A DONOR BILL OF RIGHTS

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Four associations, including AFP, AHP, CASE, and the Giving Institute, developed A DONOR BILL OF RIGHTS to strengthen the confidence donors have in nonprofit organizations.
These rights include the right to be informed of the organization's mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes; To be informed of the identity of those serving on the organization's governing board, and to expect the board to exercise prudent judgement in its stewardship responsibilities; and To have access to the organization's most recent financial statements.

There are ten rights in total. More in a later Blog.

THE "SECRETS" TO A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN

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I am often asked what makes a successful campaign. In my opinion, the following elements result in successful campaigns:

1. Strong mission that effectively meets the needs of their clients
2. Exciting vision that evolves out of a comprehensive strategic plan
3. Passionate case statement that discusses the history, results, needs, and campaign details with dynamic graphics and testimonies.
4. Dedicated, hard-working, committed board members who invest in their organization with time, energies, connections, and dollars.
5. Capable leadership structure for overall campaign and constituent groups.
6. Combination of priority needs, annual fund, and endowment (planned gifts) opportunities.
7. A range of naming opportunities
8. Outstanding stewardship and ethics
9. Professionally done feasibility study

Let me know if you have additional thoughts. If you are considering a campaign, contact me if you have questions or need advice. Best wishes!

Walter Cronkite - Journalist, Sailor, Philanthropist

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My nightly news hero, Walter Cronkite, died yesterday. We all watched as "Uncle Walter" guided us through many events of the Twentieth Century--murder of John F. Kennedy and the Apollo landing on the moon as two outstanding examples. Fewer people knew him as a consummate sailor on his yacht Wyntje.

In 2006, Cronkite gave Wyntje to the Norfolk Associated Marine Institutes, an organization that uses the sea to positively impact the lives of troubled youth. This organization, in recognizing the gift, acknowledged the following individuals for making it happen:

Walter and Betsy Cronkite, obviously the donors;
Buddy Payne, AMI Marine Specialist, for building the relationship of trust that opened the door to the donation;
Chris Burns, for making the donation effortless, high impact. and flawless;
Al Gundry, InterYacht, Annapolis, MD, for making the initial introduction to Cronkite; and
Mike Ashford, owner of McGarvey's Saloon in Annapolis, for being a mentor to the cadets and supporting the credibility of AMI and its staff.

No gift of this importance happens simply. People do give to people through people. This beautiful yacht will continue to do good work well beyond the life of Walter Cronkite because of a number of caring individuals who made it happen.

How can you make a special gift happen for a wonderful organization near and dear to you?

Boating & Fundraising

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In my "down time," my wife and I like to spend quality hours in our boat Georgia Lady. Studying boat handling, seamanship, and navigation over the years, I have learned some things useful in fundraising. First, you must have a clear plan and share that plan with your crew; even if that plan just addresses docking and undocking and the crew's responsibilities.

Second, if you're headed out, do you know where you are going and how long the trip will take? Is it a cruise or a day trip? Chart, supplies, fuel?

Third, you should always be prepared to make mid-course corrections in case of weather, traffic, low water, or other challenges.

Finally, again fully communicate with crew and others your plans, changes, and goals. A voyage with a fully-trained crew can be a beautiful day on the water. The opposite can be disaster! The same can be said for a campaign. PLAN, COMMUNICATE, AND EXECUTE!

Classic Book, Timely Thoughts

Robert L. Payton, in 1988, published an instant classic in philanthropy, Philanthropy: Voluntary Action for the Public Good. Now over twenty years old, the words are now more relevant than ever. Payton has been called by many as the "guru of contemporary American philanthropy." Part One of his book brings together his reflections on the place of voluntary action, association, and giving in American life. Part Two explores the most important problems and issues facing philanthropy. Bob writes that "philanthropy is simply essential to the survival of [America] as a free and open and democratic society."

I highly recommend placing this treatise on your reading list if you missed it before now. It should be mandatory reading for all students of the third sector, democratic society, and the place of nonprofit organizations in the world.

There's Strength (and Ethics) in Numbers!

Many of us belong to AFP (Association of Fundraising Professionals), an international group of 30,000 professionals in 200 chapters around the world. We can share ideas, learn new and best practices, and network for a modest fee. But we can also help our organizations and ourselves by associating with AFP's ethics program.

Their ethics documents, publications, and seminars enable us to be "more ethical" fundraisers. Some of the public don't think "ethics" and "fundraising" go together. AFP not only proves the two terms work together but also are essential for an organization's success in the marketplace today.

AFP's Code of Ethical Principles and Standards, the Donor Bill of Rights, The Accountable Nonprofit Organization, and the International Statement of Ethical Principles are strongly guidelines insuring best ethical practices for our organizations and our donors. Share these documents when relevant with your boards, staff, and donors. Print them on your documents and publish them on your website. Use them as the basis for staff and board workshops.

We have seen in the past that unethical organizational behaviors do harm to the entire sector, cause donors to become untrusting, and take a lot of effort and time to overcome...if ever.

My Board is Afraid of the Economy

Frequently development officers say to me, "My board wants to wait until the economy improves before starting a feasibility study or a campaign." I respond "When do they think that's going to happen? Tomorrow? Next month? 2010?"

How long will your organization sit idly by waiting for the magic bullet to appear? Meanwhile, other organizations are cultivating donors, getting their message out, and raising much-needed support.

Headline: "Paralysis Causes Backslide!" The organizations that were successful after 9/11 were those who strongly kept their donors engaged, trimmed excess expenses, and invested in the budget items needed to move forward at a crucial time. Relevant mission, dynamic vision, passionate board, and creative staff = SUCCESS. Don't wait for the economy to "improve"...You'll be waving to the train as it passes you by!

Board Members: The Crucial Element

Board members are crucial to the success of a nonprofit organization. They are the cheerleaders, the watchdogs, and the community connection. A campaign is not successful unless the Board leads the way with sacrificial gifts from 100 percent of the Board. They should lead with passion and their pocketbooks! When I conduct seminars, the most often complaint is the lack of interest (passion?) from board members. Many have served for years, lost interest, but do not want to disconnect totally.

New members should be recruited through an organized plan to share the mission, vision, and the expectations (including giving and attendance). Expectations should include 100 percent attendance, annual fund gift, major campaign support, and a planned gift. Lead by example.

We abuse our trustees way too much. Long boring meetings, weekend events, and precious time away from family find many board members slipping away and feeling guilty. Our job is to make their time on the board an exciting period in their life, a substantive social contribution, where they make a difference.

Strategic Planning is Really Fun!

I LOVE strategic planning as a process to clarify direction to an organization, provide clarity to staff on implementing mission and vision, and allow assessment of the board, the staff, and the overall organization. This does not have to be a complicated process with hundreds of goals and thousands of objectives stored in tabulated notebooks on a dusty shelf. A few simple goals, supported by a handfull of objectives and action steps (who, by when)...all measurable...and you have a roadmap for the future. Mission statement, vision statement, strategic plan, needs assessment, priorities, case statement...before long you are ready for a major gift campaign! Now all you need is a competent, ethical consultant!

Diversity of Revenue Sources Important

In the city in which I live, the United Way has just notified their agencies that, due to the decline in campaign results, all agency support will be cut by 50 percent. Suddenly the phone is ringing off the "wall." I have talked in seminars for months how important it is to diversify revenue sources...don't depend on one grant, one government agency, or just the United Way. Now some are understanding this logic in an up-close and personal way. The best fundraising prospects are still individuals. Of course, you can still diversify with federal and state grants, foundation support, merchandise sales, special events, and other activities, but the best bet over time is still individual support. Love your donors!