WHEATON COLLEGE: Fundraising campaign resulted in $187 million giving, surpassing the campaign goal of $175 million

The Brand and Challenge

Wheaton College is the top distinctively Christian liberal arts college in the U.S. The College wished to develop a capital campaign with an umbrella look and feel for the its $175 million capital campaign. The original website that had been developed did not have the look, feel, or functioning that reflected the excitement and scope of this ambitious 5-year campaign.

What We Did

Verve worked with the Advancement staff to develop the look, feel, and messaging that would be used across all campaign communications.

Website

A new website was developed which is the hub where all marketing communications drive to. The “From the Heart, For the Kingdom” website brought to life the message that an investment in students is an investment in long-term kingdom advancement. The site is designed to engage with the entire range of potential donors — those who are ready to act from the get-go to those who are casually considering the idea of gifting.

Nine giving initiatives were featured on the website within a campaign-wide messaging framework of helping the College to be more “Remarkable, Relevant, and Reachable.” And a section of student stories helped donors connect their gift to the real-life differences being made in the lives of actual students.

Verve Marketing Group received the MarCom Gold Award for this site.

Wheaton College website design Home and Interior page

Major Donor Print Materials

These included brochure, folder and flyers promoting the various campaign initiatives. Verve received the Communicator Award of Distinction by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts for the vision-casting brochure design.

Local Event Materials

We also helped promote the College’s “Wheaton Together” alumni gala events held across the country. Materials designed included print and email invitations, event programs, PowerPoint presentation graphics, pledge cards, and event signage.