PHILANTHROPY

The Importance of Philanthropy at IslandWood

  • Who typically does the fundraising?
  • The Board of Directors, President & CEO, Vice President of Philanthropy, Major & Planned Giving Officer, Philanthropy Coordinator, Grants Manager and Special Events Manager are the primary public fundraisers at IslandWood, but everyone on staff or who volunteers has a role in fostering a Culture of Philanthropy. We all act as Ambassadors for the organization in every person we interact with on behalf of IslandWood.
  • The PhilanthropyTeamcoordinates and supports all fundraising efforts on behalf of IslandWood.
  • IslandWood takes the cultivation of its friends and donors seriously. It is important that all interactions an individual has with the organization, whether making a donation, attending a program or volunteering add lifetime value for that individual. It is the goal of the Philanthropy Team to provide value in return for a donor’s involvement.
  • IslandWood keeps detailed records concerning all donors, donations and involvement in a customer relationship management tool called Salesforce. We do this to keep sound records about support from our donors but also so we can better communicate with them in meaningful ways. We also track all financial gifts received and manage all correspondence including donor appeals and acknowledgement letters.
  • The Philanthropy Team consists of the Vice President of Philanthropy, Major & Planned Giving Officer, Philanthropy Manager—Foundation & Corporate Relations;Philanthropy Coordinator; Special Events Manager;VolunteerManager; Philanthropy Specialist, and Executive Assistant.
  • Why is it necessary for IslandWood to raise funds?
  • IslandWood has two distinct streams of revenue—Earned and Contributed.
  • Earned Revenue includes fees and tuition from the School Overnight Program, EEC Program, Community Programs, adult Conferences, and sales made in the Gift Shop.
  • Contributed Revenue is generated via fundraising from Individuals, Corporations, and Foundations.
  • To reduce the financial burden on the more than sixty schools and 3,000 students we serve through our School Overnight Program each school year, IslandWood charges less than half of the actual program costs. Our sustainability plan for the program includes year-round fundraising campaigns to coverthe gap between the tuition paid by schools and the actual costs to deliver our programs.
  • What do the funds support?
  • Funds raisedthrough the annual fund campaignsupportsthe general organization operating costsof oureducation programs not covered by tuition.
  • Funds allocated to the Scholarship Endowment provide additional support forschoolswith high percentages of free-and-reduced lunch ratesso they can afford to attend our School Overnight Program.
  • Where do donations come from?
  • Individuals: Gifts from individuals will come in two primary ways:
  • Major Gifts – typically donations of $5,000 or more and are often given because of an in-person meeting or site tour.
  • Individual Giving – Donations from individuals given via a variety of mechanisms.
  • Corporations: These gifts can either be given to sponsor a fundraising event or can be a grant given to support programs or services provided by the nonprofit. IslandWood examples: The Boeing Company, Wells Fargo, and Town & Country Markets.
  • Corporate & Community Foundations:These are grants made via a grant application process and include both corporate and private foundations. IslandWood examples: The Russell Family Foundation; The Boeing Company; Bainbridge Community Foundation; Paul Allen Foundation, and The Seattle Foundation.
  • Private Family Foundations:Private foundations are often set up by individuals who have money and wish to dedicate it for charitable purposes. Although some corporations also have set up foundations, this area of funding is not from a company or corporation but rather individual families and do not usually entail a grant application process. IslandWood examples: Klorfine Family Foundation and The Ackerley Family Foundation.
  • Special Events: The types of events we’re referring to here are events that the Philanthropy Team manages that raise funds to support IslandWood programs. Special events can raise both funds and friends. They can be effective ways of educating current and future donors about our organization’s vision and mission. They are also an opportunity for Board members to bring in their friends and peers to learn about the organization in a fun way. Individuals and corporations can also contribute by sponsoring or donating in-kind gifts for these events. IslandWood examples: Circle of Friends and Dinner in the Woods.
  • In-kind gifts: Typically are donations of a product or service from a business or individual. Examples would include donations of food for events, donation of printing, discounts and donations on computer hardware or software, etc. In-kind donations are another good way to solicit community support and develop community and corporate relationships. IslandWood examples: REI & Columbia Sportswear Company clothing in our gear room, food served at events, large wood poles in and outside our buildings donated by Port Blakely Tree Farms, and yogurt countertops from a company in Germany.
  • Ways to give
  • Outright gifts and pledges: A direct donation may be made in the following ways:
  • Write a check or use a credit card
  • Monthly giving via credit card; bank transfer or payroll deduction in workplaces that support this mechanism.
  • Give a gift of stock
  • Pledge a gift over a specified period of time
  • Planned Gifts: Planned gifts include a bequest in a will or trust, life income plan, life insurance policies (new or existing), and other deferred gift arrangements.
  • Other gifts: Gifts of real estate, gifts of personal property or retirement fund assets. These are favorable tax treatments available if bequeathed as a charitable gift. Many people will give a car, boat, or tangible gift that they will let the organization sell.
  • Best practices – how do we cultivate future donors?
  • Relationship building. Bottom line, fundraising is about developing relationships with individuals and organization that have a passion for an organizations mission. These relationships are developed and cultivated in a variety of ways over time. Sometimes relationships with important donors require a lengthy “courtship” where they have opportunities to get involved and get to know the organization before they are solicited for a gift. Whenever possible, get a prospective donor on a site tour of your organization, because this allows them to see exactly what you are doing and how you are making a difference in the community. Special events are another vehicle for building awareness about your organization with prospective donors. Although events are never as powerful as site tours, this allows them to learn more about the organization in a fun environment, and often with their other friends.
  • Customer service. Success in fundraising or ANYTHING comes from treating people with the utmost respect, sensitivity, and professionalism. This cannot be emphasized enough. It is proven today that many corporations have prided their success on their customer service. At IslandWood we feel strongly that stellar customer service is paramount to our success and fostering that within our organization is critical.
  • Follow-up. Follow-up is a part of the customer service component and an important part of relationship building. We send donor recognition “thank you” letters with photos and anecdotes about the kids that are affected by their IslandWood experiences. We also send them when someone comes on a site tour or meets with us to learn more about the project. You could also do this if you feel that someone on one of your tours might be good to follow up with. This could be with a thank you, or sending them a flyer to a program you see that they might be interested in. Additionally, it is important that you pass on what you’ve learned with a member of the Philanthropy Team so they are aware of this potential prospect and can help support the proper follow-up.
  • Listening.Listening to prospective donors is the key to successful fundraising. You will learn things about them that will help you connect them to something meaningful in your organization. A donor may provide a “designated gift” that specifies where their money is going and how it will make a difference. Tailoring fundraising opportunities to reflect and understand the interests of potential donors is critical. An example would be funds raised for IslandWood’s Garden Classroom.
  • Keep it up.Know that whomever you come in contact with at IslandWood during a tour, program, or special event – you are touching their lives and representing IslandWood to them. Don’t ever feel that what you are doing isn’t making a difference – because it is! Docents and volunteers are critical to IslandWood’s fundraising success and building community and donor relations takes time. Your role is critical in helping IslandWood get the word out about how it is making a difference in the lives of thousands of children and teachers in Puget Sound.

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Updated 12/19/2018