Pacific Chorale

With CCS’s partnership, we have been able to reimagine donor engagement and proactively pursue growth opportunities, even amid lean funding conditions. The depth of support we received vastly accelerated the process of rebuilding and reactivating our fundraising programs during a critical period of change and transition for our administration. Their strategic guidance and analytical rigor helped us refine our vision, reengage past supporters, and establish a foundation for transformational philanthropy that will carry Pacific Chorale into its next chapter.

Rhett Del Campo, President & CEO, Pacific Chorale

THE CHALLENGE

Pacific Chorale, with over 57 years of GRAMMY®-winning artistic excellence and deep community engagement, emerged from the pandemic with renewed ambition and mounting financial pressure due to rapid programmatic expansion, increased staffing, and bold new artistic initiatives.  At the same time, the organization had not yet developed the major gift infrastructure, prospect pipeline, or culture of philanthropy required to sustain this momentum.

With a new President & CEO at the helm, leadership recognized the need for a strategic development plan to engage donors at a deeper level, realign fundraising goals with operational needs, build the systems and tools for long-term fundraising success, and strengthen fundraising expertise across both board and staff through targeted training and capacity-building.

In November 2024, Pacific Chorale partnered with CCS Fundraising to address these priorities and support a new chapter of sustainable growth.

THE SOLUTION

CCS launched a multifaceted engagement with Pacific Chorale, beginning with a two-month development assessment followed by a four-month implementation phase focused on building a sustainable major gifts program.

In close partnership with Pacific Chorale, CCS conducted donor analysis, stakeholder interviews, and targeted prospecting sessions to surface strategic insights and uncover major giving potential. These efforts led to the identification of 52 high-priority prospects representing $8.2 million in capacity. CCS equipped Pacific Chorale’s development staff with tailored engagement strategies to move those relationships forward.

CCS also developed a comprehensive donor segmentation strategy, mapping 1,263 individual donors and 5,163 new prospects (patrons who had never been solicited) to guide future outreach. The team grounded this work in a newly developed case statement and a suite of compelling collateral, shaped through four visioning sessions with staff and leadership.

To strengthen long-term fundraising operations, CCS implemented key infrastructure, including a Moves Management Guidebook and a Prospect Qualification Manual, to systematize donor engagement. The team also provided ongoing executive-level guidance through weekly one-on-one support for the CEO and monthly consultations to align strategy across departments.

The engagement catalyzed significant growth in planned giving. In the Spring of 2025, Pacific Chorale secured an unprecedented 14 new legacy commitments totaling nearly $2M. Several long-standing supporters renewed their commitments, including a mid-five figure endowment gift from a lapsed major donor, while long-time choir members contributed new gifts.  Board leadership also gained momentum: a prominent philanthropist rejoined the board, new trustees came on, and strengthened governance capacity laid the foundation for deeper philanthropic leadership in the years ahead.

THE IMPACT

Pacific Chorale has entered a bold new chapter of artistic and organizational growth. With CCS’s support, Pacific Chorale raised $350,000 in major and planned gifts, including over $150,000 in Q3 major gifts. These early results demonstrate the organization’s growing ability to pursue transformational philanthropy with focus and intention.

Longtime donors reaffirmed their support, with one doubling their annual commitment to $60,000, reflecting strengthened confidence in Pacific Chorale’s leadership and vision. The organization reengaged lapsed supporters, revitalized its board, and launched a formal major gifts program that now leverages personalized cultivation tools and targeted strategy.

Most importantly, Pacific Chorale now aligns its fundraising infrastructure with the scale of its artistic ambition. Its team is equipped with the systems, skills, and vision to build lasting donor relationships and ensure its performances, education programs, and community impact thrive for generations to come.

Featured Team Member

Pacific Chorale has been a cornerstone of Orange County’s arts and culture community for over 57 years. Supporting an organization with such deep roots and artistic distinction made it especially meaningful to help build a fundraising model that honors its legacy while preparing it for an ambitious, sustainable future.

Aashika Patel, Managing Director, CCS Fundraising