Take Your Department's Fundraising to New Heights

Non-profits and the fundraising industry as a whole suffer when isolated individuals and organizations behave without any ethical foundations. It appears there may be such a case in the public eye now. Today, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller filed a lawsuit against Public Safety Communications of Des Moines. The lawsuit alleges the firm misled the public by collecting $1.5 million in Iowa but only forwarding 10% or 20% of the proceeds to its non-profit clients.

You may have received calls at your Fire Department questioning the validity of telemarketing calls from organizations claiming to be raising money for fire department charities. Although it's frustrating that the public may associate your department with this kind of behavior, think of it as an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to excellence.

Between your job, your family, and/or Fire Department needs, you already have enough on your plate. How do you avoid firms that might conduct themselves unethically in working with you to achieve your fundraising goals? A few thoughts:

1. In accordance with the standards of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), any percentage-based compensation agreement is unethical. You are owed the best work of the fundraising professional working for you regardless of his or her direct stake in the outcome.

2. Ask any professional you are considering working with for his or her thoughts on the AFP Code of Ethics and the Donor Bill of Rights. If you don't hear the same themes in these documents reflected in their response, find someone else.

3. Discuss fundraising costs in detail. Ask for information on fundraising costs for comprable clients. For example, if you're contracting for a capital campaign for a new fire station, ask for fundraising cost information based on other client capital campaigns. While client-identifying information is confidential, illustrative examples are not. General industry trends for fundraising costs will vary slightly by the type of campaign on which you are working.

4. Expect "not to exceed" quotes up front for fundraising services. Expect service agreements and contracts that confirm relationship expectations and costs in writing.

You already have the commitment to excellence you need to have a positive impact on the communities you serve. In the wake of these black marks for the fundraising industry, now is a great time to apply your high standards to those you work with on fundraising. In doing so, you will take your fundraising to new heights.
Your comments are welcome or email me to continue the discussion at dawnsh@gmail.com.

Focusing on Your Old Engine 1's: Back to the Basics on Grants

Old Engine 1 at the Decorah Fire Department (DFD) was synonymous with DFD itself: an example of a focus on the basics. It met the needs of the small NE Iowa community it served for decades. My late father (pictured here) drove this engine as the first out on all city limit calls for nearly all of his 33 years as a fire engineer for the City of Decorah.

Even the most reliable equipment like Old Engine 1 eventually needs updating. The current maze of limited city budgets, lower available grant funds, as well as state and federal programs are at best a challenge to navigate for the most basic fire department equipment and supply needs. During these challenging times, it is all too easy to review available grant programs and try to find equipment, supplies or programs to "backfill" into grant parameters.

What does your department really need? What absolutely needs to happen in the next year, 3 years and 5 years to keep your department, your members, and your community adequately protected? The answers to those questions are the building blocks for getting back to the basics, your "Old Engine 1's."

The best thing Fire Departments can do for their members, the citizens and property they protect is to selectively apply for the grants that fit with their department's needs. It's perfectly acceptable to NOT apply for grants that don't fit with your department's strategic plan and/or current community protection needs. In getting back to the basics, your "Old Engine 1's," you will be more sucessful in the grants for which you do apply.

To discuss options for grant focus for your department, contact FlashPoint Fundraising President Dawn Svenson Holland today.