The challenge.
Waterfront Park is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Kentuckiana region, drawing nearly 2.2 million visitors annually. The board approached us with a $50 million Phase IV vision — extending the park 22 acres west, uniting downtown and West Louisville along the Ohio River corridor.
A goal that size requires a different posture from the board, the community, and the case-for-support. The team needed clarity on whether the goal was reachable, what it would take, and how to start.
What we did.
- Ran a feasibility study — 64 interviews across the donor pipeline.
- Delivered a structured assessment of capacity, leadership, and case-for-support.
- Recommended a quiet phase of 18+ months, with board lead-gift commitments before public launch.
- Built a donor cultivation plan with named prospect strategies.
- Coached campaign leadership through the first 12 closes.
PlayPort opened to the public in 2024. The campaign is in its public phase. Phase IV broke ground.
What’s true now.
The campaign launched its public phase in spring 2024. PlayPort — a 1.5-acre experience celebrating the waterfront’s industrial history — is the first component completed. The board is operating at lead-gift level, and the case-for-support is built around community input rather than top-down vision.
You have the mission.
We help you fund it.
Tell us about your organization. We’ll come back within two business days with whether and how we can help.