Smart ideas delivered every other Tuesday from Hartsook Companies, Inc.

November 28, 2006

An effective annual fund program is critical to the life of any organization. Your day-to-day activities and the ongoing services you offer your clients will suffer if it is not kept fresh and infused with new donors. By naming your annual fund program you give it a face, an identity, and open a plethora of opportunities to engage new donors and volunteers.

A case in point ...
While working on a capital campaign involving two significant challenge grants, the decision was made to launch the organization's first Annual Fund Campaign. A profile of the ideal "annual fund volunteer" was developed - someone who had achieved a degree of success in their career and was ready to become more active in the community. Aided by the organization's Board of Directors, volunteers were recruited.

These eager new volunteers immediately set about helping meet the two challenge grants pivotal to the success of the capital campaign. Once the campaign ended it was important to keep the new volunteers involved, but they needed a project that meant something to them. After touring the newly renovated Rehabilitation Center where, among other things, customized wheelchairs are made for children with disabilities, the Annual Fund Council decided they wanted this to be the area where they continued their involvement.

The support they sought was to help children with disabilities and their families. To make this clear to prospects and others in the community, they changed their name to Champions for Children with Disabilities. That was almost a decade ago. This group continues to make it possible for children with disabilities to get the wheelchairs they need regardless of their families' ability to pay. Names of those who support the program are on display in the Family Waiting Room of the Rehabilitation Center.

Would the funding for this program have been achieved without a specific name attached to the effort? Eventually, yes, but by giving the effort an identity, the path was paved for the volunteers and donors resulting in a much smoother and more direct road to success.

- Norma Murphy, Senior Vice President (Kansas City) norma@hartsookcompanies.com

Another smart idea...From the Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM

"For database analysis, we look for three types of donors: active, current and lapsed. Our strategies for addressing these people are based on their needs. The active people have a continual, ongoing relationship with us and we work hard to maintain that. Our current people are those who have not given in the past two years. For these, we send specialized mailings quarterly to keep them informed and spark their interest in the Institute." - Unsigned

If you are interested in Best Practices, check out these additional resources from Hartsook Companies:

• "Reality Fundraising: Proven, Practical Ideas for the Enlightened Fundraiser" by Bob Hartsook (2005, ASR Philanthropic Publishing). The book features great ideas, insights and lessons learned through hundreds of best practices from nonprofit professionals nationwide. To order the book, follow this link http://www.ASRpublishing.com

• "Best Practices Coast to Coast^SM," a compilation of best practices from every state in the union

• "Hartsook Best Practices Collection^SM," our original collection of 250 best practices and great ideas

For a free copy of any or all of the "Best Practices" collections, please email Erika Turner, erika@hartsookcompanies.com, or visit our web site at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com/bestpractices2.shtml. We also invite you to contribute your own best practice by emailing Tami Druzba, tami@hartsookcompanies.com

The Hartsook School of Consulting

Bob Hartsook, an icon and expert in the fundraising profession, has been dedicated to the education and advancement of fundraising for decades. He has offered seminars in more than 30 cities across the country; been a guest speaker for countless conferences, symposiums and classrooms; and authored six books and mountains of articles.

In 2007, Bob will take training to a new level - The Hartsook School of Consulting, a fundraising executive boot camp.

Keep watching various industry publications for more information. Or, if you want to be one of the first to hear more, send an email to hsc@hartsookcompanies.com with your contact information.


Interested in Speakers?

Hartsook consultants are available to speak to your organization on a variety of topics. To read more, visit http://www.hartsookcompanies.com/speak.shtml or email Tami Druzba at tami@hartsookcompanies.com to discuss the possibilities.

Visit the Hartsook Companies web site for:

• Educational opportunities
• Books/reference articles
• Conference/workshop speakers

Strategies for Success explores smart ideas, connecting with more than 1,500 fundraising professionals bi-weekly. We welcome your contributions or comments. If you'd like a free subscription to Strategies for Success - or its monthly companion, eHartsook on Philanthropy - contact Erika Turner, erika@hartsookcompanies.com. You also can reach her at 316.630.9992.

Our web site is located at http://www.hartsookcompanies.com.