I can fully understand your desire to raise money, but I strongly encourage
you to find another means of reimbursement. The National Society of Fund
Raising Executives (NSFRE - the largest professional group for fund
raisers), The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP), and the Council
for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) all have grave doubts
about the ethics of using a percentage reimbursement and/or finders fee for
not-for-profit fund raising.
Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Talk to your community foundation. Some of them have been known to make
grants for starting a development program.
2. Call respected not-for-profit organizations in your community,
especially small arts and social service organization, and ask for a meeting
with development staff members. They can give you the low-down on what it
takes to implement fund raising programs.
3. Start a special event.
4. Tap into United Way.
5. Contact pharmaceutical companies, especially those who make PD drugs.
They often sponsor small meetings.
-----Original Message-----
From: Sid Roberts [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 1998 6:07 AM
To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN
Subject: Professional fund raiser
One member of the Board of the Northeast Ohio Parkinson's Foundation is
about to propose at our next meeting that we hire a professional fund raiser
and pay that individual a percentage of the funds so raised. The Northeast
Ohio regional group is an umbrella organization servicing all the PD support
groups in the 17 counties of northeast Ohio which includes the urban areas
of Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown. It has not now, and has not for a long
time had any money in its treasury. It has no paid employees.
Has anybody had any experience with a professional fund raiser? Any
opinion? What is the normal percentage of raised funds paid to such an
individual? Any advice or comments would be appreciated, for I do not know
where I stand on this issue other than a vague negative attitude.
__________
Sid Roberts 69/4 <[log in to unmask] > Youngstown, Ohio
