Benevon Weblog

"We need heroes too"

Young & Healthy in Pasadena, Calif., an organization that provides free access to quality healthcare for uninsured children, has found new meaning for its "hero" themed upcoming fundraising Ask Event. Mary Donnelly-Crocker, the executive director, shared on one of our post-hurricane fundraising calls how that hero theme ties into the hurricane disaster.

She said we've all seen the heroes who arrived to help hurricane victims, and she said those people are amazing people. But what she wants donors to know is, "Right here in our own town, we need heroes too."

She said that before Katrina hit, there were children living in desperate conditions in that area, and the hurricane helped people to realize that. Young & Healthy wants its own community to see that there are also children in desperate situations right there in their town.

And, as Donnelly-Crocker said, "It shouldn't take a storm for us to take care of them."

To hear her audio excerpt, please click here:

http://podcast.raisingmoremoney.com/mary_donnelly_crocker_on_post_hurricane_fundraising.mp3

Rebuilding children’s shattered lives

The Center for Children and Families in Norman, Oklahoma, a Raising More Money alumni organization, is one of the many nonprofits playing a critical role in rebuilding lives after Hurricane Katrina. The executive director wrote a very heartfelt letter to donors, which she is sharing to help inspire other nonprofits involved in the relief effort.

Dear Cindy,

Like the rest of the country, we at the Center for Children and Families watched in sadness as the images from Hurricane Katrina unfolded.

Unlike most people in the middle of Oklahoma, however, we also have a firsthand knowledge of the tragedy. As survivors of the disaster have made their way into town (10,000 are estimated to arrive in the Oklahoma City metro area), our agency has been called upon to counsel children and families who are confused, angry, and stunned by their losses. Our staff has worked weekends and evenings to comfort these displaced persons, knowing that their issues cannot be resolved in a day, a month, or even half a year.

We call to mind the words of Dr. Bruce Perry, "Our society may not have the wisdom to see that the real crisis of Katrina is the hundreds of thousands of ravaged, displaced and traumatized children. We understand broken buildings; we do not understand broken children.

"We will spend billions of dollars rebuilding the roads, bridges, buildings, pipelines, oil rigs, casinos and houses. Will we spend billions healing these children? We will spend billions to reclaim New Orleans. Will we spend billions to reclaim the potential of these children?"

It is people like you, our supporters, who allow us to be there for the children, heart and soul. People like you are the light in this darkness, and it is to you that we extend our utmost thanks.

Linda A. Terrell, MHR
Executive Director
Center for Children and Families

Shelter from the Storm

While many groups are wondering how to fundraise in light of the hurricanes, Senior Instructor Lynda Bowman shares her storm analogy.

"When Hurricane Katrina hit, one of the domestic violence shelters I worked with wanted advice on how to stay relevant with donors. We talked about using a storm analogy: There is a storm that drives women and children from their homes, and that storm is called domestic violence. For many women and children this storm rages for a long time. Many groups have similar storms--mental illness, homelessness, and drug abuse--and we, the organization, are the shelter from this storm for so many people who need us and count on us to be there. And with help from our donors, we are there. Although the nation has been through a huge disaster, our mission has not changed. The problem for the people we serve didn't change because of a disaster. If anything, it underscores that there is a greater need than ever."

The view from Angel Flight

Another group we've heard from in the affected areas is Angel Flight America, which has flown some 1,000 missions to reunite families but is struggling to get recognition and support from donors. Aimee Patton at Angel Flight Central, a member of Angel Flight America, said she has made several pleas over the Internet but hasn't received a response.

Terry Axelrod said that many people may be overwhelmed with e-mail messages right now, and she suggested writing e-mail stories with a different voice. She encouraged the group to have a pilot or a family member tell a story, and she told them to keep the stories coming. "Repetition will help you," she said. She also suggested aligning with other offices of Angel Flight across the country.

Historical Society weighs in

On one of our recent post-hurricane fundraising calls, Kristin Hansen, director of development for the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum in Greater Milwaukee, wondered if she should even mention the hurricane in her fall fundraising letter.

Terry Axelrod said that it's important to refer to the hurricane at least a little bit and say you know most people have been very generous in their support for hurricane victims, and you hope that they will reach out again to help this other cause. Terry also suggested that the Historical Society do research into disasters that have befallen their community and bring that story home. She said if donors are feeling financially tapped out this year, the organization can ask them if they'd commit to giving next year or if they would like to be part of a pool challenge gift.

“We’re just feeding the horses”

During our many free post-hurricane conference calls, we’ve been hearing from nonprofits in the affected area facing enormous challenges and we truly hope they can find a way to keep going. One group we’ve heard from recently is the New Heights Therapy Center  in Folsom, Louisiana, an organization that teaches horseback riding to people who are mentally, emotionally, and physically challenged.

Harry Lowenburg, a development staff member for New Heights, had to cancel the group’s Oct. 9 fundraising event, which raised $40,000 last year. He said they’ve stopped operations, the executive director was evacuated, and family members have scattered.

“We’re just feeding the horses right now,” he said, and then asked, “How can we ask for money when people don’t have any money?”

Terry Axelrod offered a few suggestions. She suggested harnessing the power of the Internet and fundraising online. She also suggested having horseback riders send out notices to their friends and family. And she suggested reaching out to other similar horse therapy centers around the country.

Raising More Money senior instructor Lynda Bowman said after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many Raising More Money alumni organizations picked up the phone and talked to donors, asking them what advice they could give.

“This is the time to let your hair down with donors and tell them what’s going on,” said Axelrod.

Concerns from a literacy group in Ohio

Through our free conference calls on post-hurricane fundraising, we're hearing from hundreds of groups with upcoming fundraising events. We're noticing a common concern for many organizations: How to seem relevant in the face of a huge disaster.

Susan Vilardo, the executive director of the Literacy Council of Clermont and Brown Counties in Cincinnati, Ohio, asked: "How do I handle or respond to the potential donor who is upset that I am asking for money for our agency when we have nothing to do with hurricane relief?"

Terry Axelrod said literacy is more relevant now than ever since the hurricane has exposed the situation of thousands of people with limited opportunities--particularly educational opportunities. Literacy, she said, is giving people better access to jobs and an increased standard of living. As one man with a nonprofit in New Orleans added on the call, it’s groups like these that are giving evacuees a better opportunity in their new communities.

Terry said many groups have a way to naturally link their cause to a problem illuminated by the disaster and showcase the important work they are doing locally.

Raising More Money Alumnus Blogs from Louisiana

Rodney Bivens, the executive director for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, is blogging from Louisiana as he helps with the relief effort. In his post Sept. 14, he wrote: “We are still finding pockets of people who have received no assistance since the hurricane and have just barely been able to survive. People's courage and strength to survive is amazing.”

Fundraising after a crisis

Hurricane Katrina not only affected many of our alumni, which are doing heroic work bringing comfort to hurricane victims, but it has affected the whole nonprofit climate, as many groups wonder how to fundraise for their own cause.

The hurricane is really testing many groups' ability to believe in abundance since they are wondering how donors can be stretched to give to local fundraising efforts.  In response to this concern, Raising More Money is offering free post-hurricane fundraising conference calls, and they are filling up fast! Please visit the Post Hurricane Fundraising Conference Calls page on the RMM Web site to register for the calls that are still open.

Terry Axelrod (founder and CEO of RMM) and the coaching staff are telling groups that donors have an "extra pocket" for hurricane relief, and they won't forget about your cause if you keep cultivating them. If you have an upcoming fundraising event, it's important to acknowledge the crisis, and then link your mission back to the crisis. For example, if you're an arts group, talk about how important it is we have arts as an antidote to tragedy.

Terry has recorded a three-minute audio post regarding fundraising in the post-hurricane environment, which you can hear by clicking here.

For those of you with Ask Events planned for this fall, please let us know what you are most concerned about by adding your comments here.

American Red Cross Ask Event at Hampton Roads, VA

When the hurricane hit, some members of the American Red Cross chapter in Hampton Roads, VA, thought they should cancel their Sept. 15 fundraising Ask Event. 

But the chief executive officer said no.

"If we had canceled it, then we would have lost the opportunity tell our story to the 650 people who needed to hear it most. We had people camping on our doorstep because they needed help from the storm," said CEO Heather Livingston.

In one week, her chapter had helped 153 cases (families or individuals) from the storm, including many people who had driven to visit a friend or relative to get away but now found themselves needing a long-term solution.

The message Livingston wanted to get out is that not only is her chapter working with evacuees and sending teams to the crisis, but that it deals with emergencies every day - whether it's a house fire, heart attack, accident, the need for blood or staying in touch with loved ones serving in Iraq.

"My commitment is that we're here for you, for your children and for your grandchildren for generations to come," she said in her speech.

Her chapter raised more than $200,000 in gifts and pledges (not including money earmarked for Katrina) - the most successful fundraising event in the chapter's history.