One of the Most Effective Ways to Acquire Funds for Sustaining and Expanding the Reach

One of the most effective ways to acquire funds for sustaining and expanding the reach of your Flying WILD program is to pursue funding partnerships. Flying Wild City Partner, Tom Clay, Executive Director, and Illinois Audubon Society led us in the important discussion on strategies for Supporting Flying WILD City Partnerships at the Flying WILD City Partner meeting in San Antonio. Here is a summary of Tom’s informative presentation.

1. Tom reminded us that individuals, businesses and organizations support Flying WILD Partnerships for two reasons:

·  They believe in YOU and embrace your programs (individual donations and grant makers)

·  They benefit from YOUR program success (businesses and organizations)

2. Your program can receive program funding from direct and indirect ASKS:

·  When applying and asking for funding be specific:

Partnership donors like to support a specific workshop or activity

Example: One donor paid for the first Facilitator Training including Educator Guides, refreshments and materials

Example: Received grant from an Audubon Society chapter to correlate Educator Guide lessons to the Illinois State Learning Standards and from CEE to correlate FW activities to scout badge requirements

Advertise restricted fund accounts and tax deductible donations

Chicago City Partners advertise Flying WILD restricted fund accounts

Example: Tax deductible donations made for Flying WILD

3. Don’t forget about the Power of In-kind Program Support from Community Connections:

Profile Facilitators:

Nature center naturalists have pre-established community support networks. In most cases, they eliminate workshop overhead and have access to educator networks for program advertising. This is where marketing, outreach and funding merge to really tell the story of your program through the lives and experiences of your facilitators and educators. They are fans of Flying WILD and your organization.

Profile Workshop Participants:

Our goal is trained formal educators. To increase your Partnership fundraising and in-kind support capacity, include volunteer-led activity workshop participants in the goal.

4. Tom suggests you consider these additional community connections as you seek funding partnerships:

•  Audubon Chapters ($$$)

•  Wild Birds Unlimited

•  Retail Outfitters

•  Community Colleges/Universities

•  Ecotourism Outlets (Bald Eagle Weekend)

•  Community Foundations (FW in underserved communities)

•  Utility Companies

•  Conservation/Stewardship Groups (Land Trusts)

We can all benefit from Tom’s thoughtful presentation. Tom’s Power Point will be posted to the new password protected Flying WILD City Partner corner coming soon!

The Chicago City partnership includes the Lincoln Park Zoo, the Environmental Education Association of Illinois and the Illinois Audubon Society. The Partnership has 43 trained facilitators and has six workshops scheduled for 2010. The Partnership has correlated Flying WILD activities to Illinois Learning Standards, and is matching Flying WILD activities to Scout badge requirements. Be sure to visit the Chicago City Partnership Flying WILD website:

http://www.illinoisaudubon.org/NEWFWfiles/Workshop.html

Thanks Tom for leading by example and showing us the power of partnerships!