Vanguard Landing’s mission is to offer a safe, intentional, interactive, and inclusive community where persons with intellectual and developmental differences can thrive and achieve their life’s full potential.

Challenge:

Vanguard Landing was a startup nonprofit with a big dream: to build a $40 million residential and employment campus for individuals with disabilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Vanguard will offer 188 residents in the mild to moderate category of intellectual and developmental disabilities numerous options to live, work, and socialize in apartments, cottages, and townhomes, plus the support they need to live their lives as independently as possible. Vanguard was challenged by the lack of paid staff and a limited pool of existing donors. Their fundraising BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) was to go from $0 to $40 million.

Solution:

After reviewing earlier feasibility plans, I developed a campaign fundraising strategy to help Vanguard Landing raise the first phase of their campaign, while they continued to manage the other parts of the project such as admissions, public relations, and negotiations with the City of Virginia Beach. We developed relationships with local funders, created solicitation plans for key donors, and wrote a grant request for local foundations. Vanguard raised more than $4 million in the first phase for construction funds and secured $29 million in loan guarantees from Virginia Housing to complete the first phase of construction. Their goal is to raise an additional $4 million from 2024-2026. Vanguard Landing broke ground in spring 2024 and is under construction, with a projected open date of 2026. Learn more at: www.vanguardlanding.org