“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.”
— Jorge Luis Borges
Your Library’s next chapter is long overdue
Sound familiar?
Your building has outgrown your community
You have a vision but no roadmap to fund it
Accessibility and ADA compliance issues
Ancient technology
Dedicated spaces for kids and programming would be awesome
Maybe an endowment for long-term stability?
Your library just feels…uninspiring
“We could not have done this without Baker Street. Their insight, encouragement, and strategic support made all the difference in getting our campaign off the ground — and over the finish line.”
“I have no idea what I’m doing.”
Never done a capital campaign before? Neither had most of our clients – that's exactly what we're here for.
We explain everything, guide every step, and make sure you feel confident throughout. If we hit roadblocks along the way, we work together creative strategies to push through.
From dreaming to groundbreaking —
here's how it works.
The Planning & Feasibility Study
Before you ask your community for a single dollar, you need to know what they're capable of, and what they're willing to support. A planning and feasibility study does exactly that.
We talk to your key donors, potential donors, friends, allies, and community leaders, assess the appetite for giving, and give you a clear, honest picture of what's achievable and when. This is critical intelligence gathering to position your campaign for success. It is also the first step to donor cultivation.
Can you skip this step? We wouldn’t recommend it.
No guesswork. No wishful thinking. The closest you can get to looking into a crystal ball — so when you launch the campaign, you can launch with confidence.
step 1
The Capital Campaign
This is where the dream takes flight. We work alongside your board, your volunteers, and your community leadership from the first major gift conversation to the final pledge — developing your case for support, coaching your volunteer leadership, creating your campaign materials, and keeping the momentum alive through every phase.
We've done this enough times to know where campaigns get stuck or lose momentum. We make sure yours doesn't.
You already know what your library needs. We help you build the plan — and raise the support — to make it happen.
step 2
See What’s possible
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Oregon Public Library | Campaign Goal: $2.5 million
Oregon, WI | Population: 11,000
Project Type: New Library Construction
From an outgrown downtown space to a fully funded $12.5 million community hub, Oregon’s new library shows what’s possible when vision, planning, and community support come together.Despite shifting goals and a pandemic pause, the campaign adapted, regained momentum, and delivered a result the entire community could stand behind.
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D.R. Moon Memorial Library | Campaign Goal: $5 Million
Stanley, WI | Population: 3,600
Project Type: Historic Renovation & ExpansionD.R. Moon Library set out to raise $5 million in a town of 3,600 - and exceeded their goal. Plus got a visit from Gov. Tony Evers.
Stanley stepped up to show what’s possible when planning, leadership, and community support align. And now, construction to modernize and expand this small town community hub is currently underway!
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KPL Kids @ Uptown Library | Campaign Goal: $3 Million
Kenosha, WI | Population: 100,000
Project Type: New Library + Affordable Housing
Campaign: A New Chapter for UptownBuilt on a block destroyed by civil unrest in 2020, this new children’s library represents a fresh start for Uptown.
KPL Kids @ Uptown is helping rebuild the neighborhood - starting with its youngest residents - by creating a space focused on literacy, learning, and opportunity.
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Brandon Public Library | Campaign Goal: $500,000
Brandon, WI | Population: 880
Project Type: Library Renovation & ExpansionIn a town of 880, this wasn’t just a campaign - it was a community effort.
Brandon completed a $1.2 million project to expand and modernize its historic library - powered by donors, volunteers, and community pride.
“It has been an absolute pleasure working with Baker Street and getting my feet wet in capital campaigning.
They've done a phenomenal job to get us where we are now and I cannot tell you how much I've appreciated all of their work to get us to our goal.”
— Christy Ross, Brandon Public Library“The heart of Uptown has seen a lot of tragedy. To bring this promise of a better future into the neighborhood is incredibly powerful.”
— Brandi Cummings, Kenosha Public Library
"Baker Street Consulting were instrumental in helping us create a focused, achievable fundraising plan. Their work helped us engage key community leaders and laid the groundwork for growing both current and future library support."
— Bryan J. McCormick, Hedberg Public LibraryMeet the Team
We're real people. And we still pick up the phone.
When you hire Baker Street, you work directly with us — not account managers, not junior associates. Our team of experienced consultants who have been doing this for a long time and genuinely care about the outcome.
We're a small team by design. No expensive downtown office, no layers of overhead, no billable hours padding the invoice. What that means for you is straightforward: you get senior-level expertise at costs that are typically well below what larger national firms charge — without sacrificing anything in quality or attention.
- Family-owned
- Veteran-owned
- Based in Stevens Point
Want to talk? Share your vision with us
The next step isn't a big commitment — it's just a conversation. Tell us about your library, your vision, and where things stand. We'll give you our honest take on what's possible and how we can help.
No pressure. No pitch. Just a chat with people who genuinely love libraries — and want to help yours write its next chapter.
Call me anytime or click the button below to tell us about your library.
Jim Radford, Founder (314) 369-7751 | jradford@bscgmail.com | Stevens Point, WI
Our Principles
We strongly believe that philanthropy isn't just fundraising. The word itself means “love of humankind” — and that shapes how we approach every engagement. We show up as partners, not vendors. We care about your community, your mission, and the people your library serves.
As Maya Angelou put it, “People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will never forget how you made them feel.”
That sentiment guides us in everything we do.
NOT READY FOR A FULL CAMPAIGN?
Not every library is ready to launch a campaign. That's okay too.
Some libraries are years away from a major campaign. Others just need help thinking things through. Through our Hometown Philanthropy platform, we offer project-based services and coaching for organizations at every stage — from writing your first grant narrative to building a case for support that will make donors sit up and take notice.
If you're not ready for a campaign, we're still ready to help.
