Ossining Children’s Center

Location: Ossining, NY

Sector: Schools and education

Services: Feasibility study and capital campaign consulting

After serving immigrant and working families for more than 120 years, Ossining Children’s Center had established deep roots in the Westchester community. We helped OCC tap into those relationships to construct a modern childcare center, raising $10.5 million in lead gifts before we completed the feasibility study and ultimately exceeding their $17.8 million campaign goal.

The Backstory

Westchester County is affluent, but many parents in the town of Ossining struggle to find or afford quality childcare and early childhood education programs. Ossining Children’s Center pioneered one of the nation’s first daycare centers and remains a top early childhood program in New York, thanks to its tailored curriculum and tuition assistance program.
However, the center’s aging facilities stood in stark contrast to the nurturing environment inside, and left OCC unable to accommodate the growing needs of the community.
**OCC partnered with the Heller Fundraising Group to explore a bold plan to purchase land and build a new facility.**

The Challenges

The unprecedented size and scale of OCC’s $17.8 million campaign presented several challenges.

Leadership buy-in

The idea of leaving the center’s long-time home and pursuing a large-scale capital campaign was difficult for some board members.

Timing and planning

OCC had to search for and purchase a new site while simultaneously determining whether it was possible to finance it.

Unexpected obstacles

The death of several prominent supporters and the Covid-19 pandemic could have derailed OCC’s progress.

“A campaign is a great moment for your board and other supporters to decide if they’re with you—and for those who are, to be in it whole-heartedly.”

—Peter Heller, Founder, Heller Fundraising Group

The Strategy

Boost confidence

The Heller Group partnered with OCC’s board president on a series of workshops to answer questions, address concerns, and solidify board support for the campaign before making critical decisions.
Be deliberate

We encouraged OCC to focus on finding their new home while we conducted research and a deep analysis of their donors. Taking the time to lay this groundwork allowed us to enter the feasibility study with $10.8 million already raised.
Maintain your trajectory

We elevated OCC’s campaign execution by training staff and volunteers, setting up tracking systems, and providing strategic advice — all of which helped OCC pivot when faced with several campaign disruptions.

The Results

OCC’s new 27,000-square-foot home in downtown Ossining, offers everything a young child could need. The center has also grown from 148 to 222 children while continuing its mission to keep childcare affordable for all families.