Key Elements
- WVSU partnered with CCS to launch a $25M comprehensive campaign focused on student scholarships, capital projects, and long-term growth.
- CCS conducted a feasibility study and applied predictive modeling and wealth screening to guide campaign strategy and prospect qualification.
- Within two years, WVSU reached 85% of its goal, strengthened its advancement operations, and activated new corporate and foundation partnerships.
CCS helped us build a campaign rooted in strategy and informed by data. We now have the tools to qualify prospects, engage new donors, and confidently move toward our campaign goals. Their partnership continues to shape the way we approach advancement.
– Trey Jones, Vice President for University Advancement
THE challenge
West Virginia State University (WVSU) set out to elevate its fundraising capacity in support of bold institutional priorities. While the university had strong stakeholder relationships and a compelling mission, it had yet to fully harness the power of structured research tools and data-informed advancement strategies. To move forward with confidence, WVSU needed a clear picture of its philanthropic potential, leadership pipeline, and infrastructure readiness.
THE SOLUTION
CCS partnered with WVSU to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study, engaging over 75 stakeholders, including board members, faculty, alumni, and community leaders. These conversations surfaced valuable insights into perceptions, campaign goals, and engagement strategies.
At the same time, CCS’s Data Analytics team conducted a full wealth screening and predictive modeling, uncovering new major and planned giving prospects. These insights informed a top prospect tracking system, portfolio realignment, and refined gift strategies.
CCS then transitioned into campaign management, supporting the advancement team with prospect development, gift officer assignments, and volunteer recruitment. The campaign also opened new doors for corporate and foundation engagement.
THE impact
Together, WVSU and CCS laid the foundation for a transformational $25 million campaign designed to expand student access, enhance academic excellence, and ensure long-term sustainability. In just two years, WVSU has raised more than 85% of its goal and embedded prospect research and portfolio management into its daily operations. Wealth data now actively informs cultivation and solicitation strategies, while energized volunteer leadership is helping drive momentum. The advancement office has adopted best-in-class, data-driven fundraising practices, yielding measurable results. Of the 64 campaign donors, 12 were identified through analytics, and among those screened and later engaged, donors gave an average of 57% of their estimated capacity, demonstrating strong alignment between strategy and outcomes.
Featured Team Member
Partnering with the Advancement team at West Virginia State University, we implemented strategic fundraising practices aligned with the institution’s mission and goals. By leveraging data analytics, we uncovered significant giving capacity that allowed us to refine cultivation efforts and increase gift levels across top prospects. This thoughtful and collaborative approach has positioned WVSU for long-term philanthropic growth.
Adriana Martella, Assistant Vice President, CCS Fundraising
Explore Case Studies
University of Southern Maine: $50M Raised in Just 3 Years
Northeast US
In partnership with CCS Fundraising, the University of Southern Maine raised $50 million in three years, the largest raised in any campaign of the university’s history and with an unprecedented 2,300 first-time donors.
University of San Diego
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The University of San Diego first engaged CCS Fundraising to run a feasibility study to test capacity for a new campaign. Then, our data analytics solutions uncovered $44M in untapped prospect potential. With our help, USD embarked on the campaign, now in its quiet phase.
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