October 20, 2004

Making the Most of Your Direct Mail

A Panel Discussion led by J. Clarkson, CFRE, Director of the Annual Fund at Warren Wilson College.

Direct mail has long been an integral part of annual fundraising. How can you ensure that you are making the most of your direct mail efforts? This panel discussion, led by J. Clarkson, CFRE of Warren Wilson College, will review the keys to successful direct mail design, segmentation, and personalization and will have an in-depth discussion about how new techniques such as digital printing can aid in building direct mail that works. Results and examples from real-life direct mail campaigns will bring additional value to this panel discussion.

National Philanthropy Day

 SPONSORS MAKE National Philanthropy Day 2004 a Success!

 For the past several years- many corporate and individual sponsors have stepped up to the plate to show their appreciation to their organizations and philanthropists by helping to sponsor the costs of National Philanthropy Day.  Thanks to the following organizations and persons for their generosity that have put us over the top on our goal of $7,000:

Underwriter: Mission Healthcare Foundation, celebrating their 20th anniversary

Patron:  
Adelaide Daniels Key
Renaissance Hotel

Benefactor: 
Leslie Anderson Consulting
CarePartners Foundation
BB & T

Friend: 
Haywood Community College Foundation
YMCA of Western North Carolina
Western Carolina Universit
Ann Fritschner, Consultan
Hunter Kemper Consulting
Pardee Hospital Foundation
Kanuga Conference Center
Warren Wilson College
Givens Estate
Westcare Heatlh System
Mark Goldstein

Other:  
Highlands-Cashiers Hospital

MANY THANKS TO THEIR GENEROSITY!!! 

Make plans to attend the National Philanthropy Day luncheon on November 17 to honor this year’s winners…Invitations will be in the mail in early October.  Be on the lookout for your invitation and respond early.  SPACE IS LIMITED

Each year at the National Philanthropy Day Luncheon, the AFPWNC and our region celebrate philanthropic actions of outstanding foundations, businesses, and individuals in the field of “giving”.  It provides an opportunity to recognize individuals and volunteers who represent the life of our communities.  These awards signify the very essence of volunteerism, quality leadership, direct gift support and the impact it represents, and a commitment to philanthropy.

Congratulations to the 2004 National Philanthropy Day awardees:

 Outstanding Philanthropist(s):  Mark and Teri Muir – Horse Shoe, NC

Mark and Teri Muir have changed lives for children and their families in WNC who live with Asperger Syndrome, a type of high functioning autism.  Realizing the distinct need for a mainstreamed program, which would also teach social skills for successful living, the Muirs designed, developed, marketed and directed School Within A School, an innovative program for Asperger-diagnosed children. 

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser–Doris Eklund – Hendersonville, NC

A small business owner for over 20 years in Hendersonville, Doris Eklund has volunteered for most every community organization.  From organizing fashion shows for domestic violence to co-chairing Pardee's recent $2 million campaign for the expansion of surgical services, Doris is a great supporter of local causes. 

Outstanding Fundraising Executive – Myra Grant – Hendersonville, NC

Hendersonville’s Pardee Hospital Foundation is the product of the energy, enthusiasm, imagination, and industry of Myra Grant, who founded it and has directed it since 1996.  Over its nearly eight years under Myra’s leadership, the Foundation has built an asset fund of over $5 million and has successfully completed three capital campaigns.

Outstanding Foundation – New Leaf Fund – Alexander, NC

The New Leaf Fund was established in 1994 and has distributed $250,000 - $500,000 each year they have been in operation.  During their ten-year life, they have distributed over $3 million to organizations that have used their funding as a catalyst to get others involved.  Even though they are a small private foundation in Western North Carolina, New Leaf Fund is committed to using its resources in a way that serves a very diverse group of nonprofits across a wide spectrum of issues. 

Outstanding Corporation Philanthropy - Eaton Electrical – Avery Creek, NC

Through our United Way, over the past decade Eaton Electrical has provided significant gifts of money and time to the community.   Eaton Electrical is the largest corporate contributor to our United Way annual campaigns, as well as the largest combined employee/corporate contributor for a for-profit company.   In addition to financial support, Eaton promotes volunteerism through involvement with United Way’s Day of Caring,  JA in a Day, March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers/Big Sisters Mentors and Matches,  and the MANNA Food Bank.

 

 Voting for Philanthropy

Even for non-profit sector, it’s proving to be an interesting election year.  For one thing, philanthropic support for voter mobilization is at an all-time high.  For another, the results may influence a number of important regulatory issues on the table.  A July article by Ben Gose and Stephen G. Greene in the Philanthropy News Digest noted many new efforts this year, including these:

 A new Voter Engagement Donor Network, which already includes 160 foundations and individual donors, holds monthly conference calls to exchange information and coordinate funding.

Already, more than a dozen foundations and individual donors have pledged $28 million for election-related activities by organizations in the National Voice coalition.  The Pew Charitable Trusts, alone, has given nearly $9 million to a New Voters Project to register 265,000 young voters in six states.

National Voice estimates that there are ten times the number of groups working on mobilizing voters this year, compared to 2000.

More than ever before, non-profits are organizing their constituencies to vote.  In New York, for example, the Partnership for the Homeless is working to register 5,000 voters at drop-in centers, soup kitchens, and shelters.

AFP itself is promoting voting at their website and in mailings to promote www.voteforphilanthropycom.

What effects might all this extra effort have?  We’ll have to wait to see.  But two effects have been noted.  First, grantmakers are already talking about how to ensure that heightened interest in civic engagement continues after the election.  Second, collaborations are forming to work together on broad issues for the common good.  One foundation head noted that henceforth “there’s going to be a new musculature for working across issues around civic engagement.”

All such efforts, by law, must be non-partisan.  Yet there may be self-interest involved, considering how many issues are emerging regarding regulation of non-profits.  This short list covers just some of what is currently featured in the public policy section of the AFP website:

 

• IRS to crack down on Section 527 Organizations (8/25/04)
• IRS to Investigate Charity Salaries, Benefits (8/16/04)
• IRS to Penalize Improper Deductions for Conservation Easement Donations (7/12/04)
• IRS Issues Guides for Vehicle Donations (7/6/04)
• Proposed Postal Rule Could Prove Disastrous for Fundraising; Gifts of Patents, Intellectual Property under Congressional Microscope (5/21/04)
• AFP Opposes FEC rules on Political Activity, Advocacy (4/12/04)
• Feds Ready to Crack Down on Certain Charitable Deductions (1/20/04)
• AFP Files First-Ever Amicus Brief in Supreme Court Telemarketing Cases (1/29/03)

 The AFP website is a goldmine of information on politics and philanthropy.  Keep in it mind for now, and for after the election.

Positions Available Reminder

The AFP-WNC Chapter welcomes your job listings! Postings in the print and Internet versions are free to chapter members are $25.00 per submission for others. Please send your notice of 100 words or less to publisher@afpwnc.org as a Word attachment.