Issue 52
October 18, 2006

NEWSNOTES is a monthly email newsletter published by NEW. It covers resources available at NEW in Ann Arbor as well as items of interest to the nonprofit community in southeastern Michigan. NEWSNOTES is proud to celebrate its fifth year of publication, with delivery to over 820 subscribers every month! We welcome your feedback and suggestions!

NEW would like to recognize the generous support of its Community Partners:

IN THIS ISSUE

LEAD STORY

Why Bill Gates Is Not a Prospect for Your Campaign!

By Robert Hoak*

Every year, development directors of nonprofits wait with bated breath for the arrival of the Forbes 400 List of the Richest People in America, the fundraiser's guide to where the big money is. Right?

You have a great project. Bill Gates gives away a lot of money. You should have Bill at the top of your prospect list. He would be a great prospect, right?

Wrong!

Unless your organization is immunizing against Hepatitis B in Andhra Pradesh or administering a library with a cutting edge technology project in Seattle, you are most likely not a prospect for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Not recognizing the difference between legitimate prospects and dream suspects for a campaign is one of the most common mistakes that volunteers or board members make. Don't discourage them from dreaming big. Rather, with development staff stretched so thin, it is important to remind volunteers that to be successful, they need to concentrate their efforts on the prospects with the greatest potential return. Fish where the fish are!

So who and where are these prospects? More often than not their names are already in your database. They are the donors who support your events year after year or they are the friends and colleagues of your board members.

When evaluating your major gift suspect list, remember these three major considerations:

1. What is the prospect's affinity to the organization?

Has she/he given in the past? Where does your organization stand in the prospect's list of philanthropic priorities? Has he/she or a family member ever been a volunteer? Has the prospect ever given to a similar cause?

2. What is the prospect's ability to give?

Is your financial assessment of the prospect's giving ability based on factual information? Has he/she made large gifts to your organization or other nonprofits in the past? Does he/she have any of the common wealth indicators? House? Car? Lifestyle? Career Success? Inheritance? Children's Schooling? Vacation Property? Clubs?

3. Do you have access to this person, either through an influential member of your board or current major donor?

Have you ever invited the prospect to an event? Did she/he attend? Does anyone on the Board have a personal or professional relationship with him/her? Where does or did the prospect go to school? Where do the children, if any, attend school? Has the prospect ever responded to a personal letter from your chief executive?

Setting up parameters for suggested major gift prospects will make it easier for you to weed out wish suspects, and form a list of real prospects.

1. Be upfront, and emphasize that the best prospects are the volunteers' contacts. Access is so important, so they need to think about individuals they can introduce you to.

2. Focus their attention by providing a list of current and lapsed donors for their review.

3. Create separate prospect and suspect lists. Keeping two lists will allow you to include their suggestions, while you focus attention on the best names. Research both prospects and suspects.

4. Volunteers will suggest all the major corporate and philanthropic foundations as good prospects. Try to anticipate the major foundations and know which list your type of organization as their area of focus.

One final thought. Bringing new money to the table is key to a fundraiser's success. Once you have developed a suspect list, create a structured sequence of cultivation steps over a 12 - 18 month timetable that introduces the organization, inspires the prospect to become involved and make a small contribution, and lays the groundwork for a substantial gift request. If you cast a net wide enough, every now and then, you may catch a Bill Gates.

*Robert Hoak is a Managing Director at Changing Our World Inc. This article was originally published at OnPhilanthropy a global resource for nonprofit and philanthropy professionals. Reprinted with permission.

FEATURED ITEMS

Nonprofit Resource Library to Relocate

We are pleased to announce that the Ann Arbor District Library will be assuming responsibility for the nonprofit book collection formerly housed at the NEW Center. Benefits of the new location at the downtown branch include online browsing and reservations, interlibrary loan service, and extended evening and weekend hours. The collection is currently being re-cataloged by the library, and will be available again later this fall. We apologize for any inconvenience.

We look forward to remaining the first stop for your nonprofit's resource needs through ResourceConnect, a dynamic new program that helps nonprofits find solutions to their management and information challenges. Our staff will help analyze your information needs and identify potential solutions that include a range of resources such as consultants, websites, books, service providers, and training opportunities. Visit ResourceConnect today to see how we can help!

NEW would like to thank Borders Group, Inc. for its strong ongoing support of ResourceConnect.

Washtenaw County Community Collaborative

The Community Collaborative of Washtenaw County seeks to bring together people from the public, private and nonprofit sectors to create an A+ community where all people can live to their maximum potential with dignity and respect. Everyone is invited to attend a 2006 Community Plenary Session to discuss the recently published Washtenaw County Community Needs Assessment and strategically plan for the future of our community.

When: Tuesday, November 14, 7:30 a.m. - 12 noon
Where: Morris Lawrence Building, Washtenaw Community College
Cost: $5
Please register for this session by November 4

Contact Mike Scholl (734-544-6856) for more information.

2-1-1 Goes Live November 1

On Wednesday, November 1, 2006, callers in Washtenaw, Livingston and Monroe Counties will be able to access free, fast, confidential information and referral to health and human services help by dialing a simple, three-digit phone number – 2-1-1.

On that day, the United Way Regional Call Center will “go live” as United Way 2-1-1. The same round-the-clock, 24/7 service will continue, just as it has since the Call Center first opened on November 15, 2004. The only difference will be that callers will dial the three-digit number instead of the longer 477-6211.

United Way 2-1-1 is a collaboration of local United Ways in Livingston, Monroe and Washtenaw Counties, as well as Washtenaw County Government, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, Pfizer Global Research & Development, the RNR Foundation and Huron Valley Ambulance. A special thank you to the Ann Arbor YMCA, Neighborhood Senior Services, and Parents Together.

Ann Arbor Thrift Shop Requests Proposals

The Ann Arbor Thrift Shop is seeking proposals from qualified social service agencies designated 501(c)(3), located in the Ann Arbor School district. Disbursements from the Anne M. Hayes Fund, typically in the range of $2,000 to $5,000, will be made in December 2006.

Applications must be postmarked on or before Monday, November 20, 2006.

The application is the second page of the RFP on their website. You may also e-mail to get an application, or pick one up at the Ann Arbor Thrift Shop, 3530 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor.

REGULAR FEATURES

Community M@tters. Your online update of what matters in Wayne, Oakland, & Macomb Counties. Published by United Way for Southeastern Michigan. From the October 2006 issue:

Kurt's Corner find the latest research on information and trends shaping our region, written by Kurt Metzger, demographer and director of research at United Way for Southeastern Michigan. This month Kurt shares two pieces of research: Hispanic Heritage Month underscores growth across nation and Income Down Across State: Poverty Increasing and Spreading Throughout the Tri-County.

Get your own subscription to Community M@tters and other UWSEM newsletters.

Nonprofit Bulletin Board

Visit NEW's Nonprofit Bulletin Board to post and view notices about free resources, fundraising opportunities, and other items relevant to the southeast Michigan nonprofit community.

Events Calendar

Ann Arbor Area Convention and Visitors Bureau calendar of events. E-mail Nick Miller to request a password to submit an event.