Creating Investment Opportunities for Social Problems: Another Way to Respond to Your Calls

Slate Magazine and The Chronicle of Philanthropy recently released their Top 60 list of philanthropic individuals for 2009. These 60 leaders (think Bill and Melinda Gates, etc.) collectively gave $4.1 billion to nonprofit and charitable causes in 2009.

An analysis of the giving of these Top 60 seems to indicate major donors are looking more and more to invest in corrections for significant social problems.

What local social problems are you seeing in your fire and EMS calls? Iowa fire deaths in 2009 seem to indicate that working smoke detectors are not a current priority for many people in their homes. One fire department recently offered that a high number of their medical calls are young people getting into trouble with abuse of energy drinks.

Once you've identified 1-2 key local social problems you are seeing in your calls, what other organizations could you partner with in your community to positively address this issue? What level of investment do you need from the community to achieve a stretch goal of impact on this issue?

Once you have answered these questions, you have a foundation for a potentially successful fundraising campaign rooted in community collaboration and response to a local social need. You also have a campaign rooted in response to giving trends noticed in our nation's most significant donors.

You may read more about these Top 60 philanthropists here.

If you want to chat more about this idea, contact dawnsh@gmail.com.

Donor Care: Applying the Lessons of Valentine's Day

With Valentine's Day just one day behind us, there are lessons from this holiday that can be applied to the ongoing process of fundraising for your department. I've often heard friends and family remembers remark how meaningful it is to them to receive a valentine from someone they care about. The positive impact of the simple act of contact with someone they care about is much sweeter than the chocolate cake pictured above.

Somewhere someone in your department probably has a list of recent community donors to your department. Maybe this list is the respondents to your latest direct mail campaign. Maybe it contains the addresses and donation amounts of those who put checks in the boot at your most recent pancake breakfast. Whatever details make up your most current list of supporters, find it. If you don't have a current list of donors, use a list of the highest property tax payers in your city, county or fire district.

From that list, find your largest supporter. Sometime this week, take one of the following actions:

1. Write a personal note just to stay thank you for their support of your department. Use an example or two of training, equipment or other development you've been able to do in the last year with their support.

2. Give them a call just to say thank you. Ask if they have any feedback you can take to the department on how you can serve even more effectively.

3. If you already know them well, schedule an in person connection over a cup of coffee, lunch or whatever works best for their schedule. Again, the purpose of this connection is just to stay thank you. If this is a donor, ask them for feedback on why they chose to give to your department over the many other options they have for sharing their treasure. If this is a donor or taxpayer, consider sharing a brief summary of your 2009 activities - calls completed, volunteer hours given to the community, etc.

Consider repeating this process once each month with one supporter. Consider eventually applying this process to each of your current and retired members. Make note of what you learn from your supporters with each contact. 

Organize a committee to ensure this Valentine's Day lesson remains a department priority. Making cultivation a regular part of your efforts will ensure a much easier time connecting your needs with donor passions when you need to directly ask for more support in the future. The results of regular supporter contact will be sweeter for you and your donors than all the chocolate cakes in the world. You and your supporters will find sweet inspiration in this ongoing connection.
 
Want to further discuss these ideas? Contact dawnsh@gmail.com.