Fundraising

Fundraising
Hiring a Consultant
by Kim Klein
 
There are times in the life of almost every group when a fundraising consultant can be helpful. These times are characterized by one or more of the following situations:

1. You need someone with skill and knowledge who cares about the issues your organization is concerned with, but is far enough removed to have perspective on how your organization can improve its overall fundraising or some particular aspect of it.
2. You need help deciding on a course of action related to fundraising.
3. You need someone to carry out a time-limited fundraising task.
4. You need someone one day each week or month to help design a work plan, provide guidance and be available to answer questions for your bright, energetic but inexperienced fundraising staff.
5. You are between staff and need someone temporarily to run the development function of your organization. [See Shelterforce, November/December 1997, # 96]

Consulting is characterized by being time-limited. You can hire a consultant for a few hours a week, a few days a month, or contract for a number of months. A consultant does not usually get involved in carrying out day-to-day fundraising operations. She or he is generally employed to give advice and guidance.

Consultants must know what your organization can learn from their teaching, guiding, and advice giving, and what it can only learn from experience. They must know what they can do for an organization, and what an organization can only do for itself.
Fundraising consultants can:

• Train and motivate people in all aspects of fundraising.
• Create fundraising plans and help implement and evaluate those plans.
• Research prospective donors and write proposals if needed.
• Set up a data base for keeping track of donor information.
• Conduct feasibility studies.
• Conduct direct mail campaigns.
• Help board members understand their responsibilities, and help organizations recruit and train good board members.
• Study and recommend structural changes in an organization to improve functioning and fundraising efficiency.
• Help hire fundraising staff.
• Set up any other fundraising strategy that an organization has decided to use.
• Manage mailing lists and donor information. This can include sending out pledge reminders, thank-you notes, and renewal letters. (Generally, it is not cost-effective for small organizations to pay a consultant to do these tasks).

Fundraising consultants cannot:

• Actually solicit money from individuals, unless they go as part of a team with someone from the organization.
• Use their personal contacts to raise money. Consultants often know a great deal about wealthy givers in the community and, with discretion, can share that knowledge in prospect research. However, consultants do not go from job to job with their own list of prospects. Most of the time consultants do not actually raise money. If a consultant offers to do all your fundraising for you, run the other way. This is not an effective solution because, at best, it postpones the necessity of getting the board, staff and volunteers involved in fundraising.
• Guarantee their work.

Paying Consultants
 
There are no standards or guidelines for how much to pay a consultant. Most consultants charge by the day or the hour, but some charge by the job. Consultants also charge for all their expenses: hotels, meals, telephone, photocopying, and travel are the most common.

Establish clearly just what you are paying for. For example, you pay for the consultant's time. But when does that time start – when the consultant arrives at the job or when they leave home to travel to the job? Find out if the consultant charges for phone calls, and at what rate.

If you are hiring a person for several days or months of work, build in evaluation points. This benefits the consultant also, who may need to re-estimate the time involved, or may have run into some unforeseen obstacles. It is important to have a written statement spelling out your understanding of the consultant's role, fees and expenses, which you both sign. For the same reasons listed in the last issue's column on hiring a development director, do not pay the consultant on a contingency or commission basis.

How to Choose a Consultant
Once you have decided that your particular situation may be helped by a consultant, what do you look for in that person?

Track Record. Ask how much fundraising he or she has done, and with what success. Has the person worked with organizations similar to yours both in purpose and strategy, and in similar locales? If questions of gender, sexual orientation, race, class, or disability are very important in your organization, ask the consultant what experience they have working on these issues as well, or with diverse groups of people.

References. If you don't know the person by reputation, ask for the last three groups she or he has worked with. Then call those groups and ask about the consultant. Was the person helpful? Did the consultant listen well and really understand the situation? Would this group hire this consultant again?

Compatibility. If you envision a relationship with the consultant involving more than a one- or two-day training, you may wish to meet the person to see if you like the person and would feel good taking his or her advice. Sometimes an excellent fundraising consultant is not the right person for your group because the personalities will not mesh. If the organization dislikes the consultant, both the person's advice and your money are wasted.

Confidence. Ask what the consultant will do for you, or what he or she recommends. Avoid asking for long written plans. Elaborate "work plans" or proposals are often standardized; each one is essentially the same as the next, with the name of your organization substituted for the name of the previous organization. You can ask for a resume, but by the time of this meeting, you are not looking so much for proof of fundraising knowledge as for ability to put that knowledge across.

Belief. Finally, the consultant must be able to articulate the mission of your organization and believe that your group should exist. Out of conviction as well as needing a job, he or she needs to care about what you stand for and want to help you. This is particularly important if your group is controversial or has a "troublemaker" image. Avoid consultants who advise you to "tone down" your message or broaden your goals "to make everyone feel included."

Copyright 1998

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Kim Klein is publisher and editor of Grassroots Fundraising Journal. This article is excerpted from Fundraising for Social Change, Third Edition. For copies of the journal or book, contact Chardon Press, 3781 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94611; 510-596-8160; Email Chardon Press

Conference: Government & Business Continuity Thought Leadership

 Washington DC’s Preeminent Government & Business Continuity Thought Leadership Event is Back!

The North East Disaster Recovery Information Exchange (NEDRIX) and the Business Continuity Institute (BCI) is hosting a 1 day conference on May 1, 2012 in Washington, DC. This event will bring together senior managers and practitioners from the government and private sector to share best practices, develop relationships and foster public/private sector information exchange.

Building on a fantastic inaugural event, this year will again focus on resiliency efforts in both the public and private sectors and quality information sharing.

“Resiliency Integration of complementary disciplines and approaches.” Over the past decade both the government and private sector have independently and collectively focused on developing and implementing various programs to ensure their organization is resilient to any threat or hazard. These complimentary programs include Continuity, Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP), Emergency Management and Cyber Security. This event brings together experts from both the government and private sector to discuss how these programs are working to integrate and streamline while sharing their best practices, insights and case studies. In addition, there will be a collaborative table-top exercise that will foster communication and information sharing amongst all attendees.

This event will be held at George Mason in Fairfax, Virginia. Limited seating is available so registration is a requirement.

Click here to review the agenda.

To Register

The BCI and NEDRIX organizations would like to give every participant a little more, so registration for the 2012 event is being handled on a “tiered basis.”

To register, you must complete the short form below. Upon submission, you will be directed to a payment page where you may choose your payment level and complete the process. Once payment has been completed, you will receive a follow up email with all pertinent event information.

1. Standard Registration - $25 – Entrance into full day event


2. Premium Registration - $99 – Cost includes entrance to full day event + a free hard copy special edition of the Business Continuity Institute’s Good Practice Guidelines ($89 value)


3. Platinum Registration - $125 - Cost includes entrance to full day event + a free 1 year subscription to the Business Continuity and Resiliency Journal – The award winning peer-reviewed professional journal. ($149 value) 

Grant Opportunity: Offender Reentry Program. Deadline: May 1, 2012

 

FY 2012 Grant Request for Applications (RFA)

http://www.samhsa.gov/grants/2012/ti_12_003.aspx 

Offender Reentry Program
Short Title: ORP

INITIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Request for Applications (RFA) No. TI-12-003
Posting on Grants.gov: March 19, 2012
Original Receipt date: May 1, 2012

Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) No. : 93.243

Key Dates

Application Deadline	Applications are due by May 1, 2012.
Intergovernmental Review (E.O. 12372)	Applicants must comply with E.O. 12372 if their State(s) participates. Review process recommendations from the State Single Point of Contact (SPOC) are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.
Public Health System Impact Statement (PHSIS) / Single State Agency Coordination	Applicants must send the PHSIS to appropriate State and local health agencies by application deadline. Comments from Single State Agency are due no later than 60 days after application deadline.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment is accepting applications for fiscal year (FY) 2012 for the Offender Reentry Program grants. The purpose of this program is to expand and/or enhance substance abuse treatment and related recovery and reentry services to sentenced adult offenders returning to the community from incarceration for criminal offenses. Applicants are expected to form stakeholder partnerships that will plan, develop and provide a transition from incarceration to community-based substance abuse treatment and related reentry services. Because reentry transition must begin in the correctional facility before release, limited funding may be used for certain activities in institutional correctional settings in addition to the expected community-based services.

The Offender Reentry Program (hereafter referred to as ORP), provides an opportunity for stakeholders to work together to give adult offenders/ex-offenders with substance use and/or co-occurring mental disorders the opportunity to improve their lives, including recovery from substance use and mental disorders and developing the capacity and skills to become fully-functioning parents, employees and citizens. SAMHSA's interest is to actively support and shape offender reentry treatment partnerships so that clinical needs are met and clients are treated using evidence-based practices consistent with the disease model and the problem-solving model, rather than with the traditional criminal justice model. A long-term goal of this program is to build sustainable systems of care for adults needing substance abuse treatment and recovery support services as they return to the community from incarceration. In alignment with the goals of SAMHSA's Strategic Initiative: "Trauma and Justice", this program will help "reduce the pervasive, harmful, and costly health impact of violence and trauma by integrating trauma-informed approaches throughout health, behavioral health, and related systems and addressing the behavioral health needs of people involved in or at risk of involvement in the criminal and juvenile justice systems". By providing needed treatment and recovery services, this program is intended to reduce the health and social costs of substance abuse and dependence to the public, and increase the safety of America's citizens by reducing substance abuse related crime and violence. (See Appendix J for additional background information.)

ORP is one of SAMHSA's services grant programs. SAMHSA intends that its services grants result in the delivery of services as soon as possible after award. Service delivery should begin by the 4th month of the project at the latest.

Offender Reentry Program grants are authorized under Section 509 of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. This announcement addresses Healthy People 2020 Substance Abuse Topic Area HP 2020-SA.

What is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day?

http://www.samhsa.gov/children/

National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) is a key strategy of the
Caring for Every Child's Mental Health Campaign, which is part of the Public Awareness
 and Support Strategic Initiative by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration (SAMHSA), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The effort
seeks to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health and
that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth.

In 2011, the national theme focused on building resilience in young children dealing with
trauma. More than 100 national organizations and 1,100 communities across the country
held their own Awareness Day events, focusing either on the national theme or
adapting the theme to the populations they serve.

This year, National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day is Wednesday, May 9.
SAMHSA hopes to increase community involvement in 2012 by engaging local groups
in a national conversation about the importance of children's social and emotional
well-being. Local groups are also encouraged to offer individuals attending Awareness
Day events an opportunity to become a "hero of hope" by making a pledge to
take action to help a child or youth.

The national event that will be held in Washington, DC, on May 9 will carry the
message that, with the help of caring adults and informed child-serving systems,
young people can demonstrate resilience following traumatic experiences. The
national focus will look at the needs of children and youth ages birth to 18 in
systems including juvenile justice, child welfare, and education who have
experienced trauma. In addition, SAMHSA and the Awareness Day collaborating
organizations will continue to examine strategies to assist military families in
enhancing their resilience.

With the theme of "Heroes of Hope", the national event in Washington, DC, will
feature young people from across the U.S. who have demonstrated resilience
from trauma. Each youth will be asked to identify heroes, both personal and
high-profile, who have supported them through their experiences. The event
will feature performances in tribute to these heroes, and an award will be
presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to a celebrity
Hero of Hope. A live webcast of the event will be posted on SAMHSA's
Web site via the Awareness Day page and will be archived for 6 months.

Doing Business with FEMA

http://blog.fema.gov/2012/03/doing-business-with-fema.html 

Posted by: Tony Russell, Regional Administrator, Region 6         

Small and minority business owners recently gathered in Dallas, Texas, to learn how to do business with FEMA and other federal and state agencies, in essence, becoming contractors. The dozens of business owners received critical information from FEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. General Services Administration and the Texas State Procurement Division.

As part of an effort to diversify the agency’s contractors, FEMA is actively seeking ways to strengthen partnerships with the private sector, and wants you to be a part of the process. You can access information online on how to become a federal contractor. The website provides a link to the Central Contractor Registration site, which collects, validates, stores and disseminates data in support of agency acquisition missions.

Additionally, the FEMA website contains information that will assist in identifying possible contracting opportunities with FEMA. Here you will be able to access the Federal Business Opportunities website, the governments' single point of entry where vendors and government buyers are invited to post, search, monitor, and retrieve opportunities solicited by the Federal contracting community.

In addition, FEMA seeks small businesses through the GSA Federal Supply Schedule program, which allows agencies to buy commonly used supplies and services. If you have not already done so, I encourage registering with the CCR, FBO and GSA.

I also encourage you visit the Federal Procurement Data System - Next Generation website for information on Federal agencies that may have procured the same or similar services, as well as contracts awarded during disasters.

We at FEMA Region 6 and across the agency are committed to making sure local businesses and everyone in the private sector are part of the preparedness, response and recovery fabric of their communities; because, historically, you are traditionally the catalysts for an efficient and effective recovery in a community following a disaster.

National Homeland Security Awards. Deadline: April 6, 2012

The National Urban Area Association in Partnership with Emergency Management Announces the National Homeland Security Awards 2012 -- Nomination Deadline April 6

Do you know an emergency management leader, agency or program that deserves special recognition?  Now is your chance to honor outstanding performance in homeland security program management and practice.

The National Urban Area Association, Inc., in partnership with Emergency Management magazine, announces the National Homeland Security Awards 2012. 

We want to know which emergency management official or program YOU think should receive this prestigious award.  Nominations are welcome from Urban Area Security Initiative, port security or transit security grant programs.

The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 6, 2012.  For more information about the contest or to submit a nomination visit www.emergencymgmt.com/awards.

ACP - DC Metro Area Chapter: Monthly Meeting. April 3, 2012

ACP - DC Metro Area Chapter: Monthly Meeting

Tuesday April 3, 2012

11:30 am - 2:00 pm

Washington DC Convention Center  

801 Mt. Vernon Pl.  N.W.  Wash, DC 20001

Meeting Room 140B

   

Our April monthly meeting is being held during the  CPM / GOVSEC Conference & Expo at the Washington DC Convetion Center.  Once registered you will receive an email confirmation with the information you need to get FREE entrance to the 2 day Expo.  

Here's a great opportunity to get in a full day of professional development and networking with fellow ACP members and Contingency Planning Professionals.   We will have lunch, sponsored by Assurance Data, and our speaker is Kenneth Barksdale, a founding member of both The Department of Homeland Security and ACPDC.  Currently Ken is a of ACPDC  Principal with Business Guard, Inc.

Developing and Executing Effective Table Top Exercises  -  In todays fast paced business environment, we all seem to be on 24 hour cycles and find if difficult to conduct full scale exercises. Therefore usage of Table Top exercises is an ideal way to ensure preparedness.  Come join us as Ken leads us by demonstrating how to develop and execute effective Table Top exercises.  He'll just be coming back from conducting a DRJ Spring World Pre Conference mock disaster exercise: Utilizing ICS for Public and Private Security, and will share lessons learned.

We highly encourage you to share this invitation with other industry professionals interested in Continuity Planning, and look forward to seeing you.  Seats are limited, so register now, and lock in  your reservation.

Also, don't forget to visit our ACP booth at the Expo - #2008

Sincerely,

Arthur Fuller, President
Washington DC Metro Area Chapter - ACP
president@acpdc.org