BRANDING | CREATIVE | MARKETING | NONPROFIT FUNDRAISING

Weaving a tapestry of story.

When Ashland University’s Office of Advancement set out to launch a six-year Institutional Campaign, they knew they needed more than just a fundraising plan—they needed a strategy that would rally a broad base of new and younger donors while securing the major gifts that would drive real impact.

An external feasibility study suggested $30M was within reach.
Ashland University set their sights higher: $50M.

At the start, the campaign was an ambitious idea, but not much more. To turn it into a movement, the university needed a clear, comprehensive strategy—one that would shape everything from the campaign’s foundation to its deployment and long-term momentum. And they needed the right partner to help bring it to life, building deep, meaningful connections with donors and alumni at every stage.

STRATEGY AND SOLUTION

Great campaigns don’t happen by accident.

We kicked things off by creating a Campaign Execution Guide—a blueprint that set the tone, structure, and strategy for everything to come. From there, we designed a campaign that didn’t just ask for support but actively engaged future donors by inviting them to share their own stories of Ashland University. The Campaign for Every Individual was born.

With a clear vision in place, our creative and marketing teams got to work. We brought the campaign to life through video, photography, and written storytelling, building a dedicated campaign website, producing compelling campaign videos, and crafting a marketing framework designed to inspire action and lasting connection.

As the campaign started humming along, we shifted into phase two—scaling up content, planning key events, and expanding the the focus of messaging. We moved from simply sharing alumni stories to highlighting the deeper impact of giving back—whether through donations, volunteer engagement, or creating connections with students and faculty. The goal wasn’t just fundraising; it was building a lasting relationship between alumni, friends, and Ashland University.

Underpinning the engaging content was a strategic digital marketing plan designed to take Ashland’s data management to the next level. The Advancement team could now see, in real time, how donors engaged with the campaign—what content resonated, what actions they took on the campaign site, and how deeply connected they were.

Instead of relying solely on wealth screening and past giving patterns, they now had behavioral insights that helped them understand donor and alumni relationships in a whole new way.

RESULTS

More donors, more impact, more than anyone expected.

The campaign continued to take on new life, and from day one, the response was overwhelming. Ashland University didn’t just meet their goal—they shattered it, raising $100,592,874—235% more than the initial feasibility study predicted and 101% over their original target.

Beyond the numbers, the impact was just as powerful. The Campaign for Every Individual brought in 5,247 new donors, driving a significant increase in both the new and overall donor base.

And the momentum didn’t stop there. Off the success of the campaign, our partnership with Ashland University has only grown. Together, we’ve tackled branding and marketing initiatives for undergraduate and graduate admissions, advancement, and college-specific campaigns, plus a full-scale masterbrand project that will bring the University’s identity into sharper focus.

$100.6M

raised, exceeding the feasibility study of $30M and the ambitious goal of $50M.

18 months

ahead of schedule, we hit their campaign goal of $50M, which was predicted to be a stretch.

10,471

people gave to the campaign, with 5,247 giving to Ashland for the first time.

Let’s get started.

We’re jazzed about the idea of partnering with purpose-driven organizations and people. The first step is getting to know each other and jiving with what wakes you up each morning. Reach out and let’s explore what that looks like.