Bob VanHorn's life's work — one of the world's most significant big game collections — finds its permanent home at Swan Lake State Park.
Bob VanHorn of Glidden, Iowa has spent decades traveling the world as a big game hunter and conservationist — assembling what is believed to be one of the largest privately-held big game collections in the world. Spanning dozens of species across Africa, North America, Asia, and the Middle East, the collection is a remarkable record of wildlife, habitat, and a lifetime of adventure.
Bob is donating his entire collection to the people of Iowa. His wish is for it to be permanently housed at Swan Lake State Park in Carroll — a world-class natural history experience that draws visitors from across the country while educating the next generation about conservation and the natural world.
"This collection deserves a home where everyone can experience it — not locked away in a private room."
— Bob VanHorn, Glidden, IowaThe estimated value of the collection exceeds $2 million — a foundational gift that launches the campaign with extraordinary momentum. The community's task now is to build the museum worthy of it.
Bob VanHorn discusses his collection and vision for the museum · Carroll Conservation Board
Capital campaigns of this size succeed when they follow a disciplined three-phase structure. Here is the recommended roadmap for the Swan Lake Big Game Museum campaign.
Months 1–6. Secure 50–60% of the goal before any public announcement. This is the foundational major gift phase — approached entirely through personal, relationship-driven solicitation.
Months 7–18. Announce the campaign publicly once 50%+ is secured. Expand the donor base through community events, media, and digital outreach.
Months 19–30. Final push to 100%. Urgency messaging, deadline-driven asks, and planned giving cultivation for legacy donors who want to be part of history.
| Gift Level | Gifts Needed | Prospects Needed | Subtotal | % of Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000+ | 2 | 6–8 | $2,000,000 | 20% |
| $500,000 | 2 | 6–8 | $1,000,000 | 10% |
| $250,000 | 4 | 12–16 | $1,000,000 | 10% |
| $100,000 | 10 | 25–30 | $1,000,000 | 10% |
| $50,000 | 20 | 50–60 | $1,000,000 | 10% |
| $25,000 | 40 | 80–100 | $1,000,000 | 10% |
| $10,000 | 50 | 100–150 | $500,000 | 5% |
| Under $10,000 | Many | Open | $2,500,000 | 25% |
| TOTAL | $10,000,000 | 100% | ||
Industry standard: 3–5 qualified prospects required for every gift secured. Top 18 donors = 75% of goal.
Each card is engineered around a specific donor profile — from the founding-level visionary to the community champion. Select a card to preview the interactive design and copy.
Six continents. Decades of adventure. A lifetime of passion for the wild places of the world. Bob VanHorn of Glidden, Iowa has given everything he pursued — and now he's giving it to you. His collection — one of the most remarkable ever assembled — will become Iowa's most extraordinary public museum, permanently housed at Swan Lake State Park. There is one opening for a Founding Patron of the Grand Safari Hall.
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The Big Game Museum at Swan Lake Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All gifts are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law. This commitment represents your intention to give and may be adjusted if circumstances materially change. A campaign representative will follow up within 48 hours.
When the doors of the Big Game Museum at Swan Lake open, your name can be on the wall where every visitor begins their journey — as a member of the Safari Society, the founding circle whose generosity made this museum possible.
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Big Game Museum at Swan Lake Foundation — 501(c)(3) | EIN: [XX-XXXXXXX] | All gifts tax-deductible
"A Museum Born in Iowa. Seen Around the World."
The Big Game Museum at Swan Lake is being built right now — one commitment at a time. Make yours tonight. Multi-year pledges welcome.
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Multi-year option
Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) gift. A team member will follow up within 48 hours to confirm your commitment.
Bob VanHorn spent a lifetime in the field. Now his greatest gift — a collection decades in the making — will live on at Swan Lake for every generation that follows. If you've ever thought about leaving something behind that truly matters, the Big Game Museum offers a rare and permanent way to do it. A planned gift costs you nothing today.
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All inquiries are strictly confidential. No obligation is created by this inquiry. We recommend consulting your financial advisor or estate attorney. Contact: [Campaign Director Name, Phone, Email]
Born in Iowa. Built by Iowans. Open to every Iowan who has ever stood at the edge of a field and felt the pull of the wild. The Big Game Museum at Swan Lake is coming — and your name can be on it.
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Tax-deductible 501(c)(3) | Big Game Museum at Swan Lake Foundation | Questions? Call [Name] at [Phone]
Print this table on the back of all $25,000+ pledge cards. Showing annual installments instead of total amounts dramatically reduces hesitation — $16,667/year feels fundamentally different than $50,000.
| Total Pledge | Annual (2 yr) | Annual (3 yr) | Annual (5 yr) | Quarterly (3 yr) | Monthly (3 yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $1,000,000 | $500,000 | $333,333 | $200,000 | $83,333 | $27,778 |
| $500,000 | $250,000 | $166,667 | $100,000 | $41,667 | $13,889 |
| $250,000 | $125,000 | $83,333 | $50,000 | $20,833 | $6,944 |
| $100,000 | $50,000 | $33,333 | $20,000 | $8,333 | $2,778 |
| $75,000 | $37,500 | $25,000 | $15,000 | $6,250 | $2,083 |
| $50,000 | $25,000 | $16,667 | $10,000 | $4,167 | $1,389 |
| $25,000 | $12,500 | $8,333 | $5,000 | $2,083 | $694 |
| $10,000 | $5,000 | $3,333 | $2,000 | $833 | $278 |
| $5,000 | $2,500 | $1,667 | $1,000 | $417 | $139 |
All pledge payments are tax-deductible when received. Receipts and acknowledgment letters issued at each payment. The 3-year schedule (highlighted) is statistically the most common selection among major donors.
Major gifts are relationships, not transactions. These six principles — drawn from AFP, Veritus Group, and Winkler Group research (2020–2026) — govern every high-level solicitation.
Schedule a "vision conversation" 4–8 weeks before the formal ask. Share plans, gauge enthusiasm, ask what excites them most. Never ask for money at this meeting — its only purpose is earning the right to return.
Mandatory for $100K+A private tour of the VanHorn collection is your single most powerful cultivation tool. No amount of brochure copy can replicate the experience of standing in front of a cape buffalo taken in 1987. Schedule this before any major ask.
Unique AdvantageNever ask "whatever you can give." State a specific amount tied to a specific naming opportunity: "We'd like to ask you to consider $250,000 to name the Conservation Theater — your family's permanent legacy in this building."
Core TechniqueAfter making the ask, stop talking. The most common solicitation error is filling the silence. Silence is the donor thinking — not discomfort. A major donor's first response is rarely their final answer.
Discipline Required93% of high-net-worth donors plan to maintain or increase giving in 2026. Proactively offer stock gifts, DAF grants, IRA QCDs, and planned gifts in every major solicitation. These often produce gifts larger than cash alone could.
Growing RapidlyWithin 24 hours: personal call. Within 72 hours: handwritten note. At 3 months: project update. At 6 months: site visit. At opening: exclusive Founders' Preview with Bob VanHorn. Stewardship is the foundation of the next gift.
Lifetime ValueEvery space is a naming opportunity. Every naming opportunity is a closing tool. This list is a starting framework — the final naming schedule should be developed with the architect once facility plans are confirmed.
Building a world-class museum campaign requires more than a great cause — it requires the infrastructure, tools, and strategy that sophisticated donors expect to see before writing a major check. The following services are available to the Swan Lake Big Game Museum campaign through David Pedelty of davidpedelty.com.
Everything needed to launch, run, and close a professional $10M capital campaign — from strategy through execution.
Why $15,000? This campaign matters to Carroll. A comparable engagement with a corporate client runs $25,000–$40,000. This rate reflects a genuine commitment to seeing the museum get built.
Just need the physical pledge cards designed and ready to print? This option delivers professional print-ready files — no strategy engagement required.
Let's talk through the campaign plan, your timeline, and how this partnership works. No pressure — just a conversation about what it takes to get to $10M.