By Nick Parkevich
No organization wants to hear “no”—especially after years of planning a major project or campaign. But the value of a feasibility study isn’t simply to greenlight a campaign. It’s to help ensure the organization is prepared to launch successfully, with the right vision, structure, leadership, and donor support in place.
Most organizations arrive at a feasibility study after years of planning and problem-solving. They’ve refined their vision, engaged stakeholders, and responded to operational limitations or community need. So the study is rarely about whether the organization believes in the project—it’s about ensuring donors do, too.
Why Conduct a Feasibility Study?
A strong feasibility study helps an organization:
- Understand donor enthusiasm and philanthropic capacity
- Gather feedback to refine or strengthen the vision
- Determine an achievable campaign goal
- Identify campaign leaders, volunteers, and new potential donors
- Uncover questions or concerns that need to be addressed before launch
We applaud organizations that take this step. It demonstrates intentionality and respect for both donors and mission.
What You May Learn
Most feasibility studies result in one of these outcomes:
- There is strong donor support and the organization can confidently proceed.
- There is support, but not at the desired scale, requiring adjustments to the vision, funding strategy, or campaign goal.
- Donors don’t align with the vision, meaning the organization may need to rethink or reframe the project before moving forward.
In many cases, the outcome is somewhere in the middle. Donors may support the vision, but want to see organizational strengthening before committing. Common themes include:
- Board engagement in fundraising
- Fundraising infrastructure and staff experience
- Clarity of how the project advances mission impact
- Long-term sustainability planning
- Confidence in leadership and operational capacity
- Concerns about cultural changes or growing too quickly
These aren’t dead ends—they’re opportunities for strategic alignment.
Listening Leads to Better Outcomes
Sometimes donor feedback reshapes priorities. In one study, donors overwhelmingly supported the third phase of a multi-phase plan because of a compelling personal story behind it. The campaign moved forward differently, but more powerfully.
The feasibility process creates space to learn, not just to confirm assumptions.
When the Answer is “Not Now”
It is rare that a feasibility study results in a clear “no.” But when it does, an ethical consultant will not deliver the message without also providing a path forward.
Possible next steps may include:
- Deepening donor stewardship and listening
- Refining the project scope
- Strengthening governance and fundraising leadership
- Investing in brand awareness or community engagement
- Exploring collaborations or partnerships—up to and including mergers, when appropriate
These decisions are challenging, but they are deeply aligned with board leadership and organizational stewardship.
Moving Forward with Purpose
Whether a feasibility study leads to “yes,” “not yet,” or “let’s rethink,” the real goal is the same: ensuring the organization is positioned to advance its mission in a meaningful, sustainable way.
A feasibility study is not a referendum on worthiness. It’s an investment in making sure your campaign and your organization have the strongest foundation possible—before stepping forward.