Challenge
The sudden resignation of a Chief Development Officer is disruptive under any circumstances. At Laura's House, the timing made it especially acute. A signature fundraising event was weeks away, a capital campaign was in progress, and the development team needed experienced leadership to keep moving without interruption.
Leadership was committed to finding the right permanent hire rather than settling for an underqualified candidate. But they also understood the cost of an extended vacancy. Every week without capable executive leadership meant lost donor momentum, missed cultivation windows, and real risk to a campaign with significant work still ahead.
Solution
Covenant moved quickly, placing a highly capable interim Chief Development Officer to lead the development team from day one. The Interim CDO assumed full supervision of staff, maintained all existing processes, and continued cultivating key donor relationships with the consistency the organization needed during a period of transition.
Simultaneously, Covenant stepped in as Campaign Counsel, providing strategic direction to keep the capital campaign on course and ensure that critical milestones stayed on schedule through the leadership change.
Impact
With the right leadership in place, Laura's House did not just hold the line. Annual fundraising goals were met in full, and event revenue reached record highs. The capital campaign maintained its momentum, with several lead gifts closed during the counsel period.
When the permanent CDO was finally hired after an extended executive search, the Covenant Interim Executive led the onboarding process, allowing the CEO to remain focused on organizational priorities rather than managing the transition herself.
