Case Study: Ronald McDonald House Charities achieves $24M in capital campaign momentum and identifies 147 high‑potential prospects with WealthEngine

Ronald McDonald House Charities - Customer Case Study

Ronald McDonald House Charities — Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana (RMHC‑CNI) is the largest U.S. chapter, providing over 22,000 nights of respite annually across four houses and operating programs like a Mobile Care unit, scholarships, and an in‑hospital Family Room. In 2009 RMHC‑CNI tasked new Capital Campaign Director Lisa Mitchell with driving a $30M capital campaign to build an 86‑room, 14‑story house; with a small, mostly novice development team and top prospects already tapped out, she needed highly targeted, actionable donor leads tied to the board and steering committee to revive momentum.

Mitchell partnered with WealthEngine to run Circle of Friends analytics on RMHC‑CNI’s 30‑member board and 26‑member campaign committee, yielding 147 high‑potential, connected prospects for focused solicitation. The approach re‑energized board and committee engagement, helped secure $24M of the $30M goal, and supported outreach tools like “Dusty Shoes Tours”; the new house opened June 26, 2012, and the organization reports strong donor retention and a clear path to close the remaining $6M.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Lisa Mitchell

Director of Capital Campaign