Setting the Table for Future Connections: A Friendraising Idea

Photo credit: John Althouse Cohen

Many nonprofits have at least one story about the lasting impact of a bequest gift from a will. In most cases, this gift is not known until the person who felt enough of a connection to make the bequest passes on. 

If you've been blessed by a donor who thought so much of your work to name you in his or her will, what did your department do with its bequest?

What could your department do with a bequest? 

What legal and financial professionals (bank trust officers, agents, etc.) do you know in your community? 

Consider creating a 1 page summary of your department that highlights the impact you and your volunteers have on public safety. Make sure the summary mentions how you have or could utilize the ultimate gift of a bequest (training, rolling equipment replacements, volunteer appreciation, etc.) 

Once the summary is finished, schedule in-person visits with legal and financial professionals in your area. Depending on the size of your community, three meetings with different professionals may be a worthwhile goal to set.


There are times when clients come to these professionals with an interest in leaving an impact in the community without necessarily knowing exactly where they want that impact to be. 

By taking the time to connect and share information with those who work with your community members on their will and estate plans, you may be setting the table for a beautiful future connection between a donor's legacy and your mission.

A Labor Day Reflection on the Value of Volunteer Fire Fighters

For over a century in many parts of our country, volunteer firefighters have served as a backbone of public safety in smaller communities. Labor Day is the perfect time to reflect upon just what that time is worth.

Independent Sector studies and reports on the nationwide value of volunteer time on an annual basis. 

For anyone on your department trained at the Firefighter I (FFI) level and above, the 2009 nationwide average of $20.85 per hour is appropriate to use for all time spent on department training and call response.

For those not entering burning structures during call response or for time spent on community service and public education, the 2008 Iowa average of $16.69 per hour is appropriate to use. 

Volunteer time value information can be used to demonstrate the impact a donor can have by donating to your nonprofit association that supports your operations.


An example of how this might work:
1. Your association's goal is to raise $5,000/year to support your operations.

2. You have 15 members trained at FFI & above who give a total of 200 hours a year responding to calls and training. The value of this time is $4,170. (20 hours X $20.85)

3. You have 5 members not trained at FFI who give a total of 40 hours a year responding to calls and training. The value of this time is $667.60. (40 hours X $16.69)


4. Your collective members spend a total of 75 hours per year supporting community activities and conducting public safety education. The value of this time is $1,251.75. (75 hours X $16.69)

5. For every dollar donated to your annual campaign, your members will match that value with $1.21 in volunteer time value.


Many departments have been tracking the types of numbers above for years. In honor of Labor Day, today is a great day to put this information to use in your fundraising operations. 


What's working well for your department in your fundraising communications?