Ira Glass of National Public Radio’s This American Life said it best: supporters of public radio love it so much they actually listen to the pledge drives. Glass spoke these words during a pledge drive, and the effect was not only comic, but also spot-on, placing listeners’ passionate loyalty at the center of the fundraising conversation in a humorous way.
By its very definition, and as even the most casual listener knows, NPR is a publicly supported enterprise, but their income is not derived solely from tax revenues. In fact, private support accounts for a much larger portion of funding, and it requires regular, at times seemingly endless, solicitations each year to keep the whole thing running.
This is just one example of charitable giving. While different from the charity that pours forth when a tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster strikes, it springs from a similar spirit and mindset. People care. And they are willing, even eager, to put their money to work in helping to ameliorate other people’s suffering, and to do their part to meet others’ immediate or short-term needs. In 2018, Americans gave an estimated $427 billion to charities, disaster relief, and other benevolent causes. Individual giving accounted for approximately 68 percent of that, or about $292 billion, according to the Giving USA Foundation.
Yes, they have a face for radio
in General News, Non-Profit Sector/by ColumnsColumns partners Mark Wilkison and Wes Wicker joined host John Ray on North Fulton Business Radio X here in the Atlanta area to discuss nonprofits and nonprofit fundraising. They shared the needs they see when they engage with a client, some of the common issues nonprofits face, the state of giving in the current economic climate, and much more.
If you’d like to listen to the conversation, you will find the podcast here.
Welcoming Eve Powell
in General News, New Hire/by ColumnsEve most recently served at the United Way of Greater Atlanta as the Senior Director of Planned and Leadership Giving. She led the efforts to increase planned gifts as well as securing numerous principal gifts. She started her development career at Mile High United Way in Denver, and has worked within the United Way system for over 18 years. She has also led development efforts in other non-profit organizations, including the Women’s Foundation of Colorado and the Anti-Defamation League.
Welcoming Len Al Haas
in General News, New Hire/by ColumnsFor nearly 40 years, Len Al has provided fundraising, planning and technology consulting services for nonprofits ranging from social service and healthcare organizations to educational institutions and professional associations. Len Al’s interest in nonprofits and development was heavily influenced by his grandmother, Atlanta fundraising pioneer Be Haas. He began his career working in development and alumni affairs at Georgia State University, and later served as development director for Hillside, which provides mental health services to children, adolescents and families in Atlanta. Following in Be’s footsteps, Len Al founded Haas Consulting in 1990, after having had the privilege of her tutelage and mentoring while working alongside her at an Atlanta-based fundraising consulting firm.
Welcoming John Floyd
in General News, New Hire/by Columns FundraisingJohn joins the Columns Fundraising team with over 30 years of experience serving nonprofits as an advocate, volunteer and professional. Holding both an MBA from Harvard Business school and a CAP (Certified Advisor in Philanthropy) from the American College, John’s education and professional experience will be an asset to our team.
His past roles – including director of development at the Marcus Autism Center, head of foundation relations at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and planned giving officer at the Carter Center – all provide him with a wealth of knowledge that will better support our clients.
Can You Hear Me Now?
in General News, Non-Profit Sector/by Columns FundraisingA valid criticism leveled at nonprofit organizations is their inability to keep professional staff. Indeed, development officers come and go so quickly, it’s difficult to establish meaningful relationships with a nonprofit when the faces are constantly changing.
Why Your Board Members Don’t Show Up
in Boards, Miscellaneous, Non-Profit Sector/by Columns FundraisingWhen our firm begins a relationship with a new or prospective client, we often hear the same things over and over again from the staff of a non-profit organization. These include: “Our board members don’t attend meetings. Our board members are not engaged. Our board members don’t give to the organization. “ Conversely, from Board members we often hear: “I love the organization, but I’m not sure what they expect of me.” And, “I don’t know my terms of service. I don’t know how many times I can be (or have been) re-elected. I was asked to join the board, but no one told us how long we’d be on it.” A mutually enjoyable board-level relationship begins in the very first conversation about service. Here are five simple items the potential Board nominee and staff should discuss:
Philanthropy & Charity: What’s the Difference?
in General News, Major Giving, Planned Giving/by Columns FundraisingIra Glass of National Public Radio’s This American Life said it best: supporters of public radio love it so much they actually listen to the pledge drives. Glass spoke these words during a pledge drive, and the effect was not only comic, but also spot-on, placing listeners’ passionate loyalty at the center of the fundraising conversation in a humorous way.
By its very definition, and as even the most casual listener knows, NPR is a publicly supported enterprise, but their income is not derived solely from tax revenues. In fact, private support accounts for a much larger portion of funding, and it requires regular, at times seemingly endless, solicitations each year to keep the whole thing running.
This is just one example of charitable giving. While different from the charity that pours forth when a tornado, earthquake or other natural disaster strikes, it springs from a similar spirit and mindset. People care. And they are willing, even eager, to put their money to work in helping to ameliorate other people’s suffering, and to do their part to meet others’ immediate or short-term needs. In 2018, Americans gave an estimated $427 billion to charities, disaster relief, and other benevolent causes. Individual giving accounted for approximately 68 percent of that, or about $292 billion, according to the Giving USA Foundation.
Northeast GA Health System Foundation
in General News/by Columns FundraisingJust as its name implies, the Northeast Georgia Health System Foundation supports the work of a vast healthcare system across many counties of northeast Georgia. Led by Mr. Chris Bray and a small dedicated staff, the NGHS Foundation received three grants in the past year with help from the Columns Fundraising team: $796,000 from USDA, $100,000 from the Dobbs Foundation and $84,000 from Cigna.
The Business of Non-Profit Organizations In the Age of the Coronavirus
in Miscellaneous, Non-Profit Sector/by Columns FundraisingOur Message: Don’t Stop Fundraising // If you’re over 60 years old, you’ve lived and worked through five economic recessions, Black Friday in 1987, the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, the sub-prime mortgage real estate crash and the subsequent Great Recession of 2007-2009. Yet, most of our workforce in Georgia, and throughout the nation, is under 50 years old and they have only experienced 9/11 and the Great Recession.
Welcoming Mike Sophir
in General News, New Hire/by Columns FundraisingMeet Mike Sophir, the newest Columns consultant! He’s bringing more than 30 years of experience in organizational and business leadership in both the public and private sectors with him. Most recently, he served as the CEO of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. We’re excited to share his skills in strategic planning, communication, fundraising development, and more with our clients. Welcome to the team, Mike!