AFP Oklahoma Newsletter

THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Oh NO! The Stock Market’s Falling, the Housing Market’s Falling!

No, I haven’t suddenly become the Chicken Little of fundraisers. I just wanted to get your attention (learned that in English class in 9^th grade). However, if you’re like me, you HAVE been spending a bit too much time lately focusing on all the bad economic news that’s out there.

I had to give myself a pep talk recently in order to get past the stress of what’s happening on Wall Street and on Main Street and get on with real life fundraising for the YMCA. I thought maybe you could use a little pep talk, too, to help you get through this possibly difficult financial time. So, I’ll share what I said to myself:

“Come on, Sally! You’ve been through tough financial times before and you managed to do pretty well, now didn’t you? You still raised money for the organizations you’ve worked for, right? And why is that? What did you do to make sure the support was still there for the cause you cared about even though people were worried a bit about the economy? Think about it, Sal! Make a list and start doing those things again!”

Wow, I’m bossy! But, I listened to my very smart self and made my list. Here it is:

1) Stay positive! Fundraisers need to encourage those around them. Keep morale high, and donors and volunteers will sense your enthusiasm and respond positively to it. Besides, things aren’t as bad here in Oklahoma as they are in other parts of our country. We may not experience the drastic drops in housing and other areas of the economy because we’ve positioned ourselves to weather the economic forecast better than other parts of our country. Be proud to be an OKIE!

2) Stewardship is key! Don’t over-solicit. Over thank instead. Well, there’s really no such thing as OVER thanking your donors. Just make sure they know how much you appreciate them and keep them informed about the REAL difference their donations are making, especially during difficult financial times.

3) Focus on the mission! Keep telling your stories as a reminder to yourself and to everyone you come in contact with exactly WHY you became involved with your organization in the first place.

4) Focus on achieving the goals of your organization! Make sure you’re staying on track with your vision for the future. Have a plan and follow it, but….

5) Be flexible! Be prepared to respond to your donors’ changing needs AND the changing needs of your organization and our community. Accept a donation of time instead of treasure from someone who might have more of that to give right now. Keep your donors’ interest and commitment high by asking them to volunteer or to provide advice when that might be all that they can provide. Things will change, and if you’ve kept them engaged, they’ll give again.

6) Be visible! Get out there, mix, and mingle. Make sure everyone knows you’re still here, your organization is still here and that you still need their support in whatever way they can give it.

7) Be creative! There might be different sorts of gifts you can pursue during these tougher times…things you might not have thought of as possibilities before. And, be creative in your donor communications. Don’t bore them with the same ol’ stuff. You need to really capture their attention during difficult times.

8) Expand your knowledge! Learn something new about fundraising. Ask one of your colleagues to teach you something about what THEY do, and share something about what YOU do with them. That way, you have a great support system in place, AND you’ve learned a new skill.

9) Get ready for things to turn around! Now is a good time to plan for the future. Lay the groundwork for your next major campaign…the one you’ll be ready to start as soon as the economic forecasts are less gloomy.

10) Learn from mistakes! You’ll make them; we all make them. Learn from them and move on. Don’t dwell on the negative, but focus on what good can come from this.

So, I may be the only one feeling better, but I’m hoping this advice has helped you a bit, too. We do good work, people. That most definitely doesn’t change just because the stock market’s down. I believe our donors and volunteers know this. They may need a reminder, but they still know it.

Keep it up and good luck!

Sally Ray

MARCH LUNCHEON - Please RSVP!

David L. Maloney on Major Gifts
March 5, 2008
Sportsman’s Club
11:45 a.m.

The cost for the luncheon is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. You will pay at the luncheon. Please RSVP by Monday, March 2nd to Martha Stone at afpoklahoma@gmail.com.

AFP is thrilled to welcome David L. Maloney to speak on major gifts. For 13 years, Mr. Maloney led the University of Oklahoma’s development efforts. Mr. Maloney oversaw the University of Oklahoma’s 1995-2000 Reach for Excellence Campaign, which raised $514 million – more than double its $250 million goal. In November 2004, the University passed the $1 billion mark in gifts and pledges raised during President David Boren’s and Dave Maloney’s partnership at OU.

Known for a “team oriented” approach, Mr. Maloney brought together efforts among the Central Development, College Development, and Athletic Development operations and the University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc. to develop an effective overall fund raising operation. He retired in October 2006 as Vice President for Development but continues in the profession as a consultant to a number of nonprofit organizations.

Prior to joining the University of Oklahoma staff, Mr. Maloney spent eighteen years at Carnegie Mellon University serving during the last nine as Director of Alumni Relations and the Vice President of Development. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mr. Maloney holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and has been a high school and college basketball coach and guidance counselor.

APRIL AFP LUNCHEON

Mark your calendars for our April luncheon. On April 2, Linda Hauser, CFRE, who serves as a CFRE Subject Matter Expert by the Certified Fund Raising Executives International, will discuss the benefits, requirements and process of becoming credentialed as a Certified Fund Raising Executive.

AFP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT…RACHEL HERNANDEZ

Position and Organization – Director of Development, Arts Council of Oklahoma City

Years in Fundraising – 4 years (Counting down until I can be certified!)

Best fundraising tip received – “People give to people.” Hearing that turned everything I thought I knew upside-down. Fundraising is a lot intuition, a little knowledge. More than seeing data points, donors have a desire to see real impact. Nothing illustrates that better than a passionate volunteer or staff member sharing the organization’s story.

Most useful fundraising resource – My volunteers. The Arts Council of Oklahoma City is blessed with the most loyal volunteers I have ever encountered. They motivate me, keep me accountable, and open countless doors for working relationships I might not otherwise have. I am amazed at how willing they are to make a difference.

Why I love non-profit work – I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of something that is bigger than myself.

Favorite quote – “Wherever you go, there you are.” I say this a lot as a reminder that contentment has nothing to do with geography or circumstance but everything to do with being comfortable with who you are as a human being.

Hobbies – I recently picked up sewing because I am too cheap to buy custom draperies. I found that I actually enjoy the process, which is a bonus! I love to read, entertain, and most of all, be with my children and husband.

Family – Alex and I met at my first job out of college at Oklahoma Gazette. He was a super-cool artist and I was, well… not. It’s been a breezy six years, and I imagine the next 60 will be even more fun. We have two children-Ethan is four and mighty bright (if I do say so myself). His current pursuits are being a rock star and a “working man” when he grows up and to drive me around in a car when he is 16. Lily is two and loves tutu’s, hair bows, and anything that is in my purse. Her favorite things to say are “no” and “mine”. Ah, aren’t children wonderful? Ike the Doberman, Paloma the Chihuahua, and Cheech the shelter kitty round out our little abode in Deer Creek.

2008 NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY

Although the event is eight months away, planning has already begun for the 2008 National Philanthropy Day (NPD). This year’s Co-Chairs are Jennifer Harrison, Director of Development, Institutional Advancement, Oklahoma City Community College, and Stacey Weddington, Development Director, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The committee held its first planning meeting in February to discuss exciting ways to build upon the success of previous NPD events. If you would like to serve on an NPD committee, please contact Jennifer at jharrison@occc.edu or Stacey at sw@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org.

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is hosting a public service event, PR 360, on April 16, 2008. The event will offer free public relations consulting for selected nonprofits. Nonprofits invited to participate will be able to send one representative at no cost to the event. They can also send a second representative for the cost of lunch (to be determined).

Applications can be downloaded from the PRSA website at http://www.prsaokc.com/docs/360_roundtable.html. Interested nonprofits must submit their application by March 7, 2008. Applicants will be notified of their selection by April 1.

If you have any questions, please call Holly Mangham at (405) 419-8222 or Diana Rogers at (405) 419-8284. Holly and Diana serve as PRSA-OKC Public Service Co-chairs.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

If you’re looking for a new challenge in the development arena, visit the AFP Oklahoma website at www.afpoklahoma.org/JobOpportunities.asp for a list of exciting opportunities and information on how to apply. Below you will find just a few of the development-related positions currently available.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma
Satellite Director - Claremore Office
Resource Development Coordinator - Norman Office

Director of Resource Development - Tulsa Office

Bowl for Kids' Sake Coordinator - Oklahoma City Office

Texas Heritage Museum

Archivist/Reference Librarian

KOSU

Development Director

Children’s Medical Research Institute
Contract Prospect Researcher
Takes primary responsibility for the system of identifying, researching and tracking new major-gift prospects.

American Red Cross, Central Oklahoma Chapter
Director of Chapter Development
Provides leadership to plan, organize, direct, coordinate, implement, and evaluate all aspects of financial development, and public relations for the Chapter under the direction of the CEO and in conjunction with the Financial Development Committee Chair.

e-mail: afpoklahoma@gmail.com

web: www.afpoklahoma.org

PO Box 217

Oklahoma City, OK 73101

To stop receiving the AFP-Oklahoma eNewsletter, please reply to afpoklahoma@gmail.com.

	AFP Oklahoma Chapter March eNewsletter - Please RSVP for the March Luncheon!
PO Box 217 Oklahoma City, OK 73101 www.afpoklahoma.org afpoklahoma@gmail.com	THE PRESIDENT’S CORNER Oh NO! The Stock Market’s Falling, the Housing Market’s Falling! No, I haven’t suddenly become the Chicken Little of fundraisers. I just wanted to get your attention (learned that in English class in 9^th grade). However, if you’re like me, you HAVE been spending a bit too much time lately focusing on all the bad economic news that’s out there. I had to give myself a pep talk recently in order to get past the stress of what’s happening on Wall Street and on Main Street and get on with real life fundraising for the YMCA. I thought maybe you could use a little pep talk, too, to help you get through this possibly difficult financial time. So, I’ll share what I said to myself: “Come on, Sally! You’ve been through tough financial times before and you managed to do pretty well, now didn’t you? You still raised money for the organizations you’ve worked for, right? And why is that? What did you do to make sure the support was still there for the cause you cared about even though people were worried a bit about the economy? Think about it, Sal! Make a list and start doing those things again!” Wow, I’m bossy! But, I listened to my very smart self and made my list. Here it is: 1) Stay positive! Fundraisers need to encourage those around them. Keep morale high, and donors and volunteers will sense your enthusiasm and respond positively to it. Besides, things aren’t as bad here in Oklahoma as they are in other parts of our country. We may not experience the drastic drops in housing and other areas of the economy because we’ve positioned ourselves to weather the economic forecast better than other parts of our country. Be proud to be an OKIE! 2) Stewardship is key! Don’t over-solicit. Over thank instead. Well, there’s really no such thing as OVER thanking your donors. Just make sure they know how much you appreciate them and keep them informed about the REAL difference their donations are making, especially during difficult financial times. 3) Focus on the mission! Keep telling your stories as a reminder to yourself and to everyone you come in contact with exactly WHY you became involved with your organization in the first place. 4) Focus on achieving the goals of your organization! Make sure you’re staying on track with your vision for the future. Have a plan and follow it, but…. 5) Be flexible! Be prepared to respond to your donors’ changing needs AND the changing needs of your organization and our community. Accept a donation of time instead of treasure from someone who might have more of that to give right now. Keep your donors’ interest and commitment high by asking them to volunteer or to provide advice when that might be all that they can provide. Things will change, and if you’ve kept them engaged, they’ll give again. 6) Be visible! Get out there, mix, and mingle. Make sure everyone knows you’re still here, your organization is still here and that you still need their support in whatever way they can give it. 7) Be creative! There might be different sorts of gifts you can pursue during these tougher times…things you might not have thought of as possibilities before. And, be creative in your donor communications. Don’t bore them with the same ol’ stuff. You need to really capture their attention during difficult times. 8) Expand your knowledge! Learn something new about fundraising. Ask one of your colleagues to teach you something about what THEY do, and share something about what YOU do with them. That way, you have a great support system in place, AND you’ve learned a new skill. 9) Get ready for things to turn around! Now is a good time to plan for the future. Lay the groundwork for your next major campaign…the one you’ll be ready to start as soon as the economic forecasts are less gloomy. 10) Learn from mistakes! You’ll make them; we all make them. Learn from them and move on. Don’t dwell on the negative, but focus on what good can come from this. So, I may be the only one feeling better, but I’m hoping this advice has helped you a bit, too. We do good work, people. That most definitely doesn’t change just because the stock market’s down. I believe our donors and volunteers know this. They may need a reminder, but they still know it. Keep it up and good luck! Sally Ray MARCH LUNCHEON - Please RSVP! David L. Maloney on Major Gifts March 5, 2008 Sportsman’s Club 11:45 a.m. The cost for the luncheon is $10 for members and $20 for non-members. You will pay at the luncheon. Please RSVP by Monday, March 2nd to Martha Stone at afpoklahoma@gmail.com. AFP is thrilled to welcome David L. Maloney to speak on major gifts. For 13 years, Mr. Maloney led the University of Oklahoma’s development efforts. Mr. Maloney oversaw the University of Oklahoma’s 1995-2000 Reach for Excellence Campaign, which raised $514 million – more than double its $250 million goal. In November 2004, the University passed the $1 billion mark in gifts and pledges raised during President David Boren’s and Dave Maloney’s partnership at OU. Known for a “team oriented” approach, Mr. Maloney brought together efforts among the Central Development, College Development, and Athletic Development operations and the University of Oklahoma Foundation, Inc. to develop an effective overall fund raising operation. He retired in October 2006 as Vice President for Development but continues in the profession as a consultant to a number of nonprofit organizations. Prior to joining the University of Oklahoma staff, Mr. Maloney spent eighteen years at Carnegie Mellon University serving during the last nine as Director of Alumni Relations and the Vice President of Development. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Mr. Maloney holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and has been a high school and college basketball coach and guidance counselor. APRIL AFP LUNCHEON Mark your calendars for our April luncheon. On April 2, Linda Hauser, CFRE, who serves as a CFRE Subject Matter Expert by the Certified Fund Raising Executives International, will discuss the benefits, requirements and process of becoming credentialed as a Certified Fund Raising Executive. AFP MEMBER SPOTLIGHT…RACHEL HERNANDEZ Position and Organization – Director of Development, Arts Council of Oklahoma City Years in Fundraising – 4 years (Counting down until I can be certified!) Best fundraising tip received – “People give to people.” Hearing that turned everything I thought I knew upside-down. Fundraising is a lot intuition, a little knowledge. More than seeing data points, donors have a desire to see real impact. Nothing illustrates that better than a passionate volunteer or staff member sharing the organization’s story. Most useful fundraising resource – My volunteers. The Arts Council of Oklahoma City is blessed with the most loyal volunteers I have ever encountered. They motivate me, keep me accountable, and open countless doors for working relationships I might not otherwise have. I am amazed at how willing they are to make a difference. Why I love non-profit work – I appreciate the opportunity to be a part of something that is bigger than myself. Favorite quote – “Wherever you go, there you are.” I say this a lot as a reminder that contentment has nothing to do with geography or circumstance but everything to do with being comfortable with who you are as a human being. Hobbies – I recently picked up sewing because I am too cheap to buy custom draperies. I found that I actually enjoy the process, which is a bonus! I love to read, entertain, and most of all, be with my children and husband. Family – Alex and I met at my first job out of college at Oklahoma Gazette. He was a super-cool artist and I was, well… not. It’s been a breezy six years, and I imagine the next 60 will be even more fun. We have two children-Ethan is four and mighty bright (if I do say so myself). His current pursuits are being a rock star and a “working man” when he grows up and to drive me around in a car when he is 16. Lily is two and loves tutu’s, hair bows, and anything that is in my purse. Her favorite things to say are “no” and “mine”. Ah, aren’t children wonderful? Ike the Doberman, Paloma the Chihuahua, and Cheech the shelter kitty round out our little abode in Deer Creek. 2008 NATIONAL PHILANTHROPY DAY Although the event is eight months away, planning has already begun for the 2008 National Philanthropy Day (NPD). This year’s Co-Chairs are Jennifer Harrison, Director of Development, Institutional Advancement, Oklahoma City Community College, and Stacey Weddington, Development Director, Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. The committee held its first planning meeting in February to discuss exciting ways to build upon the success of previous NPD events. If you would like to serve on an NPD committee, please contact Jennifer at jharrison@occc.edu or Stacey at sw@oklahomacitynationalmemorial.org. EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES The Oklahoma City Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America is hosting a public service event, PR 360, on April 16, 2008. The event will offer free public relations consulting for selected nonprofits. Nonprofits invited to participate will be able to send one representative at no cost to the event. They can also send a second representative for the cost of lunch (to be determined). Applications can be downloaded from the PRSA website at http://www.prsaokc.com/docs/360_roundtable.html. Interested nonprofits must submit their application by March 7, 2008. Applicants will be notified of their selection by April 1. If you have any questions, please call Holly Mangham at (405) 419-8222 or Diana Rogers at (405) 419-8284. Holly and Diana serve as PRSA-OKC Public Service Co-chairs. JOB OPPORTUNITIES If you’re looking for a new challenge in the development arena, visit the AFP Oklahoma website at www.afpoklahoma.org/JobOpportunities.asp for a list of exciting opportunities and information on how to apply. Below you will find just a few of the development-related positions currently available. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oklahoma Satellite Director - Claremore Office Resource Development Coordinator - Norman Office Director of Resource Development - Tulsa Office Bowl for Kids' Sake Coordinator - Oklahoma City Office Texas Heritage Museum Archivist/Reference Librarian KOSU Development Director Children’s Medical Research Institute Contract Prospect Researcher Takes primary responsibility for the system of identifying, researching and tracking new major-gift prospects. American Red Cross, Central Oklahoma Chapter Director of Chapter Development Provides leadership to plan, organize, direct, coordinate, implement, and evaluate all aspects of financial development, and public relations for the Chapter under the direction of the CEO and in conjunction with the Financial Development Committee Chair. e-mail: afpoklahoma@gmail.com web: www.afpoklahoma.org PO Box 217 Oklahoma City, OK 73101 To stop receiving the AFP-Oklahoma eNewsletter, please reply to afpoklahoma@gmail.com.