July 31, 2011 wasn’t designated as a day to collect food for the South Portland Food Cupboard.  But it was the day that I felt compelled to give back to my community.  Something you would think would come quite easily for me since I have spent over 25 years helping non profits through my company, Designs By Lucinda.  There was uneasiness about approaching strangers and asking for a food donation…  How would I be received and what if they said no?   There’s safety in numbers so I decided to recruit my Mother and 2 sisters to join me.  My Mom, has cared for my sister Kim who has been confined to a wheelchair since birth due to Cerebral Palsy and my youngest sister Jane, happens to live on the same street as my Mother so it was a perfect location to go door to door.  The game plan was for Jane and me to approach the homes while Kim, in her electric wheelchair and Mother waited at the end of the driveways.  With my family beside me my nerves were calmed.  The first doorbell was rung and the door opened.  With a warm hello, a brief introduction of my family and an explanation for our calling it was without hesitation that the individual rushed off to their kitchen and returned with an armful of canned goods.  All remaining nervousness vanished and replaced with excitement and pure joy.  Doorbell after doorbell I introduced my family, collected food and laughed with my sisters and Mother as we reminisced growing up on that very street.  As Kim wheeled the box of items from home to home it continued to fill. Not one person said they could not donate.  Even a single Mother searched her cupboards for something she could part with.  As she handed me organic baby food she said that she hoped it would be able to help another Mother with a young child.

At the end of the day I reflected on this entire experience.  What started out as wanting to do a little something for a local food cupboard turned into an overwhelmingly satisfying experience.  I was able to enjoy meaningful time with my family.  I was able to see the faces of the people as they were asked to help and I witnessed that people really do want to help one another and were grateful that we had made it so easy for them to do that.  My original purpose of  providing the Food Cupboard with much needed food was accomplished.  In hindsight, I could have easily gone to the local market to purchase all the items, but I wouldn’t trade my experience for all the convenience in world or anything else for that matter. It was a day full of grace!

Here’s to peanut butter!
Lucinda

Where's the most value? In the boxes or in the people?

I follow Volunteer Match on Twitter.  In one of their recent tweets a link was provided that made me stand up and take notice to ponder that question.

It took me to a study provided by The John Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies. The research determined that volunteers create 400 billion dollars to the world economy!  The study also concluded volunteer work is worth DOUBLE the value of donations and valuables given by individuals, businesses and foundations combined.  Would you ever imagine that a volunteer is more valuable than a donor?   This important research has a downloadable manual available.  Its use is for determining volunteer value for your organization.  Knowing the specifics about volunteer impact will help you encourage public policy that is favorable to volunteer work.  I would love to hear if you have done this kind of evaluation with your organization and your thoughts.
Imagine if volunteers are used for fundraising.  Does that make them worth triple the donation?

Happy Fundraising!
Lucinda

This week we are profiling Lydia’s House based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Lydia’s House has been providing transitional housing to survivors of domestic violence for over 15 years.  The organization was founded in 1995.   A year later, Designs By Lucinda and Lydia’s House established a relationship to help bring to light the number of people affected by domestic violence using our House pins.   Since then they have offered other pins to increase awareness and raise money for their organization including Domestic Violence Ribbons,  Angel Pins,  Inspirational Window Pins , and Cross Pins. In our interview, Debbie Kroeger, financial director of Lydia’s House stated that the pins truly do start conversations.  “They provide the perfect opportunity to share the mission of Lydia’s House.  In fact, individuals in Missouri actually refer to the pins as Lydia’s House Pins”.

The visability that the pins have brought to their organization is certainly a very important benefit.  They have and continue to create awareness about domestic violence along with the help that individuals need to escape from their abusive environment.  Since 1996, Lydia’s House has ordered over 54,000 pins and have raised over $350,000.  The money goes towards housing that can be as long as 2 years depending on the need of the individual.  In addition, they provide education and training for the victims of domestic violence in order for them to develop the skills and confidence to live on their own.

Given Lydia’s House huge success with the pins, we had to ask what methods they use to promote the pins.  Debbie noted that they rely heavily on their large volunteer base which ranges from 35-40 people.  A key component to this relationship is training and being open to each volunteer’s commitment and passion to the cause.  They make it a point to ask about the volunteer’s interest in order to harness their passion.  Many volunteers carry bags of pins in their purse to share with friends and co-workers.  One of the volunteers is responsible for managing the pins at 33 different store locations.  Lydia’s House maximizes all of their human resources from volunteers to board members.  They encourage them to wear a pin to start a conversation and to carry them so that they can take advantage of any opportunity to sell a pin and raise awareness for their organization.  This strategy has worked for 15 years and continues to provide a sizable amount of revenue to the organization.  In fact, they saw an increase in pin sales in 2010 despite of the lull in the overall economy.

In wrapping up our interview, Debbie said “If you are an organization looking to differentiate yourself, the pins will certainly give you the exposure you need.”

Kudos to Lydia’s House!
Lucinda

Please welcome Virginia Tinsley with North Georgia United Methodist Housing & Homeless Council.  We shall refer to them as HHC.

HHC uses Designs By Lucinda pins to raise money and awareness.  Funny how they were turned onto our pins.  A woman by the name of Virginia Tinsley (the Executive Director of HHC) was working for another organization passing out pens and candy to grab the attention of the UMC conference attendees.  The attendees would walk by, grab a few writing gadgets and their chocolate fix for the afternoon.  No real conversation instilled.  That is when Virginia noticed a table engulfed by attendees handing money to the exhibitor.  Yes, the table was covered in Lucinda pins and the attendees of the event couldn’t part with their money fast enough to secure the one of a kind pin that caught their eye.  Virginia left the position she held then and became the director of HHC

Virginia and HHC have sold over 14,000 pins and has raised over $100,000.  HHC first started selling pins back in 1996 to raise enough money to purchase a computer.   Today “pin money” provides grants to help shelters, feeding programs, transitional housing, Habitat for Humanity builds, domestic violence shelters and other services.  The Housing and Homeless Council has given out more than $3.7 million in grants since 1990.  She says, “the real success isn’t the money but the exposure the pins have created for us.” Priceless…

Asked what’s her secret to selling so many pins?  She relies on the help of the churches, volunteers, craft shows at Christmas time and exhibiting at the annual UMC Conference.  She says, “You can’t sell them if you don’t have them” and explains that sticking with the pinl theme of what their Non Profit represents is important but she also must offer occasional variation and add new pin designs to her inventory since they are favorable to her loyal customers who continue to buy pins supporting the HHC ministries.   Smart…  After all, we are a society that expects instant gratification and choices.

It was great to hear about HHC’s positive experience and long lasting commitment to selling Lucinda pins.  We figured that after 15 years of fundraising with our pins, Virginia must have witnessed memorable events.  Many stories revolved around individuals who had made substantial pin purchases.  One gentleman fell in love with our colorful butterfly pins and wanted to buy 30 on the spot.  It showed that even men can’t resist the pins and find them to be the perfect gift for the people near and dear to their hearts.  The other story that really jumped out at us was one of a woman who collected Lucinda pins.  Sadly she had passed away but because of her love for the pins, her family donated the pins back to HHC so that they could continue to raise money and awareness.  It was a sentimental journey about the impact of the pins and how they touch people’s lives.

We asked Virginia about the custom pin Designs By Lucinda created for UMC’s 50th anniversary in recognition of the full rights of clergy women, a huge milestone that was honored by one of a kind artwork.  She told us it was quite successful and they still have a few left of the 2600 pins they acquired.  Then we got a heads up.  They are considering having another new design produced!  Virginia is awesome to work with and we are more than excited about creating a new pin design for HHC.

Looking ahead, we wanted to know what the plans are for 2011.  Coming right up Feb. 27th is Homeless Offering Sunday which is a big fundraiser for HHC.  Virginia also shared concerns about the North Georgia Conference budget funding cuts this year and said she will be relying more on pin sales to help cover operating costs.

Finally, we had to ask “Virginia, how many pins have you sold off your body?”  “Oh I don’t know but I sold one yesterday” was the reply of the woman who has dedicated over 20 years to helping the homeless one day at a time.

Thank you Virginia and God bless.

The loss of a key person in a Non Profit can have a huge impact if the organization is not prepared.  Too many times non profits unexpectedly lose their Pin Lady.  Invariably, the next person to take over knows nothing about the job and doesn’t have the same enthusiasm for the pins as the previous Pin Lady, thus resulting in loss for the Non Profit as fundraising pin sales decline.

Cross training people in an organization lessens the impact of loss until a permanent replacement can be found.

Prospecting for who the next Pin Lady will ensure continued success for your non profit.  Believe it or not, finding that person is easier than you might think because Pin Ladies share some similar characteristics.  First, the Pin Lady LOVES Lucinda pins.  She may very well be your best customer or even that Lucinda Pin Collector.  She probably owns more than 10 Lucinda Pins.  There is a good chance she’s the person who wants to be the first to see the box of new Lucinda Pin arrivals.  Secondly, the potential Pin Lady candidate is a person who enjoys talking to people and socializing.  The future Pin Lady is not afraid to ask others to help if it’s for a good cause.   Most importantly she is committed to your mission. 

Now that you know the attributes of a Pin Lady someone may come to mind right away.  Go with your instincts and approach her with the idea of helping you with the pins.  Something as simple as pinning the pins to the promo cards or attending an event with you where the pins are for sale is a good first introduction.  Invite her into other pin opportunities so she can become familiar with how it all works.  As she is more comfortable ask for her input on ordering pin styles.   I promise, when the time comes that you or your current pin lady transitions, you’ll have a back up person who will be WILLING AND ABLE to help you in a pinch or even better, step in permanently.

Minimize your risk.  Start looking now.  The future of your Pin Revenue depends on it!

Happy Fundraising,
Lucinda

I talk to non profits everyday.  The two most common complaints I hear from them is that too many board members are not actively involved with fundraisng and they need more volunteers.

Since it is National Volunteer week, I decided to do some quick research.  Don’t you just love Google?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics report,  issued 1/26/10 indicates that there were 63.4 million volunteers or 26.8% of the population between 9/08 and 9/09.

Here are some must know characteristics of volunteers that caught my eye.  

1.  The people who were more likely to volunteer have kids under 18 and work fulltime.  This surprised me.  With the current economy the way it is,  I assumed the unemployed would be contributing more time in communities.  This goes back to the old adage.  If you want something done ask someone who’s busy.

2.  Men volunteer more hours per year than women, although less men volunteer than women.  Volunteer placement by gender seems odd, but consideration as to the number of hours required for specific positions might minimize volunteer burnout and maximize volunteer happiness.

3.  Of people who volunteered, 44% did so because they were asked.  This business 101.  “You have to ask for the sale” .

Given this data, would it make sense to qualify board members and volunteers based on the above findings?

This target group is more willing to join and put in the time to get the job done.  Best of all; the only thing you have to do is ask!

Recruiting volunteers and board members that have kids, jobs and are gender specific may yield better results. 
Here’s my question.  What ways can the target audience described be mined?  Would love to hear your ideas.

Lucinda

PS.  If you are one of the 56% of the people who don’t need to be asked to volunteer and want to do so,  the Volunteers of America can help you locate a non profit in your area needing help.  

The Tri for a CURE was this past Sunday.  It’s a triathalon, swim, bike, run race to raise money for the Maine Cancer Foundation.  In the dead of winter on a February night registration opened at exactly midnight.  600 woman registered to race, each for her own reason.  It sold out in less than 30 minutes.  I didn’t get in.  Not necessarily a bad thing since I don’t swim well or even like to run.  So I volunteered instead to help at the first leg of the race, the swim.  I was asked to count the women coming out of the water.  A job I could handle… or so I thought.  I was even given a counter to make it easier.  It was a no brainer assignment and I was left at the shoreline to click my counter as each woman finished the swim and headed for her bike.  The goal was to be sure the same number of women who went in the water came out of the water.  Waves of women went into the Atlantic 30 to 40 a time until all 436 were swimming in the 60 degree ocean.   As they finished the swim and arrived safely back to shore, I cheered enthusiastically and loudly for each and every one of them…. and I clicked away.  That part of the race was done and the women had survived the swim. I checked my counter.  It read 587!  How is that possible?  436 went in right?  Perhaps it was my thumb clicking skills.  In all my emotional excitement had a clicked unknowingly?  Had I clicked for every woman who got out of the water and then clicked again as I realized that her breasts were gone!  Or double clicked  for those wearing pink caps designating a cancer survivor!  2 clicks for the survivors of cancer and the survivors of the Maine cold waters?  There were so many.  Did I count them twice because they deserved it?   I was a witness to woman of unbelievable stamina, commitment, dedication and most of all courage.  Whoever assigned me my first time volunteering job was brilliant.  Because they put me in a position where I could have an emotional connection to the cause the experience compelled me to want to help again next year. 

I know my numbers may not have been spot on but my heart sure was.  I know I shouldn’t give you the take away but I can’t help myself.  If you have a first time volunteer put them close to the heart of the cause and they’ll be a volunteer forever.