Individual and Corporate Donors: A Tool and Trends

Giving USA tracks annual charitable contributions across the United States in great detail each year. Their 2008 giving study released in July 2009 found that 75% of the $307 billion given to nonprofit organizations that year came from individuals. By comparison, corporate/business giving represented just 5% of that total. These results are consistent with several industry studies released in recent years.

This is not to say that gift asks to businesses should not be made. It's simply an important trend to be aware of in focusing your department's fundraising efforts, just like whatever trends in fire and medical calls your department is currently facing. Fundraising projects that target only area businesses are overlooking 95% of the potential givers to your critical public safety efforts. Strategies for approaching individual donors will be a part of future blogs.

Of course, especially where your members have connections to local companies, including corporate outreach in your fundraising efforts make s a lot of sense. With or without direct connections, how do you judge a business' likelihood of giving to your department? Bill Moran with the Moran Company offers this helpful checklist to use in evaluating corporate prospects for your next community need. 

One addendum to Bill's checklist: the company may be more likely to give if the training or equipment you are looking to purchase might improve safety in their overall operations. The most effective approach for this type of need would be an open discussion with these corporate contacts to get their feedback and input on your project without making an "ask" immediately. Listening carefully during this meeting will give you clues as to what if any potential fit exists between your mission and that organization's philanthropic and operational objectives. This may be done at your station or their location, whatever is easiest for them. 

What's working well for you in terms of corporate outreach in your department? Your comments are welcome below or email me anytime to chat more one on one. Have an incredible week!

Specifc Need Fundraising: A New Perspective for Fire Departments

March 20 & 21, the Robins Fire Department took the Rope Rescue course offered as part of the Northwest Regional Fire School on the Western Iowa Tech campus in Sioux City. This department and the volunteers who attended the class are already researching equipment costs and more involved in forming a technical rescue team to enhance emergency response services surrounding the Cedar Rapids area. 

The Penelope Burk Book Donor Centered Fundraising TM is the most prominent among many recent fundraising industry research studies that show donors generally expect three things when investing in their favorite causes:
1. A prompt and personal thank you
2. Reassurance that the gift will be used as intended
3. Meaningful information about the results achieved with the gift

Fulfilling these donor expectations becomes a seamless process with need-specific fundraising.
The value of this approach is easy to overlook. After all, your department wants to keep a responsible balance in your account and have options for annual operating expenses not funded by your city or fire board. 

It's the specific requests/needs that your current and potential donors find easiest to visualize. When they visualize the potential value of their investment, they are more likely to give and give more generously. The need-specific case is stronger than those routine requests that come around once a year and only state that they will "benefit" a worthwhile organization. 


If Robins Fire determines the fit is right for their department to move forward with this team, they will have a stronger case to approach their key supporters and community contacts. They will have an opportunity to further their connection with the project supporters by inviting them to a demonstration of their skills once the equipment is purchased and the team is active. 


Spring time is a great time to bring a new perspective to connecting your department operations with your fundraising efforts. Surely many great ideas have been floating around at your department meetings. What is the best idea in your department with the greatest potential to further your mission? How could you make your current fundraising efforts more needs-specified to turn this idea into reality?


Please share your ideas below. Your comments and questions are welcome too if you prefer more one on one communication at dawnsh@gmail.com 

Mid-Month Bookmarking: Three Worthwhile Links for Your Nonprofit

Bookmarks are one of the best tools for marking true value among the sea of online resources, information and opinion available. In terms of potentially helpful bookmarks for you to add as you do your great work, today's post offers three recommendations:

1. The IRS Online Mini Courses for the 990 Form -  If you are currently a 501 c 3 (or other) exempt organization, or considering an application, one of the primary annual requirements to maintain your nonprofit status is the filing of a 990 form with the IRS. This page links to a series of free online trainings on the full 990 and 990-EZ form. If you currently do or are considering handling your own filing, your treasurer will appreciate this link. Of note:  The majority of nonprofits connected to the Iowa Fire Service will file the 990-EZ each year, even when gross receipts and asset thresholds are made permanent in 2011.

2. A thorough description of action steps for the Segregation of Duties principle from the University of California Santa Cruz is posted online. These are excellent baselines for the most responsible possible use of donor and taxpayer dollars. Our instant information era means any fire department news or rumor of financial investigations or charges impacts the reputation of and potential donations to every department. If you have a connection with an accountant or CPA, talk to that person in detail about how you can apply this principle even more completely at your department/association.

3. The Foundation Center's 990 Finder - If you'd like to do some research into the financial details of other fire associations, click on this link and enter "fire association" in the Organization Name field. This will give you access to actual 990s filed by other fire associations across the country. If you see something you think you can learn from, use the info on that 990 to contact that department/association. 


What other issues would you like to know more about to add to the breadth and depth of your bookmarks? Contact dawnsh@gmail.com to submit your request for a future post.

Onoing Supporter Communications: Bringing a Little Calm Into an Otherwise Choppy Sea

The photo above was taken in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. In the midst of the 1,000 things on everyone's to-do lists, it can help inspire a little calm.

The sea of fundraising can seem nausea-inducing in its choppiness sometimes. Just last week, four organizations sent me direct mail that implied since I sent one donation years ago, I must want to give again to their dire straits needs. Local fire departments and sherriff''s associations seem to be continuously warning against telemarketing outreach by organizations they are not affiliated with. The negative connotations around public safety tele-fundraising like this appears in many industry articles and books. 

How can we inspire a little calm in these choppy fundraising seas?  

Perhaps the most common misconception about fundraising is that it always involves asking for something. In fact, successful fundraising involves ongoing communication (that only occasionally includes an ask) with key supporters. Here are three ideas you may implement  to inspire calmer fundraising seas for your department:


1. Present a brief annual report to your council or fire board that summarizes your number of calls, training time dedicated and community outreach (events you support, education visits you make, etc.). If possible, include one story from someone who was positively impacted by your operations during that year. Write up the same content as a letter to the editor of your local newspaper.


2. Send a card at Thanksgiving time to everyone who has donated to your department in the last year expressing your deep and abiding gratitude for their support and briefly highlighting equipment, training or other progress their donation made possible. Sending the card at Thanksgiving makes it stand out among the overwhelming numbers that come at Christmas time. 


3. Anytime you receive a donation in the form of cash or in-kind support (supplies for your annual meals at the station, etc.), acknowledge that donation within 48 hours with a personal note or a call to say thank you. Doing so communicates that you place a high priority on the amazing generosity of your donor.


What's working for your department? Add your thoughts to the Comments section. 

Want to discuss these ideas one on one in more detail? Contact dawnsh@gmail.com.

March 1: Another Springtime Filing Reminder

 

A flip of the Our Iowa calendar this morning brings bright green imagery as a reminder that spring is just around the corner. March 1 is also noted as the start of the Girls State High School Basketball Tournament. March 1 also serves as an important reminder for nonprofit corporations in the State of Iowa of a basic task that needs completion each odd-numbered year.

If you're not sure if your fire association is currently registered as an Iowa nonprofit corporation, you may search the Secretary of State's website for any name under which you might be registered here. If you are registered, this link will also provide you with details on who is currently receiving your association's correspondence from this office - your Registered Agent. If the name of your Registered Agent needs to be updated, click here for more information.

As explained on the Iowa Secretary of State website:

All nonprofit corporations organized within the State of Iowa or authorized to do business within the State of Iowa must file a Biennial Report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and March 31 of each odd-numbered year. Each corporation's registered agent will receive a Biennial Report notice in early January. There is no fee for filing a Nonprofit Corporation Biennial Report.

If you are a registered Iowa nonprofit corporation, the Biennial Report you will receive in the mail in January 2011 will take just a few minutes to complete. It's of particular importance to file. Failure to do so will result in your association being administratively dissolved in the State of Iowa without notice. 

Being registered as an Iowa nonprofit corporation is a key first step if you're considering applying for 501 c 3 status with the Internal Revenue Service. 

Go ahead. If you're already registered as an Iowa Nonprofit Corporation, mark your calendar now to make sure you file your Nonprofit Corporation Biennial Report by March 31, 2011. 

Want to chat more about Iowa registration and/or 501 c 3 status? Share your experiences through the comments section below or contact dawnsh@gmail.com. Have a great March!