Client Spotlight
Eisenhower Foundation
The Eisenhower Foundation partnered with BowerComm to increase awareness, visitation, membership, and fundraising support for the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, Kansas—including strategy to help close a nearly-$1 million fundraising gap, a regional visitation campaign with $7,000 in paid media for the Opening the Vault exhibit, and a Friends membership pilot aimed at 150 new or upgraded members and 200 new email leads.
THE CHALLENGE
Closing a $1 million fundraising gap within a limited time while maintaining donor confidence.
Increasing visitation to a destination-based museum.
Creating urgency around time-limited exhibits.
Reaching audiences beyond existing current donor and visitor lists.
Converting awareness into measurable actions (visits, memberships, donations).
OUR APPROACH
Led a focused fundraising strategy engagement to define audiences, messaging, and immediate actions.
Supported capital campaign efforts through donor research, segmentation, and targeted outreach.
Developed and executed a high-urgency visitation campaign for the Opening the Vault exhibit.
Built a full conversion funnel: paid media → landing pages → email → on-site experience.
Positioned the museum as a “make a trip of it” destination, increasing likelihood of travel.
Tested a digital-first subscription-style Friends membership model to grow long-term engagement.
Created systems to capture and grow owned audiences (email, memberships).
THE OUTCOME
Developed strategy to help close a fundraising gap of less than $1 million by Dec. 31, 2025.
Supported the I Like Ike capital campaign through prospect research, donor list development, and targeted mailings, including approximately 5,700 Kansas philanthropist contacts and 100 high-capacity out-of-state prospects.
Built a regional visitation campaign for Opening the Vault with $7,000 in paid media to drive attendance during the limited six-week exhibit window.
Created a Friends membership pilot with goals of 70 upgraded existing supporters, 80 new members, and 200 new email leads.
Connected fundraising, visitation, membership, and audience growth into one measurable strategy for long-term engagement.
