Share a Local Legacy Story in Honor of National Philanthroy Day

On Tuesday and throughout the month of November, various Association of Fundraising Professionals events across the country will mark National Philanthropy Day ®. If there's an event near you and you are able to attend, you will likely find the experience inspiring as stories of local giving are shared.

This event and its associated activities celebrate the incredible gifts of time and treasure that are given each year to great missions like yours. National Philanthropy Day® celebrates the legacy of giving in the United States. much like authentic markers like the one pictured above celebrate the legacy of the fire service in our country. This event is appropriately celebrated just before loved ones will gather across the country next week to celebrate Thanksgiving.

How can you celebrate the spirit of giving this month? Consider the following exercises at your next meeting:

• Ask your members to share what or who inspired them to get involved in your organization.
• Share a story of a retired member and his or her impact on your organization. 
• Share the story of an historic or recent significant gift or bequest your organization received - who did it come from? What do you know about that person or persons? Why did they make the gift? What impact did that gift have on your operations? Is it an option to again that that person or his or her descendants for the impact of that gift?

For more information on National Philanthropy Day®, click here. 

Share your stories in the comments section below.

FlashPoint Top Fundraising Tips Series: Post 5

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anneh632/

This update is the fourth in a series of blog posts adapted from the FlashPoint Top Ten Fundraising Tools and Tips first presented to the Marshall County Firefighters Association in June 2011.

10. Your personal support launches the credibility of your department's fundraising forward by leaps and bounds.  100% member giving at any level significantly builds credibility. No one knows better than you do how careful your department is with any funds entrusted to it and how worthwhile an investment in your department is!

If you don't believe enough in what you're doing to make a financial investment in it, why should anyone else invest? Your volunteer time is critical. Making a regular financial commitment to any organization you are so closely connected to builds on your incredible gift of time and enhances your mission in an equally critical way.

If you're fundraising campaign involves face to face asks, which represent the most effective form of fundraising, you will leave a strong impact on your prospect when you ask him or her to join you in making a commitment to your project. 

If you're looking for guidance on how much to give to your department, you are encouraged to give at a level at which you care how your investment is spent. 

One Iowa Fire department experienced great results when they mentioned in their annual community appeal letter that each member believed in that year's proposed project enough to personally contribute $100 a person to it.

For more information on how to communicate the impact of your volunteer efforts in your fundraising communications, click here.

For more information on FlashPoint strategic planning facilitation and/or custom fundraising training for your department, click here. 

What stories of member giving would you like to share from your department?