Association of Fundraising Professionals
WASHINGTON CHAPTER
WASHINGTON STATE MEMBER E-NEWS UPDATE:
Summer 2006 edition
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Table of Contents
- From the Desk of the President
- Workshop Review: Building Relationships
- AFP Book Review: Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America
- The Hot Tip: A Picnic Spread of Fundraising Ideas, Trends and Tips
- National Philanthropy Day--Save the Date!
- New Job Listings on AFP WA Website
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From the Desk of the President
It is such a privilege to serve along side fundraising professionals who not only are leaders in our profession but who also serve as role models and community leaders. Four recent examples will help us all to appreciate the great advantage we have as members of AFP to rub shoulders with such outstanding leaders, to count them as colleagues and friends, and to learn from their wisdom born from experience.
- Sonya Campion, Immediate Past President of your board and this year´s Membership Vice President was honored on June 21st as the recipient of Leadership Tomorrow´s 2006 Edward E. Carlson Outstanding Alumnae.
- Janet Boguch was honored by NDOA at their Spring Conference awards luncheon with the 2006 Professional Achievement Award.
- Anne Marie MacPherson has been named a Partner with the Collins Group.
- Scott Garrepy´s organization, Intiman Theatre, received a Tony award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. We all know it couldn´t have achieved such a high distinction without excellent support from the development department.
Please join me in congratulating these outstanding AFP professionals. We are going to start a new item in our eNewsletter that highlights the achievements of our members. If you know about another´s promotion, award or recognition, please share with , our VP of Communication. And don´t be shy. Toot your own horn as well.
Jane Kuechle, MNPL
President
AFP Washington State Chapter
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Workshop Review: Building Relationships
Twenty development professionals from area non-profits had the chance to get away from the office for two days in June and spend some time at a workshop focused on building relationships. The workshop was sponsored by AFP Washington and presented by Carol Moreland from The Stelter Company.
In preparation for the workshop, each participant was asked to complete a questionnaire that assessed personal behavior style based on the DISC Profile. DISC stands for Dominance, Influence, Steadiness, and Conscientiousness. The interactive discussions throughout the two day training were linked to utilizing DISC. Completing a personal DISC Profile helps the fundraiser to assess their own behavior, understand the behavior of others, and adapt communication in various donor/prospect related situations.
The training helped us to develop the skills needed to connect with donors and ultimately secure major "stop and think" gifts for our organizations.
In order for us to be successful, we must:
- Genuinely care about our donors personally and professionally and want to discover who the person is on the inside.
- Discover what the donor´s passion is.
- Find ways our organization´s mission matches the donor´s passion.
Another tip was to write your 30-second spot before picking up the phone to make an appointment with a donor. Your script should include: 1) a greeting (your name and organization); 2) a brief statement about the donor´s connection to your organization; 3) a compelling reason for your call.
When asking the donor for their gift ask them, "What kind of impact do you hope to have by making this gift?"
And finally, think of objections as a request for more information. Once a donor has articulated a concern, a good nurturing statement to explore the objection would be, "That´s important, let´s talk about it. Tell me more about your concerns." Or, "What can I do to make you feel better about that?"
Thank you to AFP for arranging this workshop. It was beneficial time away from the office and provided the rare opportunity to spend time on the skills and techniques necessary for cultivating and soliciting the big gifts needed to sustain and grow our organizations.
Linda Bonomi is Director of Development for Performing Arts Center Eastside (PACE) and serves on the AFP Washington Board of Directors.
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AFP Book Review:
Prime Time: How Baby Boomers Will Revolutionize Retirement and Transform America
Marc Freedman, author
Reviewed by
The San Francisco Chronicle Book Review said that "Marc Freedman is onto something big in Prime Time." I couldn´t agree more. He makes a compelling case (with real live examples) about the tremendous potential for a well-educated generation approaching retirement to help make their communities better places by utilizing the talents, skills, experiences and resources gained during the first two thirds of their lives.
But Mr. Freedman cautions, "realizing the potential for individual and social renewal inherent in the aging society will require considerable savvy. Significant numbers may well be receptive to engagement in volunteering, national service and other forms of public interest work in the new chapter replacing retirement, but there is a difference between receptivity and reality. Bringing about a transformation in the actual role of older Americans will require substantial cultural and institutional change."
In case you missed it, that last sentence is our cue. This substantial, growing resource is waiting in the wings and it up to us to us to us to develop the policies, framework and opportunities for meaningful public interest work. Mr. Freedman&s concludes his book with a final chapter is titled "If We Build it…"
Just imagine the possibilities.
(Mr. Freedman, founder of Civic Ventures, made two appearances in Seattle on April 27th, first at a breakfast meeting sponsored by The Collins Group and again at an NDOA Advanced Training seminar later that day. The Seattle Public Library Foundation and Philanthropy Northwest have made tentative plans to bring him back again for a public appearance during first quarter of 2007.)
Terry Collings has been the Executive Director of The Seattle Public Library Foundation since 1989 and serves as the Treasurer on the AFP Washington Board of Directors.
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The Hot Tip: A Picnic Spread of Fundraising Ideas, Trends and Tips
During these lazy days of summer (yeah, right!), I hope you are finding some moments to enjoy special times with family and friends and appreciate your many blessings. Now, here´s my summer gift for you--a picnic spread of fundraising ideas, trends and tips:
Wouldn´t it be great if your supporters could generate funds for your organization every time they used a search engine? Well, now they can. Check out www.goodsearch.com
Mobilize your supporters to sell their extra stuff. Through Missionfish.org your supporters can sell items on eBay and give part or all of the proceeds to your cause. Your organization can also sell items through an occasional auction or by on ongoing online store. Best of all, normal eBay fees are waived for non profits. Find out more at www.missionfish.org
Ask for Bequest gifts. A great fallback position to offer people who can´t or don´t feel they can make a major gift. Consider this: the majority of your donors may not be able to make a major gifts, however, the majority, if shown how, can make a planned gift at little cost today.
Encourage gifts of real estate and property. Today, real estate represents more than half the wealth in the United States. What are you doing to encourage gifts of property or real estate?
Ask for car donations. Don´t want to hassle with the handling cars—outsource to another group to handle things and just collect the checks each month. Catholic Community Services works with Volunteers of America and we have been very pleased with the partnership.
Did you know that nearly one in five US Internet users have contributed online? You are working on an Internet strategy, aren´t you?
Ask for gifts of life insurance and consider a life settlement. A Life Settlement is simply a sale of a life insurance policy on the secondary market for an amount grater than the cash surrender value, but less than policy value. Charities who own donated life insurance policy, may, with the donor´s permission, pursue a life settlement on policies for seniors over 70. This may be a way to increase your organization´s current income. Learn more at www.advancedsettlements.com/assets/pages/charity.php
Need help keeping up with the latest in fundraising, non profit technology and social enterprise happenings? Besides the great resources from AFP, I like www.charitychannel.com, www.idealware.com, www.techsoup.com, npenterprise@yahoogroups.com, plannedgiving@yahoo.groups.com, and information_systems_forums@yahoo.com.
Well, I hope you have found at least one thing in this picnic spread of ideas that you can sink your teeth in and enjoy. Let me know your thoughts on this feast. Reach me by emailing, . May your summer be both a time of renewal and excellence in all your efforts!
Richard Bray has been the Director of Planned Giving for Catholic Community Services of Western Washington since 2000, an editor for Charity News USA for three years and is a board member of AFP Washington Chapter. He has worked for over 20 years in faith-based humanitarian organizations including Mercy Corps and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
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National Philanthropy Day--Save the Date!
Thursday, November 16 from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Seattle Sheraton Hotel
Plan ahead for the volunteers you will want to honor and thank through the STARS program and the board members, elected officials or donors you will want to bring to this annual celebration of philanthropy. You will receive information about the award recipients the end of August. For more information about this event, call the AFP Office at 206-367-8777.
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New Job Listings on AFP WA Website
Harold E. LeMay Museum, Youth Eastside Services, St. Andrews Housing Group, Skagit Preschool & Resource Center, Family Services of King county and the Seattle Symphony have all posted jobs in July. Visit the jobs page to view other interesting jobs.