The Sept. '08 Fundraising Column
By Billy Deegan
Money is a topic that many of us have a difficult time discussing. It amazes me how seldom, if ever, our educational system prepares our children for the world of finances. Most of us left school with scant knowledge of budgets, financial planning, or setting financial goals. When we are blessed with making $15 and our expenses only amount to $10, we enter the world of disposable income. We can, if we choose, spend our money on something we value.
Nonprofit organizations rely primarily on their members. Members value what the organization is doing. The organization meets their needs. Usually, the more people who are personally touched by an issue, the larger the membership, unless...
Unless 99% of people directly affected by a genital difference do not even know HEA exists. Of the 1% who do know, only the tiniest portion actually ever join, even though our website has thousands of people worldwide viewing our information, our mailing list grows daily, and our message board is very active.
We know people do not join for a variety of reasons. Our community suffers from severe isolation, shame, and secrecy, and joining HEA would be trespassing on the long-held belief that it’s best to “never let ‘em see you pee.” Also, to be honest, we are a small volunteer organization, with frequently changing committee members, and we have not offered our members enough to give them a feeling of ownership of HEA. In fact, we have been late in saying thank you and delinquent in asking people to rejoin. At times our website was not updated, so once you saw it, you saw it. Kay Grace, a well-known fundraiser, says, ”In good times and bad, we know that people give because you meet needs, not because you have needs.”
We are very proud that with a small volunteer group, with champagne tastes but beer pocketbooks, we have stayed alive when most small nonprofits fail. We have raised funds through membership fees and events. We have never been in the red and have never had to borrow money to pay our bills. We have had several members join at the higher membership amounts, we have had a few corporate matching contributions, we have raised quite a lot from New York City theatre parties. We have stayed alive because of activities such as Australian banquets and Chevy rebuilds and because of the generosity of members like Fox who are always willing to cut a check and board members who have continuously opened their wallets.
As our organization began, our primary focus was on building the infrastructure of a mission statement, 501(c)3 tax exempt status, bylaws, and our own website. We began an international outreach to urologists around the world in an effort to reach our community. We have made great inroads in the medical community, but this effort failed to be a conduit connecting us to families. This year we have redirected our focus to refurbishing our home and pounding the pavement to find our community wherever they may be. This year we intend to better meet your needs by improving our communication with you and by offering new services such as more chat rooms, an online searchable directory, and improved resource and FAQ sections. We are also going to post audio clips from our former conferences. We hope to triple our membership while we double our Web exposure.
In the past, I have appealed to you for money, but this request is different. I have sent you a letter asking you to use GoodSearch as your search engine. As my letter explains, GoodSearch donates a penny to HEA every time you use it. Furthermore, if you use GoodShop as a starting place for your Internet shopping from over 600 stores that you may well frequent anyway (e.g., Staples, Bloomingdales, and Gap), each store gives HEA a substantial donation for every single purchase you make. No cost to you, no cost to us—it really raises free money simply by telling GoodShop to donate to HEA! (Please check out the enclosed flyer.) I have a friend who travels a lot on business and booked over $20,000 last year at Travelocity. Had he done that through GoodShop, HEA would be getting a check for over $1,000 from his purchases alone.
Raising funds through GoodSearch, GoodShop, and our Open House (scheduled for Sunday, September 28, 2008, 10 am to 11 pm eastern time) will be successful only if you help spread the word. Please tell people about GoodSearch and GoodShop. In addition, please ask your family, friends, and health care professionals to sign on to www.HEAinfo.org for the open house to make this a wonderfully supportive and educational day. As you find that HEA meets your needs, maybe you will give HEA the help that is so badly needed.
My website column on fundraising tips and organizing tried-and-true successful events will continue in October.