25 million comprehensive campaign. Thanks for your leadership." 

Jesse Rosen, President & CEO, League of American Orchestras

Secondary Education

“In fund raising, volunteer committees need a professional partner who knows how and when to guide, and how and when to ‘push’… through three successful campaigns, I found that partner in CCS.”

John T. Paul, Campaign Co-Chair, St. Joseph’s Preparatory School

“We appreciate the guidance, expertise, and scope of experience that CCS has provided.  These elements have been key in planning our campaign and aligning us for success.”

- Ann Berner Counsell, Director of Development, Open Window School

"CCS had the vision, organization and follow-up to make our campaign a success.  Their team approach, energy, and enthusiasm helped us to set stretch goals and motivate board members."

Todd Horn, Head of School, Kent Denver

“Leadership requires high quality decision making. One of the best decisions I made was to partner with CCS – a proven leader in management and fundraising consulting services. With their expert guidance and support, we have experienced tremendous success in record time. Together, we are building not only new facilities, but an exciting new future for Ranney School.”

Dr. Sykoff, Head of School, Ranney School

Religion

"CCS truly helped us Move Forward in Faith and Hope.  They lived our theme as they helped us move forward.  We had a skilled hard-working on-site director and several capable assistants.  With their depth of experience in diocesan and parish campaigns, CCS developed a plan of action for us, evaluated this plan along the way, and adapted it as needed.  The CCS staff are tenacious and perpetually positive in their outlook.  This positive attitude spread throughout our parishes, just what our diocese needed at this time."

Sr. Laura Goedken, OP, Diocesan Director of Development, Diocese of Davenport

“In St. Bart's experience, CCS is the gold standard in church and nonprofit fund raising.  We chose them after a careful competitive process, interviews, and extensive research.  They got our business because, of the six firms we actually interviewed, they “got” the unique qualities and situation of St. Bart's.  In the time they have been onsite and helping direct our capital campaign, that ability to understand us has deepened.  They are thorough and tenacious, and their standards have raised the standards of our own development staff and inspired our talented volunteers.”

The Rev. William McD. Tully, Rector, St. Bartholomew's Church

“The staff of CCS was instrumental in helping our Together for Tomorrow Campaign exceed its goal.  They were not just professional, but became a vital part of our ministry team, going the extra mile to respond to the diversity of situations and complexities of the relationships of the United Methodist churches in New England. Their services and expertise are exceptional value for the money.”

Charles Carnahan, Treasurer/Director, New England Conference of the United Methodist Church

“CCS has been extraordinarily effective, cooperative, collaborative – and successful in the Diocese of Austin’s Our Faith ~ Our Legacy campaign.  They have been enormously helpful to us and have worked collaboratively in a way far beyond what I had imagined.  The priests and volunteers on the parish level expressed genuine appreciation for the expertise of the CCS Staff and their professional assistance.”

Bishop Gregory M. Aymond, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese of Austin

International

“I have been fortunate to work with CCS on two historic campaigns for Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF).  Their sophisticated fund-raising counsel, creativity and cultural flexibility have been invaluable to the success of our efforts.  The devoted and highly professional efforts of CCS in collaboration with Lions’ staff and volunteers, have allowed our foundation achieve unprecedented success. This collaboration has ensured that millions of people around the world will be given the miracle of sight." 

Peter Lynch, Executive Administrator, Lions Clubs International

Association

“CCS’s contribution to this campaign, New Challenges--New Solutions, has been priceless and a critical reason why it was so successful.  We’re sincerely grateful for their hard work and dedication.”

Scott L. Friedman, M.D., President, American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

“CCS's innovative and professional approach allowed us to achieve an unprecedented level of financial support from our donors. Our highly successful campaign has helped us to strengthen our ties with our supporters and positioned the American College of Radiology as a stronger organization.”

Dr. Harvey Neiman, Executive Director, American College of Radiology

Environmental

“The Katahdin Lake Campaign was a terrific success for The Trust for Public Land and we couldn't have done it without CCS. Their professionalism and strong development expertise were critical to our efforts to preserve Katahdin Lake.”

Sam Hodder, Senior Project Manager, The Trust for Public Land

Social

“CCS has brought extraordinary leadership and fund-raising skills to The Salvation Army’s campaign for the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in Philadelphia.  Their ability to come along side to coach and lead has contributed significantly to the success of our development and major gift endeavors. CCS has provided expert counsel, a national fund-raising perspective, and a sleeves rolled-up and hands-on approach.”

Major Timothy Lyle, The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center Administrator,
The Salvation Army – Philadelphia, PA

“The Securing Our Future campaign represents an exciting new chapter in the history of ARF. The success of our campaign will ensure that ARF will be here for generations to save the lives of cats and dogs and give them a safe place to stay while they wait to be adopted. CCS served as a trusted partner throughout the campaign and our success is a testament to their leadership and development expertise.”

Sara Davison, Executive Director, Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons

“CCS was an invaluable compass in guiding our agency through its first Capital Campaign.  They were equally invested in the success of our campaign as we were because they believed in our mission.  Their advice was always valuable, helpful and timely.  CCS is consummately professional and easy to work with.  They were also quite gracious with us in our learning curve.  I highly recommend their services.”

Ron Storm, CEO, Hillview Acres Children’s Home

“CCS has helped us realize our dream to provide people with disabilities and chronic illness with the opportunity to experience the benefits of physical exercise in a comfortable and accessible setting created to meet their personal needs.   From the onset, CCS guided us through our first ever capital campaign as a partner, seamlessly integrating with our Staff from the feasibility study through the successful completion of our goals.”

Dan S. Rogers, President & CEO, Goodwill of Orange County, CA