- Raises $7M to Expand Its Campus
The Round Rock Area Serving Center (the Serving Center) is a pillar of the Williamson and Travis County community, serving families in crisis through its food pantry and delivery services, clothing and furniture vouchers, resale store, community gardens, direct client assistance, Volunteer Center and numerous other programs and initiatives. In May of 2022, the Serving Center engaged Dini Spheris to conduct a planning study to test a $7 million campaign to expand its campus, increasing program space and thrift operations. The study indicated enthusiastic support for the project, and in July, the Legacy of Compassion Capital Campaign was launched. Retaining Dini Spheris for campaign management, Serving Center leadership leveraged local support, including the faith community; successfully completed a multimillion-dollar challenge; built a strong committee of local leaders; and engaged potential funders across the state and beyond. The Serving Center reached the $7 million campaign goal in June 2024. The expanded campus will double the size of the Serving Center’s food pantry; significantly increase financial assistance for rent and utilities for families; create a new Veteran Services’ office; and ensure the organization can continue to thrive into the future.
- Round Rock, TX
- Completes Two Successful Campaigns
St. Mary’s Catholic Center at Texas A&M University is a powerhouse for student ministry. Each weekend 4,000 students attend Masses at St. Mary’s. St. Mary’s is treasured across the dioceses of Texas because of its history of preparing active and engaged laypersons for parish life after college and for producing over 100 vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life over the past 25 years. In order to continue to support the growth of the student population of Texas A&M and Blinn College, St. Mary’s conducted two campaigns, the first of which was to build the St. John Paul II addition to the existing 20-year old student center. At a cost of more than $10 million, this expansion was to provide new classroom spaces, assembly rooms and office space. Dini Spheris provided campaign counsel to this campaign that raised $11.5 million. The growth in the ministry also contributed to the decision to replace the dearly loved but too-small existing church. The plan was to create a church that would accommodate the growing enrollment of Texas A&M, whose undergraduate population is the largest in the nation. The 1,600-seat domed church now serves as a beacon of faith to the entire Bryan-College Station community. Dini Spheris was engaged to assist with a second capital campaign that would fund the construction of this magnificent structure. More than $34 million was raised for this campaign. These two campaigns required out-of-the-box thinking to engage alumni, parents and extended family in reaching a host of new major gift constituents for St. Mary’s.
- College Station, TX
- Overcomes Challenges, Raises $14M and Breaks Ground
Amazing Place helps families with the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with the mission of empowering lives disrupted by dementia. Annually, it serves over 6,800 individuals through its Day Program and Connections Program, which includes Family Caregiver Support and Education, and Brain Health Education. Amazing Place partnered with Dini Spheris to implement the $20 million campaign Amazing Together Campaign, aiming to establish a second facility in West Houston, expand their Drexel facility to house the growing Connections team, and grow scholarships and endowment. Dini Spheris consulting team provided campaign planning and campaign counsel to help raise $14 million and transition the campaign into its public phase. The campaign faced challenges posed by external factors, such as a global pandemic and rising construction prices, which led to an increase in the campaign goal. Despite the challenges and thanks to perseverance and creativity, Amazing Place completed its expansion of its second floor, which houses the Connections Program, and a year later celebrated the groundbreaking for the new West Houston location. This campaign is poised to significantly enhance the impact of Amazing Place in aiding families dealing with dementia and Alzheimer’s while advancing brain health for all.
- Houston, TX
- Through Coaching, Emboldens Leadership in Fundraising Approach
Odessa College has shared a partnership with Dini Spheris for more than ten years, having first retained the team to work with their fundraising committee to develop a major gift strategy to raise $10 million to build a new Fine Arts Center, fund Learning Resource Center renovations and additions, and increase support for the athletics program and scholarships. During our initial engagement, the College received three seven-figure gifts from individual supporters. Dini Spheris has continued to work closely with Odessa College President, Dr. Gregory Williams, and the Foundation team, with a focus on Leadership Coaching, honing their approach to fundraising, deepening the sense of mission and establishing a bold culture for asking. Odessa College continues to celebrate proud milestones and achievements, such as receiving a $7 million grant from MacKenzie Scott in 2021 and, while celebrating its 75th Anniversary, breaking ground on the Wood Health Sciences Building.
- Odessa, TX
- Exceeds $22.5M Goal & Relocates to the Texas Medical Center
The nationally renowned Texas Hearing Institute (THI), formerly known as The Center for Hearing and Speech, enables children with hearing loss to reach their full potential by teaching them listening, speaking and literacy skills. THI retained Dini Spheris for a planning study and campaign counsel to fulfill a $22.5 million vision for a new facility and a historic partnership with Texas Children’s Hospital. The campaign was a success with four seven-figure gifts and many individual contributions to exceed its goal by $200,000. With the new center open, THI will be able to double the number of clients it serves, increase their impact and set a standard of excellence in service delivery for children with hearing loss across the state and the country.
- Houston, TX
- Completes $17.5M Campaign in Record Timing for New Hope Lodge
Over 3,700 cancer patients travel more than 40 miles for treatment in Oklahoma City. Paired with barriers such as lack of transportation or the cost of affordable lodging during treatment, many patients forego the option of treatment. This made the vision very clear for the American Cancer Society of Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City needed a Hope Lodge community that would offer a home away from home for cancer patients and would be the only free lodging program available for adult cancer patients and caregivers in the area. With the counsel of Dini Spheris in the early stages of campaign planning and throughout the launch of the campaign, the American Cancer Society of Oklahoma City was able to quickly garner support from the community and completed the $17.5 million campaign in less than two years.
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Raises Millions & Plays a Pivotal Role During Pandemic
Texas Biomedical Research Institute (Texas Biomed) is the only nonprofit, infectious disease research institute with its sole focus dedicated to eradicating infectious diseases. Even before COVID, Texas BioMed had the vision to bring together the right people, in the right space with the right programs that would allow Texas BioMed to become the world leader in infectious disease research. To execute a $250 million vision, Dini Spheris worked with Texas Biomed in the campaign planning phase for the comprehensive goal, as counsel during the first $50 million phase, and again as counsel during the major gift funding initiative for the vaccine efforts, identifying and engaging new partners from across the state and the country. Together, we raised millions of dollars to drive the research to fight infections disease, and ultimately, Texas Biomed was fundamental in the testing and development of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
- San Antonio, TX
- Strengthens University By Accelerating "The Call Toward Tomorrow" Strategic Plan
The Call Toward Tomorrow is a vibrant new roadmap for the future of the University of St. Thomas. Dini Spheris facilitated the strategic planning process that resulted in five priorities and 18 goals addressing many aspects of the University, from organizational structure admissions to academic programs to campus culture, ethos and spirit. The vision has contributed to a number of major decisions at the University, including its academic offerings, operational model, the development of a new second campus north of Houston, and new programs, such as cybersecurity and engineering.
- Houston, TX
- Receives $5.4M Gift
The National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) is a diverse and multifaceted cultural and educational enterprise that is part of the Smithsonian Institution. The Museum has three facilities in three different states with independent governing boards, volunteers, development staff and donors. Dini Spheris engaged with NMAI to initiate and execute a collaborative and comprehensive individual giving program that supports all of the facilities. Final plans were approved that addressed regional and national fundraising strategies, messaging to motivate major gifts from a broad range of donor prospects, changes to the membership giving structure, and a prospect management plan for the development team. This plan quickly led to commitments of $18.4 million against the annual goal of $11.6 million, including a surprise gift of $5.4 million.
- Washington, D.C.
- Raises $7M to Expand Its Campus
- Round Rock, TX
- Completes Two Successful Campaigns
- College Station, TX
- Overcomes Challenges, Raises $14M and Breaks Ground
- Houston, TX
- Through Coaching, Emboldens Leadership in Fundraising Approach
- Odessa, TX
- Exceeds $22.5M Goal & Relocates to the Texas Medical Center
- Houston, TX
- Completes $17.5M Campaign in Record Timing for New Hope Lodge
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Raises Millions & Plays a Pivotal Role During Pandemic
- San Antonio, TX
- Strengthens University By Accelerating "The Call Toward Tomorrow" Strategic Plan
- Houston, TX
- Receives $5.4M Gift
- Washington, D.C.
What We Do
We are more than just consultants. We are powerful problem solvers, fundraisers and strategists, and we will partner with you every step of the way to help you reach your fundraising, leadership and performance goals.
Campaign
Counsel
The hallmark of Dini Spheris fundraising services is our team-based model of campaign counseling. With the combined strength of our experts in campaign strategy, major gifts, campaign operations and the dynamics of day-to-day campaign management, we support the most sophisticated advancement team, or the small organization engaged in its first major capital campaign.
Strategic
Planning
Campaign
Planning Study
A Campaign Planning Study tests more than feasibility. It is a structured process of discovery with major gift prospects and potential campaign leaders. Through carefully crafted conversations, the campaign vision, objectives and goals are explored in order to shape a successful campaign strategy and advance engagement.
Major Gift & Annual Fund Program Counsel
The Values We Bring to Our Work
Excellence
Our standards and expectations are high.
Hungry &
Hard-Working
We love our work.
Teamwork
We value collaboration everystep of the way.
MacGyverish
We are resourceful, especially in a pinch.
Judgment
You can’t teach it, but we have it and we use it.
Wow!
The reaction we aspire to generate in every interaction.
People Behind Our Purpose
Want to speak with one of our consultants?
We welcome inquiries, questions, conversations and RFPs about your goals, vision and fundraising or strategic plans.
