Corporate Donor Trends: Noncash Gifts Looking Up

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Throughout all kinds of nonprofit work, there's a lot of discussion about corporate involvement in and corporate sponsorship.

Nationwide, overall corporate giving to nonprofits increased 7 percent for 2009. Total corporate giving nationwide that year was estimated at almost $10 billion. The 2009 increase was driven by non-cash giving, while cash giving tailed off for the second straight year. This study comes from Giving in Numbers: 2010 Edition by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP).

In this study, non-cash giving increased 16 percent, from $5.29 billion to $6.13 billion, while cash giving dipped almost 5 percent, from $3.99 billion to $3.8 billion. Non-cash contributions also increased the share of corporate philanthropy, making up 62 percent of giving last year, compared to 57 percent in 2008.

How can you apply the information in this study to more effective fundraising efforts in your department? Consider the following:

1. Have a brainstorming session with a few members of your department. Have someone take minutes for future reference. Document any connections your members have with area corporations (employers, personal friends, etc.) 

2. Are there any area corporations you might approach to donate supplies for the meal your department hosts at the station?

3.If you do a direct mail campaign, are there any area corporations who might help with mail or printing costs by including your materials in their outreach?

4. Is there an area corporation that might help with basic supplies at the station?

5. Is there an area corporation with access to training resources your department might benefit from?

6. Is there an area corporation that might might help you get an annual report of all your community contributions in the hands of all your taxpayers and donors?

There may be other connections for non-cash gifts between your department and area corporation. When you find those connections, keep them engaged with your department and show adequate appreciation for the impact they have on your operations. 

What non-cash corporate gifts are working well for your department?

Hometown Challenge Grant: An Alliant Public Safety Building Block

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Is your department in a market covered by Alliant Energy? If so, their Hometown Challenge Grant program is an excellent way to make your community safer and move your mission forward in 2011.

Through this program, grants of $1,000 to $3,000 are available to help fund a safety-related need in your community? Program parameters to follow include:

1. The need must be for a special, one-time safety need and not an ongoing funding need (such as paying off apparatus).

2. Use the Hometown Challenge Grant application to explain your plans for at least two other fundraising programs to match the amount you are requesting. 

3. Read and follow all program expectations. The details may be found here. 

4. If you are fortunate enough to receive a grant award, send Alliant a prompt and personal thank you. Find a way to recognize their contribution in your community. 

What public safety programs exist in your community that your fellow firefighters might benefit from? Share your experiences below.

What areas of the Midwest would you like future ideas and tips from? Comment below.

Have an incredible week!

A 59 Minute Guide for Your 2011 Fundraising

The new year brings new opportunities to connect donors with your critical mission to do everything possible for members of the community who need to call 911.

You probably have a core activity or two that supports your operations each year, like a community meal hosted at your station. 

Before you add a bake sale, product sale or other volunteer time intensive event or activity, consider fundraising focused solely on cultivation and a culture of asking for an outright gift. Study after study has demonstrated no mode of fundraising is more cost effective or satisfying for the donor or the nonprofit.

The idea seems scary! No one wants to appear to be a beggar. No one has time to receive an undergraduate or Master's Degree in fundraising or philanthropy. Calls and training must come first.

Thankfully, industry veteran Jerold Panas has offered a 59-minute guide that addresses this need. (Amazon Affiliate Link). Among the topics covered in the Panas book are:

1. Taking the fear out of asking
2. Ten activities to avoid
3. The most powerful motivators
4. Asking for the right amount
5. The four magic questions
6. Calling for the visit
7. Overcoming objections
8. The wondrous 11 minutes
9. Why donors really give
10. "Listening" the gift
11. The golden rules of fundraising

This 108 page guide includes large print and is as practical no-nonsense a guide as I've encountered.  You may pickup your own Amazon Affiliate program copy here. 

In addition to offering new ways for your current members to serve, an active "friendraising" team may offer new ways for member spouses or community members who don't want to go on calls to have a forever impact on your mission. 

What fundraising activities are working well in your department?

Are You a Nonprofit Corporation in Iowa? Your Bienniall Report Is Due!

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Is your association or department already organized as a 501 (c ) (3) and/or nonprofit corporation in Iowa? If so, now is an important time for you to file your biennial report with the Iowa Secretary of State's office. The deadline to complete this report is March 31.  

The filing is simple. You are reconfirming contact information.

Your nonprofit's registered agent may have already or will soon be receiving a mailing from the office of Matt Schultz, Iowa's new Secretary of State Follow the instructions for updating on your letter.


If you're not sure who the registered agent is for your nonprofit, follow these steps:

1. Visit http://www.sos.state.ia.us/

2. Click on "Search Databases" then on "Iowa Corporations."

3. Enter the name of your nonprofit. You may have to enter one word of the name for the search to return your results.

4. When you find your nonprofit, click on the number next to your name. A new screen will appear with the registered agent's name. 

If you need to change the name of the person who is your registered agent, you may find details on doing so here. 

Have questions or would like more information about nonprofit status in Iowa? You may click here to visit that section of the Secretary of State's website.

Remember to file your biennial report by March 31! This report is currently required in the spring of every odd-numbered year in Iowa.

Millennials as Your Members & Donors

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Individuals born since and including 1981 are known as the Millennial generation. A recent study from the Giving USA Foundation and the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University offers interesting information the trends of this demographic group that makes up 1/3 of the current workforce and 20% of the United States population.  The photo above represents targeted advertising to this demographic group.

Although Millennials currently give significantly less of their household income to charity than Boomers, ($557/year versus $2,613/year), they represent the longest term potential commitment to your department in terms of volunteer and donor support. 

Potential donors in the Millennial generation want more hands-on, direct experiences with nonprofits before they start donating. They also want a voice in how the organization operates. Few nonprofit experiences are more hands-on than becoming a part of a volunteer fire department team. This can be effectively balanced with the command structure of emergency response.

Some report highlights include:

1. 93% of Millennials regularly go online, with 50% of this population using a mobile device to access the Internet.
2. 72% of online Millennials use social networking sites, with 71% using Facebook.

 More details about the report and other similar studies are available starting here. 

What lessons can you take from this report as you work to connect your department with more potential members and donors? 

1. Would any of your current Millennial members be willing to post on Facebook about what being part of your department means to them?
2. Once some of the above information has been shared, consider using Facebook and other social networking sites to invite friends to membership meetings to learn more.
3. Don't overlook offering your members of every generation the opportunity to invest in your department. Their experience is extremely hands-on. They see firsthand the difference funding makes in effective response to the 911 call. Although not everyone will give, not offering the chance surely leaves support on the table.

What's working well at your department in terms of appreciating the gifts each generation brings?