Creating Investment Opportunities for Social Problems: Another Way to Respond to Your Calls

Slate Magazine and The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently released their Top 60 list of philanthropic individuals for 2009. These 60 leaders (think Bill and Melinda Gates, etc.) collectively gave $4.1 billion to nonprofit and charitable causes in 2009.

An analysis of the giving of these Top 60 seems to indicate major donors are looking more and more to invest in corrections for significant social problems.

What local social problems are you seeing in your fire and EMS calls? Iowa fire deaths in 2009 seem to indicate that working smoke detectors are not a current priority for many people in their homes. One fire department recently offered that a high number of their medical calls are young people getting into trouble with abuse of energy drinks.

Once you've identified 1-2 key local social problems you are seeing in your calls, what other organizations could you partner with in your community to positively address this issue? What level of investment do you need from the community to achieve a stretch goal of impact on this issue?

Once you have answered these questions, you have a foundation for a potentially successful fundraising campaign rooted in community collaboration and response to a local social need. You also have a campaign rooted in response to giving trends noticed in our nation's most significant donors.

You may read more about these Top 60 philanthropists here.

If you want to chat more about this idea, contact dawnsh@gmail.com.