Highlights from the “What Really Works: Fundraising Success Stories” session at the 2025 JCamp 180 Conference.
At the 2025 JCamp 180 Conference, three camp leaders shared how they are navigating rising operational needs, evolving donor expectations, and limited staff capacity—while still building toward long-term financial stability. Though their contexts vary widely, each camp demonstrated that you don’t need a multimillion-dollar endowment or the ability to launch a massive campaign to begin securing your camp’s financial future. What you
do need is creativity, clear storytelling, and the courage to start small.
Camp Ramah in the Poconos: Creating Strategic Giving Moments
Lakewood, Pennsylvania, ~540 unique campers/summer
Camp Ramah in the Poconos has long relied on its successful Chai Campaign, a Giving Tuesday tradition that now brings in $1 million annually. Last year, they tested a second major fundraising moment for their 75th anniversary, with uncertainty about whether their community would embrace an additional ask. By approaching donors with prior capacity for larger gifts and thoughtfully framing the anniversary as a unique opportunity, Ramah raised an additional $750,000 without compromising their annual goal.
To build long-term stability, Ramah is taking a gradual, accessible approach to endowment growth by directing about 3% of each year’s annual gifts into their fund. This strategy allows the camp to continue meeting immediate needs like scholarships and facility improvements while strengthening their long-term financial foundation and introducing their donors to the importance of endowment giving.
Key Takeaways:
- Use what’s already working. A strong annual campaign can help build additional strategic giving moments.
- Anchor endowment growth efforts to an existing campaign. This is a great way to move the needle when you can’t launch a dedicated endowment initiative.
Camp Kadimah: Building Philanthropy from the Ground Up
Barss Corner, Nova Scotia, ~310 unique campers/summer
Just a few years ago, Camp Kadimah had no fundraising strategy beyond occasional emergency appeals. To secure its future, the camp launched its first-ever capital campaign—a bold $1 million goal that was met with skepticism but ultimately expanded into a $3 million success. This shifted the community’s mindset about supporting camp at a transformational level.
Kadimah built on this momentum by establishing an annual Day of Giving, now raising $200,000 and engaging younger alumni and staff—broadening the donor base. Even as major donors continue fulfilling capital pledges, Kadimah has launched its first legacy campaign to encourage bequests. This approach allows donors to help secure camp’s long-term stability without additional immediate financial strain.
Key Takeaways:
- Momentum builds culture. A bold first campaign can catalyze a long-term fundraising culture.
- Legacy giving is accessible. You can start building an endowment through bequests long before you’re ready for a formal endowment campaign.
Camp Havaya: Making a Compelling Case
South Sterling, Pennsylvania, ~330 unique campers/summer
Camp Havaya faces a unique challenge as a young camp still carrying a significant mortgage. Leadership long assumed donors wouldn't want to give toward debt reduction; however, conversations with supporters revealed that they
did want to help once they understood how eliminating the mortgage would free resources for programs, scholarships, and future growth. This clarity has helped Havaya raise $2.1 million so far toward their $4 million goal.
Havaya’s long-standing Legacy Society also proved unexpectedly impactful. Some legacy donors chose to “pre-pay” their bequests using retirement assets, enabling the camp to make progress sooner than planned. In addition, the camp has raised $30,000 toward its unrestricted endowment to take advantage of JCamp 180’s Endowment Accelerator Matching Grant, offering donors yet another way to invest in camp's sustainability.
Key Takeaways:
- Don’t make assumptions for your donors. Trust your donors with your vision for the future, and they may surprise you.
- Legacy commitments can become current support. Donors may choose to accelerate their impact when inspired by a compelling need.
Closing Thoughts: You Don’t Need Millions to Begin Securing the Future
These three camps show that financial sustainability isn’t reserved for organizations already sitting on large endowments or ready to launch seven-figure campaigns. Whether allocating a small percentage of annual gifts toward the future, inviting donors to include camp in their estate plans, reframing existing financial challenges as transformational opportunities, or creating new moments of community participation, every camp can take meaningful steps today to strengthen its tomorrow. Creative strategies, authentic storytelling, and an openness to starting small can build the foundation for a resilient financial future—one thoughtful step at a time.
Have questions about how your camp can move the needle on sustainable fundraising? Reach out to your JCamp 180 Relationship Manager to access support for your fundraising work. You can also reach out to Dalia Krusner (dkrusner@hgf.org) for coaching and resources on legacy and endowment-building.