PANO aka Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations held a Nonprofit Advocacy Day on the Hill of April 7, 2010. To start off with I have to apologize to PANO for my tardiness. I am directionally challenged and have never been to the capital. I grew up in suburbia outside Detroit and thought I was a "city girl" until I moved east. Now any city causes me undue stress and I should have known better than to give myself only two hours to reach the Capital.
Anyway, back to the Caucus . . . I arrived as Joe Geiger, Executive Director of PANO was telling us (representatives of nonprofits) how important it was to collaborate and lobby. Think about it, strength is produced in numbers, and if we don't tell our legislators about us, how will they know? Nonprofits are doing the organizations they represent a disservice if they do not build relationships with their legislators.
Building your relationship with your legislator is much like the building of a relationship with a major gift prospect. Stop in their office, send an email, or letter but don't send mass form letter appeals. According to Representative Mario Scavello the form letters can cause the reverse of your desired effect. Mass emails fit in the same category.
Both Representative Scavello and Senator Dinniman spoke briefly on the state of the budget. Don't expect any surprise pots of money from the PA Government. If anything there will be some cuts. In conversations throughout the day, the loss of the proposed tolling of Interstate 80 was a topic of concern. It seemed like some were counting on that money to produce a balanced budget.
After the presentations we were able to meet with legislators and their aids. My appointments were pre-scheduled using a sample letter provided by PANO. Although some of the legislators were not in Harrisburg that day I did end up having a lengthy conversation with one representative and another visited our center before the Nonprofit caucus.
I encourage all PA nonprofits to attend next year's event. And if you live in another state, ask your legislators about their opportunities for nonprofits.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Becoming a Fund Raiser
I started out as a parent then teacher. I always seemed to be involved with agencies or schools that needed money. First off, as a parent and stay at home mom, I volunteered a lot at my children s school. They attended a Catholic elementary school and were always fund raising starting with the first day of class in August. We went from selling candy, wrapping paper, sub sandwiches, to auctions as the school year progressed.
I guess I made it to the official volunteer fund-raiser position when the principal told me we needed some money. Without giving it much thought I arranged an ice-cream social at the local uncle Rays Ice cream store. We received a percentage of the sales. i think we made around $150 the first day and the next two months (in the summer) we had two more socials that generated consistently less money. I never asked the principal how much she needed or for what fund but that was a defining moment to my yet to be realized career.
Several years later while I was working for a public school as the Day Care Director I wrote a request for 100 flower bulbs. To my surprise we received the flowers. At this point I thought grant writing was a breeze. A few months later I changed positions and became a Kindergarten teacher at a Catholic Mission School called Dukette. Dukette had all the elements necessary to receive grant funding. The school was a non-profit, it was located in economically challenged Flint, MI, (well known for that fact thanks to Michael Moore), we have a Community Foundation in the area, we were serving children and the school had me.
I had all the confidence I needed. After all, I had been awarded 100 bulbs. I began by writing to local agencies with beginners luck I received several monetary awards for the school. It was a great time to be in fund raising.
Later, when I went back to school and qualified for work study I choose to work for the community foundation that had awarded Dukette $3,000 for equipment for their after school program. I made the career change to fundraising as a profession that spring when the Community Foundation was looking for a Summer Youth Coordinator.
How did you start fund raising?
I guess I made it to the official volunteer fund-raiser position when the principal told me we needed some money. Without giving it much thought I arranged an ice-cream social at the local uncle Rays Ice cream store. We received a percentage of the sales. i think we made around $150 the first day and the next two months (in the summer) we had two more socials that generated consistently less money. I never asked the principal how much she needed or for what fund but that was a defining moment to my yet to be realized career.
Several years later while I was working for a public school as the Day Care Director I wrote a request for 100 flower bulbs. To my surprise we received the flowers. At this point I thought grant writing was a breeze. A few months later I changed positions and became a Kindergarten teacher at a Catholic Mission School called Dukette. Dukette had all the elements necessary to receive grant funding. The school was a non-profit, it was located in economically challenged Flint, MI, (well known for that fact thanks to Michael Moore), we have a Community Foundation in the area, we were serving children and the school had me.
I had all the confidence I needed. After all, I had been awarded 100 bulbs. I began by writing to local agencies with beginners luck I received several monetary awards for the school. It was a great time to be in fund raising.
Later, when I went back to school and qualified for work study I choose to work for the community foundation that had awarded Dukette $3,000 for equipment for their after school program. I made the career change to fundraising as a profession that spring when the Community Foundation was looking for a Summer Youth Coordinator.
How did you start fund raising?
Monday, April 5, 2010
My You Tube Experience
I needed to get a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on You Tube. Being a newbie on the social media scene this process was a shot in the dark for me. Once again Google makes it simple.
I set up an account and followed the simple steps. The tricky part was finding the link after the video was posted. Well I went back into my account and found the tag section. I had to add the title Devereux is Here for Me and a few other key words such as Devereux Pocono Center
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Birth of a Blog
Where do I start? I was a little bored and wanted to start a website. So what do I write about? I happen to be a development director and President of AFP Pocono Mountains Chapter. Well, fund development of course. But what did I know about a website? I had no idea where to begin. I was discussing this situation with my 19 year old son on his way back from college. He had no choice but to talk to me. It was a 2 1/2 hour drive.
He suggested I start a blog. But how would I get anyone to read the blog? Could I make any money? After all I have nothing to sell. My son who's babysitter was our home computer for many years said, "Don't worry just add content. I will take care of the rest." So that was the birth of my blog. Beers Group. (Beers is my last name and Group represents my three children.)
I must admit that my son did help me but Google also participated. The help tab was also very informative.
I went to Google Blogs and followed the simple directions. They provide templates and you can customize your account by changing colors and fonts. Part of the fun is learning how to create the blog and add things like gadgets.
Gadgets are the things on the top of the page and on the side such as Labels, Members, and About Me. These are neat things that can link you to other blogs or make navigating my blog easier. So follow me as I improve my blog and please add your comments and questions.
He suggested I start a blog. But how would I get anyone to read the blog? Could I make any money? After all I have nothing to sell. My son who's babysitter was our home computer for many years said, "Don't worry just add content. I will take care of the rest." So that was the birth of my blog. Beers Group. (Beers is my last name and Group represents my three children.)
I must admit that my son did help me but Google also participated. The help tab was also very informative.
I went to Google Blogs and followed the simple directions. They provide templates and you can customize your account by changing colors and fonts. Part of the fun is learning how to create the blog and add things like gadgets.
Gadgets are the things on the top of the page and on the side such as Labels, Members, and About Me. These are neat things that can link you to other blogs or make navigating my blog easier. So follow me as I improve my blog and please add your comments and questions.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
News from Nonprofit Quarterly
http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2019:unraveling-development-what-do-all-the-words-mean&catid=145:simone-p-joyaux-acfre&Itemid=119
Take a look at this article and the author's book
. Refreshing and full of great ideas. Easy and interesting to read.
Take a look at this article and the author's book
. Refreshing and full of great ideas. Easy and interesting to read.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Sample Grant Tracking Sheet
I have used Raiser's Edge and Donor Perfect but I still like to keep a spread sheet handy for a quick ready reference. I use my tracker to see the deadlines from the year before and to input the month that I should be hearing back from a potential funder. You can change up the spread sheet to add things like how many grants were written, denied and funded, etc. Enjoy.
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