The quiet phase (sometimes called the silent phase) is the period, typically 24-36 months, when a campaign solicits major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations privately, before any public announcement.
The goal is to secure the majority of the campaign total quietly, so that by the time the campaign goes public, it can be announced already 70-80%+ funded, which builds momentum and social proof for the broader donor base rather than asking the public to fund an uncertain goal from zero.
Catapult's Campaign Connect public phase begins only once the Steering Committee and Campaign Chair confirm the quiet phase has reached that threshold, at which point the program shifts to reaching the wider constituency (alumni, parents, grateful patients, members) by phone to close the remaining gap.