Preparing for a Landmark Centenary Campaign: London Philharmonic Orchestra

“It was a pleasure to work with Philanthropy Company on a piece of strategic work as the Orchestra makes plans for its centenary in 2032. It was the first time we had undertaken a project of this nature, and it was a joy to work with their team who had exactly the right mix of professionalism and humanity. They connected brilliantly with our key stakeholders and produced an authoritative and practical report.”

Nick Jackman, Campaigns & Projects Director

Challenge

Philanthropy Company was pleased to advise the London Philharmonic Orchestra as it prepares for a transformational fundraising campaign leading to its centenary in 2032 and requiring a major step change in ambition.

Response

Philanthropy Company delivered a comprehensive feasibility study to test stakeholder appetite and organisational readiness to mount a campaign. Our team held meetings with senior leadership and an insight session with the Development team to review the pipeline, interrogate data and analyse background materials. Desk research and benchmarking assessed the external landscape, comparator activity and the organisation’s position within the competitive arts environment. A structured interview programme with around 25 senior stakeholders, including board members, donors and supporters across the UK and US, provided insight into perceptions of the organisation’s core narratives and its preparedness for a major campaign.

Impact

The final report and presentation assessed the feasibility of two campaign targets and set out the implications of each. We provided analysis of prospect potential and conditions for success across governance, resourcing, systems and messaging. The report also set out a practical twelve-month action plan outlining the steps needed to move towards a quiet phase of fundraising, giving the organisation the evidence, confidence and roadmap to move towards a major centenary campaign.