RFP Capital Campaign Consultant

Austin Sunshine Camps (ASC) has served Central Texas children and youth since 1928, when the Young Men’s Business League of Austin (YMBL) founded the organization in response to the youth tuberculosis crisis. At the time, sunshine and time outdoors were believed to be critical for recovery, and Zilker Park was chosen as the original camp site where children facing poverty-related health challenges could grow stronger and healthier.

Over the decades, ASC has expanded its reach while staying true to its original mission. In 1987, a second camp location was opened on the shores of Lake Travis at Turkey Bend Recreation Area, creating a natural progression for older campers and extending the camp experience through a camper’s teenage years. Today, our Zilker Park Camp welcomes children ages eight to 11, while our Lake Travis Camp serves youth ages 12 to 15.

Now in its present structure, ASC provides free, accredited overnight camp experiences to more than 500 children each year who qualify for the National Free/Reduced School Lunch Program or are in the foster care system. In addition to overnight summer camp, our programming has evolved to include year‑round programming, which builds year‑round trust and connection with camper families, and our Counselor‑in‑Training (CIT) program, which develops motivated camper alumni into future camp leaders.

For nearly a century, ASC has remained steadfast in its vision: that every child, regardless of ZIP code or circumstance, deserves a place to grow, connect, and explore. Since 1928, more than 57,000 children have experienced the magic of camp at no cost to their families, a legacy we continue to carry forward in our current organizational structure.

ASC’s current team consists of 12 full‑time staff members. Each summer, approximately 70 seasonal staff are hired to serve as camp counselors at Zilker Lodge and Lake Travis Camp.

Austin Sunshine Camps (ASC) provides the magic of overnight camp without the barrier of cost. For nearly a century, ASC has offered children and families from under‑resourced communities a place to learn, grow, and belong, at no cost to them. Today, ASC operates two camp facilities:

• Zilker Lodge, located in Zilker Park, offering leadership and community programs in the heart of Austin.
• Lake Travis Camp, a rustic overnight camp providing outdoor adventure and personal growth opportunities for hundreds of youth each summer.

ASC is now preparing for its next major chapter: the creation of a third camp site in Central Texas, allowing ASC to nearly double the amount of campers it can serve each year.

Learn more about ASC’s mission, vision, values, and strategic plan here. Review ASC’s latest
Impact Reports here.

Austin Sunshine Camps is embarking on a capital campaign with an initial goal of $5 million to design, build, and launch the new camp in Central Texas. This new site will expand ASC’s reach, deepen its impact, and serve as a long‑term investment in youth development, community connection, and organizational sustainability. The selected consultant must be based in or able to regularly travel to the Central Texas region, with the ability to attend key in‑person meetings and site visits.

ASC seeks a qualified Capital Campaign Consultant to partner with leadership in planning, managing, and guiding all phases of this campaign, from early planning and feasibility through to completion of the public phase.

• Conduct a readiness assessment or feasibility study.
• Develop a detailed campaign plan including goals, case for support, timeline, and leadership structure.
• Advise on and support the recruitment of campaign leadership and volunteers.
• Refine messaging and materials aligned with ASC’s mission and values.

• Guide and support the quiet phase of the campaign.
• Support creation of campaign collateral.
• Advise on donor cultivation and stewardship.
• Provide ongoing counsel and data tracking support.

• Provide coaching and training to staff and board.
• Attend key meetings and donor strategy sessions.