In a single campaign, Commemorative Air Force raised over $650,000 from more than 1,700 supporters, demonstrating how mission-driven storytelling and community engagement can power fundraising success.
Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is an organization with a powerful and unique mission: to educate, inspire, and honor through flight and living history experiences. Founded by Lloyd Nolen and a small group of ex-service pilots from Texas’ Rio Grande Valley, CAF is dedicated to preserving and honoring the legacy of American military aviation.
What began as a hobby evolved into a nationwide mission to protect aviation history. Today, Commemorative Air Force has 11,000 members, 165 airplanes, 60 units located in 25 states.
CAF acquires, restores, and preserves historic combat aircraft so that present and future generations can experience them firsthand. But their work goes beyond restoration – they keep alive the spirit, stories, and values that defined the pilots and crews who once flew these aircraft.
Last year, CAF launched its annual 12 Planes of Christmas campaign and achieved remarkable results, raising over $650,000 from more than 1,700 contributors. Let’s take a closer look at the key factors behind this fundraising success.
1. Building a Community, Not Just a Donor List
CAF doesn’t simply collect donations, they build relationships. The team responds to every supporter, engages in conversation, and adds personalized messages of gratitude. This approach turns contributors into an active community.
While this level of engagement requires extra time, the payoff is significant. Supporters who feel acknowledged and valued are far more likely to return, advocate for the organization, and share its mission with others. Emotional connection drives long-term support.
2. Mission First, Always
Whether CAF is launching a campaign, sharing a social media post, or posting an update, one thing remains constant: their mission is always front and center.
This consistency creates clarity and trust. Because supporters clearly understand why CAF exists and what it stands for, they’re more confident contributing again and again. A strong, clearly communicated mission becomes the foundation of fundraising success.
Before launching any campaign, take time to refine your mission statement, and then communicate it consistently across all channels.
3. Sub-Campaigns That Tell Focused Stories
Using FundRazr sub-campaigns, CAF created individual pages for each aircraft. Every sub-campaign had its own story, funding goal, and detailed explanation of the plane’s historical significance and restoration needs.
For example, the Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero, Japan’s most iconic World War II fighter and a plane featured in the film Pearl Harbor, required a full landing gear overhaul. The necessary parts had to be hand-fabricated from scratch – a compelling story that resonated with aviation enthusiasts.
Sub-campaigns allow to deliver more targeted messaging, reach niche audiences, and present the campaign in a clear, transparent, and easy-to-understand structure.
4. Strong Visual Identity Builds Trust
All campaign and sub-campaign visuals followed a consistent style: clean, striking, and professionally designed. The result was a cohesive, polished look that felt inspiring and trustworthy.
This wasn’t just about aesthetics. High-quality visuals reinforce credibility and strengthen brand identity. A well-designed campaign page increases confidence and, ultimately, the likelihood of receiving donations.
5. Know Your Supporters
CAF also demonstrated a deep understanding of its audience by offering multiple ways to donate, both online and offline. By anticipating that some supporters might be hesitant to give online, they removed a potential barrier and ensured no one was excluded.
This highlights an essential lesson: successful fundraising depends on understanding your supporters as people. Learn their preferences, motivations, concerns, and habits. Pay attention to how they browse, what information they need, and what convinces them to act.
Analytics tools can help, but nothing replaces direct communication. Ask questions, listen actively, and keep the dialogue going. When supporters feel understood, they’re far more likely to support your mission.
In short: Commemorative Air Force’s success came from clear mission-driven messaging, strong community engagement, targeted storytelling, thoughtful design, and a deep understanding of their supporters. Together, these elements created a campaign that truly took flight.
Ready to create a campaign that connects supporters to your mission? Learn how community-powered fundraising can work for your organization.
