by Lora Dow

Last month, at the YMCA Camp Fundraising Symposium, Jon Simons and I had a fascinating conversation with Darren, a volunteer from YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow, located near San Antonio, Texas.

We asked Darren how he got involved in the Y and he explained that his daughter first attended camp a few years ago.  Neither he nor his wife had ever been campers and his daughter was in middle school when she first asked to join her friends at Camp Flaming Arrow.

When Darren and his wife dropped off his daughter, they weren’t quite sure what to expect.  They certainly hoped that she would have a good time and come home safely at the end of the week.  The result was so much more.

After picking up their daughter at the end of camp, they experienced what most camper parents experience: the non-stop chatter of a kid who just had a life-changing week. Darren noted that he was especially impressed by the fact that she wasn’t just talking about activities, but something more meaningful.  He was struck by how many times she said, “I learned…” and “I discovered I could…” and “It made me think about…”

Her enthusiasm rubbed off on her little brothers and soon all three children were Flaming Arrow Campers.

Not too long after that, the camp staff asked Darren to volunteer.  They explained about the camp’s annual campaign and how it helps to ensure that all kids can come to camp, regardless of their parents’ financial situation.

YMCA Camp Flaming Arrow

As Darren considered volunteering, he remembered that day in the car, bursting with pride as he listened to his daughter talk about her week at camp.  He wanted to give other parents that same experience:  that knowledge that you’ve given your child a wonderful, life-changing gift.  Knowing how many families are struggling to make ends meet, he volunteers so that fewer parents will have to disappoint their children and take camp off the list for summer.

I’ve talked to volunteers so many times about why they give of their time and talents.  Darren’s story was a new one to me and gave me a whole new appreciation for the importance of annual campaigns.  Thank you Darren, for inspiring Jon and I, and for all the parents who will have a great ride back from camp listening to their excited children thanks to you!

By Sara Luke

While de-Christmas-ifying the house, my husband and I decided to rearrange the living room.  With the tree out of the way, we surveyed the room and decided that our limited space only allowed us a few options, but it would be fun to do it anyway.

So while the kids napped, we shoved furniture around, rewired the cable, and dusted areas that hadn’t been touched in…well…awhile.  When we were done, we sat on the couch (now facing West instead of North) and agreed it looked good!  It was strange how invigorating it felt.  Just that little bit of change made me want to clean, organize, and re-organize the whole house.  And when the kids woke up, it was like they were in a brand-new house with brand-new toys and LOTS of brand-new space to run in circles and go crazy.

We so often get stuck in the rut of our days, weeks and years, simply going through the motions and doing the same things the same way.  The fundraising event with the same performers, same script, same location.  The same end-of-the campaign speech to motivate volunteers and staff.  The same appeal letters.  Same.  Same.  Same.

No wonder it’s tough to get motivated sometimes.  And if you aren’t enthused, it’s pretty tough to inspire your volunteers and donors.

You know the saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”  Well, forget that.  Break it. Break it just so you can put it back together in a new way.

It’s a fresh year, full of possibilities and opportunities to do things a new way.  While it can be tempting to dust off the old file and do things the same way because you’re busy and just need to get it done, it’s so often worth it to take a little extra time to do it a new way.

Now go break some stuff!

By Bruce Berglund

Recently one of my clients asked me to produce a short list of lessons learned in 2011.  I’m sure there are more to add to the list, but these were the principles that leapt to mind for me.  Some of them I knew before, but everything I saw last year just reinforced how important they are.

As we begin another year of connecting mission to program and purpose, consider these lessons for 2012:

• Leadership is everything.

• Major gifts matter.

• Speed dating doesn’t work in fundraising.  Strong relationships take time.

• People don’t give money because they should.  People give money because they’ve been asked.

• Individuals contribute approximately 90% of all philanthropic capital gifts.

• Donors give to exciting and audacious dreams.

• No organization will rise above the strength and commitment of its board.

What else would you add to the list?