Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research

The Perth-based Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (the Perkins) had an ambitious $5 million goal: to fund the appointment of a Professorial Chair of Cardiovascular Disease through a capital campaign.

One adult dies from cardiovascular disease every 12 minutes. Despite this troubling statistic, the campaign faced significant challenges including the Perkins’ low profile around cardiovascular research, few existing donors with major gift-making capacity, and a lack of unanimous support from WA’s cardiologists.
The campaign, devised with in-house expertise, kicked off with the Perkins allocating a $1 million bequest to cardiovascular research. The team grew the database to more than 650 prospects and developed an ambassador program with 45 corporate/community leaders, including well-respected cardiologists. The ambassadors introduced the case for support to prospective donors at several events and raised the Perkins’ profile around cardiovascular health through the media. They generously gave ‘time, talent and treasure’ and ensured their personal connections participated.

The campaign raised $5.3 million in pledges/donations over two years from 72 donors (65 were new) including gifts of $1,000,000, $750,000 and $600,000. The average pledge was $73,000, and the median pledge/donation was $25,000. The international search for the Professorial Chair of Cardiovascular Disease is underway with an appointment expected shortly.