|
|
The latest buzz archive. AHM&P Partners attend The Giving Institute Summer Symposium Networking at the Saturday night dinner, from left to right: Holly King; David King, Managing Partner & President, AHM&P; Sarah J. Howard, President, Compton Fundraising Consultants, Ltd. – Canada and Great Britain; Del Martin, Managing Partner & Chairman, AHM&P; Jerry Henry, Partner, AHM&P.
Del Martin gives moving tribute to former AHM&P was proud to join in the honor of Alford, who is a colleague and friend of the Firm. Those participating in the tribute, all Presidents, CEOs or Chairs of fund-raising consulting firms, include from left to right: George Ruotolo, Ruotolo & Associates; John Glier, Grenzebach Glier & Associates; Del Martin, AHM&P; John Biggins, American City Bureau; Jimmie Alford; Michelle Cramer, Hodge Cramer.
AHM&P Chair is Gallery's Featured Artist You really can go home again, and that is what Del Martin, Managing Partner and Chairman of AHM&P is doing in June. She is going home to Dalton, Georgia, and having her first one-woman show. The Creative Arts Guild, where she took her first art lessons, will host the exhibition "Coming Home" and will feature Del's pastel and watercolor painting from her growing catalog of work. Del's "debut" show will feature a wide-variety of subjects: Italian, African and southern landscapes; still-life images and scenes from "the places of her heart." The show opens June 1 with a special artist reception, and will be up for the entire month. Congratulations Del. You really can go home again! For more information, and directions visit the Creative Arts Guild web site here. Artistic Expression a Value to our Clients David King Selected for Artist "Spotlight"
Del's Artwork on Exhibit
AHM&P
Takes Part in National Philanthropy Day
In 2004, he was one of just 35 people worldwide invited to attend the Museum Leadership Institute, a prestigious intensive program organized by New York's Getty Museum. Now Berger is the youngest partner at the nonprofit fund-raising firm of Alexander Haas Martin & Partners, Inc., where he counsels clients that include Savannah's Telfair Museum of Art, Atlanta's Congregation Dor Tamid and the Florida Holocaust Museum in St. Petersburg, FL. He also helped the firm hold a statewide workshop on improving museum fund-raising, membership and development, and he was a founding board member of the Arts Leadership League of Georgia. Berger covers Georgia in his influence on the arts, has a national perspective thanks to his Getty training and really knows how to lead cultural institutions through transitions, said Del Martin, managing partner and chairman of Alexander Haas Martin. "He has a genuine passion for arts and culture and museums, and I believe that shines through when he works with clients," she said.
Client's Case Statement Shines
Look who's talking... Aaron Berger — Partner AHM&P
In the News...
Nonprofits see major increase in fundraising
Fundraising efforts by nonprofits are more ambitious than ever according to Sandy Springs resident David King. "The goals keep getting bigger," King, the managing partner and president of Alexander Haas Martin & Partners, a Buckhead-based consulting firm, said. "Fifteen years ago it was pretty uncommon to see a $100 million campaign, and there are probably 10 of those going in Atlanta right now alone, not to mention the rest of the region." Del Martin, who serves as managing partner and chairman of the firm, said donors are more generous, as well. The Buckhead resident is on the board of the Giving USA Foundation, which has tracked giving on a national and annual basis for the past three decades. "Last year more money was given away than ever before, and the percentage increase has been the largest the last five years, which has been attributed to the tsunamis and hurricanes," she said. According to both Ms. Martin and King, the most important factor in a successful nonprofit fundraising effort is volunteer leadership. "By that we mean board members and the volunteer campaign committee having a commitment and drive for the success of the campaign," Ms. Martin said. King also recommends starting privately. "It's good to get a commitment to get large gifts early in the campaign as opposed to doing a broad-based campaign to start with," he said. "You have to get 50 to 80 percent of the money raised quietly before you launch it publicly, which requires patience." According to Ms. Martin, that is where her firm comes in. "We create a plan for the client to create a campaign, monitor it and help them implement it, she said. Charlie Frew, who serves as president of the board of AID Atlanta, said the firm's extensive experience makes it an asset to any nonprofit. "Their work is timeless," he said. "The principles and methodology they give continues to work." Frew said he has witnessed a shift from government funding to private placement. "The government has been cutting grants so it is incumbent upon the individuals and corporations to pick up the slack, so nonprofits can continue," he said. What Can I Bring ? • Perfect for: Holiday dinner parties. Wild Mushroom Pastries Smoky, savory mushrooms in a simple cream sauce, served over puff pastry, can dress up any meal, but they're a special treat around the holidays. Tester's note: We loved this recipe as-is, but we loved it even more when we increased the cream to 1/2 cup (more sauce) and added 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage with the shallots. 8 frozen puff pastry shells Bake the puff pastry shells according to package directions; remove the tops and set aside. In the meantime, brush the dirt from the mushrooms with a damp paper towel, remove any tough stems (such as on the shiitakes) and slice the mushrooms. In a large sauté pan, heat half the butter and the olive oil over medium-high heat. Arrange the cremini and white mushroom slices in one layer in the pan. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper. Do not lift or move the mushrooms for several minutes, until they have started to shrink and are very fragrant. Check one to make sure it is seared on the bottom, and when it is, flip the mushrooms and cook on the other side until they are golden brown on that side, too. Transfer the cooked mushrooms to a bowl, add the remaining butter and olive oil, and cook the remaining mushrooms in the same fashion. (Shiitake and oyster mushrooms will not take as long to cook as cremini and white mushrooms.) Cook the shallots in the same pan until translucent, about 2 minutes, then deglaze with the Marsala. Stir in the cream, then return the mushrooms to the pan and gently stir them to coat with the sauce. Stir in the parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. To serve, place a cooked pastry shell (top removed) on each plate and fill to overflowing with 1/8 of the mushroom mixture. Per serving: 610 calories (percent of calories from fat, 39), 12 grams protein, 88 grams carbohydrates, 11 grams fiber, 28 grams fat (7 grams saturated), 18 milligrams cholesterol, 135 milligrams sodium. (If you'd like to download a FREE copy of AHM&P Flavorful Results, please click here to go to our publications pages and scroll down the page to view our 2005 and 2006 cookbooks. Please note the above recipe is from the 2006 edition of Flavorful Results.) It’s the most wonderful time of the year for donations For San Luis Obispo County nonprofits, this holiday season could be a good one for giving. The weeks between Thanksgiving and the new year are a high point for such organizations that depend on local businesses and individuals for cash, food, gifts, clothing and other essentials. And this year, agencies say, donors appear to be in a generous mood. "We’ve seen lots of people looking for ways to give money, time and hours,’’ said Charlotte Alexander, executive director of United Way of San Luis Obispo County. "There’s a lot of momentum. We’re seeing more people moving to this county who tend to be wealthier. And they know that if they want the county to continue to be paradise and have the high quality of life that they enjoy, they will have to support people who do not have what they have." While no one knows exactly how much cash or non- monetary contributions the county’s estimated 1,000 nonprofits receive during the holidays, some nonprofits report that nearly half of their donations arrive at this time of year. Elizabeth Steinberg, executive director of the Economic Opportunity Commission of San Luis Obispo County, said the organization receives about 40 percent of its donations from about Nov. 5 through Jan. 5. Last year, the organization brought in more than $72,000 during that period for the Maxine Lewis Shelter, Prado Day Center, senior health screening program and other services offered by the EOC. Donations range from $4 to $2,500, she said. The EOC is counting on just as many contributions this year. "In all of these years, we’ve managed to continue offering services to homeless families, the elderly and children,’’ she said. "We (nonprofits) are a strong-knit community, and we work closely together to refer a donor to an area that they are more connected with." Bountiful gifts The United Way does not raise money specifically for the holidays, but the nonprofit’s Above and Beyond campaign, which lasts from Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, is going strong. The local chapter recently received a $50,000 donation from an anonymous donor, who will match that amount if the agency receives funding from new donors, Alexander said. The agency has already raised about $6,000 toward the $50,000 in matching funds. At the Women’s Shelter of San Luis Obispo, volunteer coordinator Beth Raub said they were able to assemble the 75 Thanksgiving food boxes needed to feed women and children who have fled abusive homes. As well, the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant gave the organization $1,000 to buy turkeys and other food items, she said. "Our donors seem to be coming through for us again,’’ Raub said. "We even had some new groups approach us and do food drives, and some people are sending us checks for Thanksgiving to put in a (Christmas) holiday fund." It’s the same story for the Food Bank Coalition, which was able to supply about 2,000 turkeys and 1,000 hams to agencies that feed the hungry on Thanksgiving Day. One of the organization’s donors, who had previously made a $25,000 commitment to pay for the turkeys and hams, had to back out, said Carl Hansen, executive director of the Food Bank. The Food Bank turned to the public at large to fill in the gap, he said. "People really are reaching out to those in need," said Hansen, noting that the Food Bank already has received 25 percent more cash and food than the previous year. "People understand that spirit of compassion during the holidays. It really is a time of abundance for nonprofits." Hansen added: "Last year, with Hurricane Katrina, we thought people were really going to be donor-fatigued. But they responded to our needs, and we ended the year much better than we thought." Uncertainty for some Kathleen O’Donnell, development officer for the San Luis Obispo County chapter of the American Red Cross, said the organization usually has its biggest gains during the holidays. However, O’Donnell fears that the slowdown in the housing market, global uncertainties and burnout from the Gulf Coast hurricanes in August 2005 and the tsunami of December 2004 may deter people from digging into their pockets for more. "Our direct mail is not hitting its projections like we anticipated,’’ she said. "We’re focusing on a personal approach this year with individual donors." It’s imperative, she said, that people understand how the local chapter is funded. It does not receive funding from the national office, so all of the money used for disasters here at home must be raised in the community. "People don’t realize that we have to raise 100 percent of our budget,’’ she said. Still, the Red Cross is hopeful that longtime, loyal donors will come through. "We’ve had one donor who has issued a call to match her large donation, and we’re hoping to get one or two others,’’ said Grace McIntosh, director of the local chapter. "There are a lot of loyal, smaller donors, and they’re huge to us.’’ Steinberg of the Economic Opportunity Commission acknowledged that it’s often the middle-income households that provide the bulk of nonprofit support. When those families are hurting financially, nonprofits feel it. "It’s the folks with their $50 that are so needed,’’ she said. "That’s who donates to the Prado Day Center and Maxine Lewis shelter. Yes, we’ll have some bigger donors, but the majority of those people who give money to those programs are really doing it $50 at a time." Donor connection The foundation’s yearbook of philanthropy reported in June that Americans gave $260 billion in contributions last year, up 6.1 percent from the previous year. Much of that giving was attributed to donations to assist with the major natural disasters in the U.S. and abroad between December 2004 and October 2005. Figures for 2006 will not be available until next summer. The foundation also does not keep statistics on holiday giving. "Giving tends to increase more when there’s a robust economy,’’ Martin said. "Since nationally we’re looking at a fairly good economy, all expectations are that giving will reflect that at the end of the year." Martin added that donors give most when they "feel it’s something important to give to" and that the money will be used wisely. It’s a nonprofit’s responsibility, she said, to make the case to donors that its cause is worthwhile. "Nonprofits still have to get out there and make a connection with the donor,’’ she said. Smart Giving • Don’t give to a charity you’re unfamiliar with, especially if it solicits you by phone or mail. • Go to the charity’s Web site, if it has one, to get an idea of what the organization does. • Look up the charity’s tax-exempt status. To find the IRS tax filing required of charities, known as 990s, use www.guidestar.org. • If a group is not registered on www.guidestar.org, ask the charity for a copy of the IRS letter confirming its tax-exempt status. A copy of a letter requesting IRS tax-exempt status is not enough, experts say. • For larger charities, the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org or through charitynavigator.com can provide useful information. • Ask for a copy of the group’s annual report, which is often available online. It has information about activities and how the group is governed. Think twice about a group that has significant overlap between staff members and the board. • Look through local philanthropy catalogs, including www.catalogueforphilanthropy.org/dc or www.thecommunityfoundation.org. — The Washington Post Lawrence Journal World – Lawrence, KS - December 18, 2006 Giving rises during the winter holidays because many see the period as a time for sharing, and it’s a time when many nonprofit organizations are soliciting donations, said Del Martin, vice chairman of the Giving USA Foundation. Religious organizations receive 60 percent of household giving, according to a 2006 report from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University. Households donate the second largest amount to people’s basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing and heat. People give because they’re asked, Martin said. “That’s not all it takes, but it does definitely take that,” she said. They also give because they trust the organization, have a connection to the cause, believe in the cause, and want to save, change or improve a life, Martin said. (to read the entire article please click on this link) Atlanta
Business Chronicle - November 24–30, 2006 Pace Academy wants to construct a 23-acre sports complex in Cobb County that would host all of the school's outdoor sports teams. Now officials at Pace, one of Atlanta's oldest private schools, have to find $13M to build it. Based in Buckhead, Pace Academy has 940 students in three schools from elementary to high school. It was founded in 1958. The proposed sports complex includes a 2,600-seat stadium; a full-size track, two multipurpose fields for football, soccer and lacrosse; a full-size baseball field; an indoor practice facility; a 27,000-square-foot fieldhouse and parking for 450 cars. The three-year construction project, on Riverview Road in Smyrna, near Interstate 285, will be part of the largest capital campaign ever organized by the school. The school purchased the property earlier this year. The athletic complex won't be the only part of the fund-raising effort. The campaign will include other, undetermined academic needs for the school, but the focus will be the complex. Private schools typically alternate their fund-raising campaigns between academic and athletic capital projects. David King, managing partner of Alexander Haas Martin & Partners, Inc., compares the process to a swinging pendulum. "Donors want balance at a school," he said. "They don't want emphasis of one thing over another." The fund-raising campaign will be formally launched next fall, coinciding with the completion of the first athletic fields at the site. The project will break ground early next year. Pace Academy will have an easier time raising money for the complex now after the abandoned 2002 project, King said. Parents and other donors might have been hesitant to donate to a construction project six miles from campus if the school hadn't exhausted all local alternatives for construction. "It galvanizes the school's supporters," he said, "and educates their audience on the idea that this really is the best location for these facilities." Atlanta
Business Chronicle - November 10, 2006 Campaign
goals Source: The Westminster Schools The
Tribune - November 26, 2006 Whether it’s close to home or in other parts of the country, giving as a whole has increased in the past 30 to 40 years, said Del Martin, vice chair of the Giving USA Foundation, which has tracked charitable giving in the United States since 1965. "The foundation’s yearbook of philanthropy reported in June that Americans gave $260 billion in contributions last year, up 6.1 percent from the previous year. Much of that giving was attributed to donations to assist with the major natural disasters in the U.S. and abroad between December 2004 and October 2005. Figures for 2006 will not be available until next summer. The foundation also does not keep statistics on holiday giving. "Giving tends to increase more when there’s a robust economy,’’ Martin said. "Since nationally we’re looking at a fairly good economy, all expectations are that giving will reflect that at the end of the year." Martin added that donors give most when they "feel it’s something important to give to" and that the money will be used wisely. It’s a nonprofit’s responsibility, she said, to make the case to donors that its cause is worthwhile. "Nonprofits still have to get out there and make a
connection with the donor,’’ she said. Birmingham
Business Journal - September 29, 2006 "Still, David
King, President and Managing Partner of Alexander
Haas Martin & Partners, an Atlanta-based consulting firm to nonprofits,
said many potential beneficiaries may not yet understand what the change means
for them. 'We've been counseling our clients to get in touch with their constituents
who would be eligible.' King, a past president
of the greater Atlanta chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals,
said his firm has sent details of the legislation out to clients to send on
to targeted donors or through newsletters or other means. Some clients, he
said, already have received calls from donors wishing to accelerate the payoff
rate of pledges made to capital campaigns and other funds using the new vehicle." Atlanta
Business Chronicle – From the September 29 – October
5, 2006 print edition Atlanta
Business Chronicle – From the September 29 – October
5, 2006 print edition "...when major changes happen at large corporations, anxiety
often occurs. During such times, "There tends to be a lot of stress and panic
from nonprofits," said Del Martin, chairman
and managing partner
David H. King, President and Managing Partner of Alexander Haas Martin & Partners, has been selected by AtlantaExecutive.com as the featured executive for August. David, who has been in the fund raising industry for nearly 20 years, shares his insight into the far reaching effects of this industry.Congratulation to David King, Mr. August! Hey, should we be expecting a calendar soon?
Georgians on Panel for Photo Contest From this side of the world, the second-place photo is of two men in the midst of building a home, proudly holding the American flag, with the Washington Monument behind them. Representing the kindness of strangers, the third-place photo captures a young girl in the arms of a Red Cross volunteer. Atlanta judges were Del Martin, Managing Partner and Chairman, Alexander Haas Martin & Partners; Barry Dodd, Senior Graphic Designer, Alexander Haas Martin & Partners; David Lester, Creative Director and President, Lester & Associates; and J. D. Scott, J. D. Scott Photography.
AHM&P Partner, Jerry W. Henry, nominated to join YDS Board of Alumnal Affairs Following graduation from YDS, Henry was ordained in the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church and served Grace Church, North Augusta, SC. In 1983, he was named national executive secretary for The Fellowship of United Methodists in Worship, Music, and other Arts. He became an Episcopalian in 1990 and is a member of the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. Jerry joined Alexander Haas Martin & Partners in 1998. If elected at the annual meeting on October 10, 2006, Jerry will immediately begin a three-year term ending on the date of the annual meeting in October 2009. Congratulations Jerry!
AHM&P
In the News...
June 28, 2006 It's not just the size of Warren Buffett's gift but the fact that he applied the same scrutiny to his largesse as he does to his investments. His example provides a lesson for all of us. When Warren Buffett speaks, the investment world listens. But the Oracle of Omaha's latest pronouncement involved a different type of investment than Wall Street is accustomed to -- one that could change the world. Buffett, the planet's second richest man, announced that he would donate 85% of his fortune -- more than $40 billion worth of Berkshire Hathaway stock (at today's prices) -- to a charity affiliated with the world's richest man, Microsoft's Bill Gates. Buffett designated the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the country's largest foundation, as the primary beneficiary. Buffett's move sets a standard not just for the amount of his largesse but for the way he's giving his money away. "The way he is making his gift is an argument in support of having one's charitable dollars operate as efficiently as possible," says Larry Richman, chair of the private wealth services group at Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP, in Chicago. "It tells people of more modest means to look to the overall efficiency of the organization to which they are giving." Reversing his earlier plan to give away his money after his death, Buffett's gifting plan, the largest commitment in philanthropic history, will begin next month. He has earmarked 10 million shares of Berkshire Hathaway's B shares for the Gates Foundation. He will give away the first installment of 602,500 shares this month and will turn over 5% of the remaining balance each year until his death. Buffett will serve as a trustee of the Gates fund, which focuses on global health and education. The remainder of his philanthropic dollars will go to foundations run by his children and one that he created with his late wife, Susan, who died in 2004. Every bit helps Del Martin, vice-chairwoman of the Giving USA Foundation, doubts that Buffett's gift will inspire average Americans to step up their contributions, as last year's disasters did. But she hopes it will prompt wealthy individuals to think about how they give. "I hope it will inspire people of means to think about giving money to existing organizations rather than setting up their own," Martin says. "We haven't seen this before -- someone giving a large amount to another foundation because they trust in the work." Here are some suggestions to stretch your charitable contributions in a way that would make Buffett proud. And like him, you can enjoy watching the effects of your legacy while you're still around. You also get to lower your tax bill in the process. Donor-advised funds While the specifics of setting up an account vary by sponsor, many of the steps are identical. You donate cash, stock or other assets, such as real estate or art, to a sponsor. Stocks and other noncash donations are then sold and the proceeds are either added to a common pool or placed into the donor's account. In return for the donation (perhaps $10,000 to start, although subsequent donations can be smaller) the donor can direct money to registered charities. Contributing noncash assets to a donor fund cuts a pile of red tape -- especially if the donation includes appreciated assets -- and avoids the capital-gains taxes you would incur if you sold them on your own. Donor-advised funds have advantages over both private foundations and direct contributions to charity, including a bigger tax deduction. You can deduct up to 50% of your adjusted gross income for cash contributions and 30% of AGI for securities or other assets with a donor fund, compared with 30% and 20%, respectively, for donations to a private foundation. In a way, setting up a donor-advised fund is not all that different from Buffett's approach because it lets you park your contributions while you decide how to disburse them. "Donor-advised funds are terrific because they enable people to separate the issues of tax planning and charitable giving," says Richman. "It supports a more thoughtful process about the recipient of your gifts without the time pressure of deciding by the end of the tax year or when a stock you want to donate has appreciated significantly." (Read Knight Kiplinger's recent column on donor-advised funds.) A gift that gives
back Here's how a charitable remainder trust works: You make an irrevocable gift of cash or, ideally, stocks or other appreciated assets, to the trust. You can be your own trustee, so you don't give up control of the assets entirely. You designate an income beneficiary (possibly you and your spouse) to receive the income from the trust. You get an income-tax deduction for the estimated value of the assets that will be left to the charity after your income interest ends. After the death of the last income beneficiary (or at the end of a specified number of years) the charity gets whatever assets remain in the trust. Charitable remainder trusts generally make sense if the assets total $100,000 or more. Do your research A good place to start is the BBB Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org), which is affiliated with the Council of Better Business Bureaus. The Alliance offers free reports on 500 national nonprofit organizations, including most major charities. Each report analyzes the organizations' success in meeting 20 "standards of charity accountability," such as how the charity is run, the share of income that goes to program services and the nonprofit's willingness to disclose information. Another watchdog is Charity Navigator (www.charitynavigator.org), an online service that provides free evaluation of the financial health of 4,700 charities. It looks at financial performance and assigns star ratings -- from zero to four -- on measures such as whether a charity keeps administrative and fundraising costs to a reasonable level and whether it has enough revenue growth and working capital to be stable for the long term. Charity Navigator suggests donors consider only charities that spend at least 65% of their budget on programs and services. The most extensive site is GuideStar (www.guidestar.org), which reviews 1.5 million nonprofits. A basic search, which is free, tells you whether the IRS has approved the charity to accept tax-deductible contributions. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Savannah Morning News by Jenel Few — posted February 13, 2006 Colleges raise funds
and friends Forget fraternity row. The hearty parties on college campuses are administration-sanctioned affairs designed to impress the influential, woo the wealthy and inspire alumni to invest and donate. It takes prestige and generous friends to build endowments. And the bigger the college endowment, the better the faculty, facilities and academic resources. Institutions spend a good deal of time and money hosting events for friends they hope stay involved in campus programs and become lifelong contributors. "Often times the parties are as much for friend-raising as for fund-raising," said David King, president of Alexander Haas Martin & Partners, an Atlanta-based consulting firm specializing in helping colleges secure multi-million dollar corporate gifts. The Savannah College of Art and Design has the friend-raising/fund-raising thing down to a science. A week ago, about 500 people flocked to SCAD's $150 per person/$1,800 per table, black-tie scholarship gala. Last year's event raised $178,946 through corporate sponsorships, ticket sales and a silent auction of donated and faculty produced artwork. Figures are not yet available on how much was raised at the most recent gala, but the amount is expected to exceed last year's total. "Last year it was a white night - everything was draped in white fabric and everyone wore white. This year it was very linear with long tables, beautiful crystal, two-dimensional candelabras and lots of color," said Meredith Repella, director of SCAD events. "It was like sitting at a king's table in a castle." Although Repella oversees hundreds of events and gatherings for the art college each year, she and SCAD Director of Development McLean Hoof spend nine months planning the gala - from the custom-made lighting to online access to the silent auction. Details are essential because the quality of the event reflects the quality of the institution, according to Hoof. And donors want to invest their time and money in something worthwhile. "People know they're supporting something that's not going to disappoint them," she said. When it comes to raising private funds, the only thing as important as the quality of the party is the quality of the guests. There's sure to be someone rich, powerful or talented on the guest list. Showcasing talent The money made from silent auctions or drinks and dinners is only one benefit. Savvy institutions use these events to showcase their talent and programs to corporations and organizations looking to fund programs, build facilities and sponsor research that suit their needs and interests, according to King. "If an institution has a program that is focusing solely on events they're missing out on the pie," King said. For 21 years, the Georgia Southern University Foundation and Statesboro-area political and business leaders have hosted a Wild Game Supper for university friends and supporters featuring expertly prepared south Georgia quail, dove, venison and wild hog. Two weeks ago, guests were wined and dined at the Georgia Railroad Depot in Atlanta. Although it is a non-fund-raising event, people who could greatly benefit the institution, like Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, were among the A-list guests at the invitation-only affair. Having friends and graduates in high places makes fund raising easier. In four years, the University of Georgia's Archway to Excellence campaign has raised $387.3 million toward its eight-year goal of $500 million. Swann Seiler, UGA National Alumni president, said alumni and friends support the institution at high levels because the institution works hard to generate loyalty and affinity. People who want to see their alma matter grow in prestige will give. "I started giving at the $25 level as soon as I graduated and I'm proud to say I increased it significantly over time," she said. "You have to look at it as an honor, a responsibility and a point of pride. It's something we owe because we owe our livelihoods to this university." Late bloomer Smaller institutions, like Armstrong Atlantic State University, have just begun to tap their loyal friends for resources. "The first 65 years of Armstrong's existence, we never did any fund raising," said Leary Bell, vice president for institutional advancement. "The first time we raised any money was five years ago." Fast-paced growth and the need to expand programs and modernize facilities seemed to hit Armstrong at the same time. But state resources are scarce, so the small university is learning to compete for private funds. "We're way behind in this effort, but we're trying to become more of a resource to the community, show our value and make the case that it is in the community's best interest to invest," Bell said. So far, Armstrong's fund-raising efforts have generated about $6 million in private funds for scholarships, training and equipment. When the facilities became too small and outdated, the university's support base formed a properties foundation which borrows money for campus facilities rather than waiting for years on the University System's capital project wish list. "The state is very restrictive on what you can spend money on," Bell said. "That's why this is so important." toldedoblade.com — Article published Sunday, January 1, 2006 Atlanta
Business Chronicle – From the December 2, 2005 print edition Central Atlanta Progress is set to begin trying to raise $4 million to $6 million from Atlanta's corporate and philanthropic community to start a shuttle system that would link downtown tourist attractions, and could one day reach into Buckhead and pass by Zoo Atlanta. The idea, which the downtown booster organization has been discussing since its annual meeting last March, is about to take center stage after being on the back burner while CAP tried to lure the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Though NASCAR officials still haven't said which of five Southern cities will get the nod, CAP officials are preparing to begin a fund-raising campaign to provide a free trolley service. CAP believes it would be a boon to downtown's hotel and convention business, not to mention to tourists, students and commuters. CAP President A.J. Robinson said the trolleys -- which could serve 4,300 passengers daily and 100,000 per month -- could be on the streets by mid- to late 2006 if he gets the funding in place. CAP would like to purchase five trolleys that would loop from the Georgia Aquarium to Peachtree Street down Auburn Avenue to the Martin Luther King Center, then back along Edgewood Avenue to Marietta Street, the CNN Center and Centennial Olympic Park. CAP's "trolleys" would be buses equipped with paneling to look like cable cars, similar to the Georgia Tech Trolley. The proposed downtown trolley is part of a shifting transportation landscape in Atlanta, featuring multiple transportation systems, some private and free, some public and paid. They range from free services like the Georgia Tech Trolley in Midtown, the Greenline at Atlantic Station and "the buc" in Buckhead, to expanded express bus service for fares from suburban counties. City boosters recently have highlighted the Atlanta Streetcar, a proposed train that would run up Peachtree Street and between downtown attractions. Robinson sees CAP's trolley as a way to link different transit options, and to be on the ground years before the proposed Atlanta Streetcar. The trolley system is a short-term alternative, he said. "The worst thing that could happen is that people come to all these new attractions, from the High Museum renovation to the Georgia Aquarium, and they have to get into their car each time to visit the next one. That's not good for anybody," Robinson said. CAP's proposed route up Peachtree Street, a second phase of the program, could easily be replaced by the streetcar once it is built, he added. The idea is a welcome one to downtown hoteliers. "It will fill an immediate need for us to be a tourist destination," said Paul Breslin, former managing director of the Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, which would be about two blocks from the proposed trolley route. "If you go to any other major city, like San Francisco, Denver or in Europe, they have this link, this system that brings it all together for you." A trolley could help Atlanta become a more walkable city if people can rely on a trolley ride when they need it, he said. Raising the millions needed should be doable, especially if CAP can match companies that want exposure downtown to the trolley riders, said Del Martin, managing partner and CEO of fund-raising firm Alexander Haas Martin & Partners. Such companies would include entertainment destinations and restaurants as well as companies that crave consumer visibility. Corporate sponsors could rule the trolleys' visual real estate, with advertising panels reaching potentially millions of eyeballs if the Georgia Aquarium attracts 2 million tourists annually, as estimates have predicted it might. "It seems to me that if you had a safe, attractive, easy-to-use transportation system, companies would also find it attractive [for their message]," Martin said. Getting the shuttle on the road is CAP's highest priority for the coming year. The name for the trolley hasn't been picked yet, though a 1983 study calling for a similar service was named "The Peachtree Streak." Another possible moniker is the DASH, short for Downtown Atlanta Shuttle. But Robinson said he is "waiting for the right sponsor to show up to see if they want naming rights." MARTA also has been discussing adding a new route that would circulate between downtown and Midtown. Although the route hasn't been approved yet, MARTA spokeswoman Joselyn Baker said the target is for a spring launch. She said MARTA could seek public-private subsidies to decrease the $1.75 one-way fare for that route. Baker added that MARTA welcomes the new focus on transportation and doesn't see it as competition. Instead, MARTA is working with CAP and others as they develop alternatives. CAP's Heather Alhadeff, a planner who directs the Downtown Transportation Management Association, has been studying the trolley proposal for months. She said to make it successful, the service should be free and make frequent loops. She said anything that deters people from trying public transportation will reduce ridership. Her goal is for the trolley to have eight-minute "headways," or wait times, between buses, which would operate from 7 a.m. to midnight during the week, with reduced weekend hours. Robinson said federal funding -- like the $4.7 million received by Buckhead's "the buc" -- is hard to come by, and ideally, CAP will raise the funds privately at first. He said he plans to begin making phone calls in January. Atlanta Business Chronicle – From the issue
dated November 25, 2005 Atlanta Business Chronicle – From the issue
dated October 27, 2005 A. The question of whether to "count" products and services in a capital campaign has become an increasingly common one among nonprofit organizations, says Del Martin, a fund-raising consultant in Atlanta who specializes in capital campaigns. To provide an answer to your particular scenario, however, Ms. Martin would like to know why you are raising the money in the first place: "For instance, if part of the campaign goal is to pay for computers and software, then naturally a donation of computers and software would serve the same purpose as cash." If this is the case, she says, you can make an argument to the donor for using those gifts toward the matching requirement. However, if the goal of the campaign is to fund the construction costs for a building, or for growing an endowment, then in-kind gifts such as those you describe would not help. "If you went ahead and matched the gifts in that case, the intent of the lead donor would be subverted, as he or she most likely wanted the gift to help encourage others to give to reach your needed goal," she says. Other organizations have indeed faced similar situations as yours, says Ms. Martin. In fact, she is currently working with a museum that has made the decision to count donated products -- such as concrete, cables, and steel -- in its capital campaign for a new building, because such items will help decrease the amount of cash needed to make the ultimate goal. "In my experience, only those organizations who decide to count in-kind gifts that are what I call 'project budget-relieving' end up in a good position at the end of the campaign," says Ms. Martin. "Organizations that decide to count in-kind gifts despite the fact that they do not meet the campaign's specific objectives, on the other hand, often find themselves short of the cash or pledges needed to fund a project. They end up with a dissatisfied and poorly stewarded challenge donor, and they sometimes end up with in-kind gifts that they have no use for." The Midwest Palliative and Hospice CareCenter, in Glenview, Ill., found that soliciting donated products helped it do better in its nearly completed $17-million capital campaign than it would have otherwise, says Anne Rossiter, senior director of philanthropy at the organization. The USG Corporation, a building-products company in Chicago, donated $21,000 worth of drywall, and Illinois Tool Works, in Glenview, donated two commercial refrigerators worth $5,000, in addition to $200,000 in cash. Because both corporations have separate budgets for cash and donations of products, Ms. Rossiter says, the companies were able to help to a greater extent than if the charity had just solicited cash. For example, she says, "our organization received higher quality refrigerators than our cash budget would have afforded." From the June 24, 2005 print edition of Atlanta
Business Chronicle In 2004, national giving jumped an inflation-adjusted 2.3 percent to $248.52 billion, according to figures from Giving USA 2005, an annual look at the year in philanthropy. Interestingly, tsunami-related gifts accounted for less than half of 1 percent of the total. (However, many of the tsunami gifts will be reported in 2005.) "I think it's indicative [of the fact that] people have been generally feeling more positive about their own financial situation and the economy in general, and I think nonprofits have done a better job of learning to tell their story and tap into people's passions," said Del Martin, CEO of Atlanta-based fund-raising firm Alexander Haas Martin & Partners Inc. and a trustee of the Giving USA Foundation. Although the study did not look at giving trends by state, recent history points to Georgia residents opening their pocketbooks slightly more than in years past. According to the Internal Revenue Service, Southeast residents are the most generous Americans based on the size of their itemized deductions. Religious organizations continued to receive the largest share of contributions, with more than $88 billion, or 35.5 percent of the total. Follow this link to GeorgiaTrend's web site to read the informative article "Tough Times For Nonprofits" which includes comments from Doug Alexander, Chairman of Alexander Haas Martin & Partners, on how Georgia nonprofits are coping. The Chicago Tribune article "Cash-strapped arts groups struggling to attract, keep fundraisers"(by Chris Jones, Tribune arts reporter) includes comments from the Chairman of Alexander Haas Martin & Partners, G. Douglass Alexander. Read
this informative article from Chronicle
of Philanthropy But despite the rise in assets most foundations experienced, almost all of those polled said their giving to charitable groups decreased in 2003. The responses from local foundations reflected a national trend. "Overall, the responses correspond to the results of GuideStar's November 2002 and October 2003 nonprofit economic surveys," said Suzanne E. Coffman, communications director for GuideStar, a Virginia-based nonprofit that gathers and distributes data on more than 850,000 U.S. charities. "Those surveys indicated that 2002 was a lousy year for nonprofits financially, but that things were beginning to improve for many organizations in 2003," Coffman said. Atlanta Business Chronicle surveyed more than 50 independent, community and corporate foundations regarding their assets and giving, including organizations from The Foundation Center of Atlanta's top foundations and Georgia's 25 Largest Independent Foundations from the Chronicle's 2003-2004 Book of Lists. More Grant Money The Community Foundation, which can tie its grant-making to existing economic conditions rather than the previous fiscal year, saw its grants grow from $31 million in 2002 to $38 million in 2003. The North Georgia Community Foundation, another public foundation, also increased its assets and awarded more grant money. The Gainesville-based foundation went from $12.6 million in assets in 2002 to $19.5 million in 2003 -- a $7 million jump -- and presented almost $3.5 million to charities in 2003, compared with $2.5 million in 2002. Now at $21.5 million, assets have continued to increase as individuals and organizations have chosen to use the foundation to fulfill their philanthropic goals, said James E. Mathis Jr., president and CEO. "Our investments grew nicely last year and still are growing," Mathis said, adding all of the foundation's investments are in mutual funds. Other foundations with large boosts to their assets this past year included the Georgia Power Foundation and The Carlos and Marguerite Mason Fund. Georgia Power went from $88 million in 2002 to $101 million in 2003 due to improved stock market conditions, and expects to grow even more in 2004 because of additional corporate funding, while the Mason Fund went from $75.9 million in 2002 to $105 million in 2003, and anticipates an increase in its 2004 donations by about $5 million. The Turner Foundation Inc. -- a private foundation that bases its giving in a particular fiscal year on its income for the previous fiscal year -- experienced the largest drop in assets among the respondents. The foundation went from $30.8 million in 2002 to $19.6 million in 2003 due to ongoing stock market declines, said Devon Finley, the foundation's program officer. "Turner's asset base is controlled by its donor," Finley said. "The foundation's stock has changed little and it is on a static budget for the next two years." Turner's assets are based on 75,000 shares of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE: TWX), previously AOL Time Warner, she said. As a result, the foundation, which typically supports environmental/conservation causes, made no new grants (other than multiyear payouts and some discretionary grants) in 2003, Finley said. Time Warner stock closed June 1 at $17.03 a share, near the high end of its 52-week trading range ($14.66 to $19.30). The Turner Foundation gave $28.3 million to charitable causes in 2002, according to its Form 990 tax return. Finley said the Turner Foundation does expect to begin making new grants again in 2004. Other private foundations that reported 2003 cutbacks in their giving included the Goizueta and Georgia Power foundations. Goizueta's payout percentage dropped from 7 percent in 2002 to 5.5 percent in 2003, said Executive Director Maria Elena Retter; while Georgia Power gave $9.1 million to charitable causes in 2002 and $8 million in 2003 ($5.5 million from the foundation), said spokesperson Valerie Huff. Required to give About 90 percent of the foundation's assets are invested in Coca-Cola stock, which closed June 1 at $51.07 a share. "A private foundation develops its grants program around the results of the stock market," said Charles H. "Pete" McTier, Woodruff's president. "The assets at the end of the year were worth more than at the beginning, but the average values over the course of the year were lower than the average value for the previous year." Coke's stock closed Jan. 2, 2003, at $44.85 a share and ended 2003 at $50.75 a share. "Giving from private foundations, which is subject to the 5 percent payout requirement, is always going to be in relation to the ups and downs of the stock market," McTier said. "When you have down years, then your giving is going to follow that trend. When markets do better, then foundation giving will increase," he said. "We're all hopeful for an improved economy and a rising stock market, from which charity will benefit." However, as dollars from many streams -- primarily government and foundations -- have continued to decline, groups are trying to diversify their funding sources, said Karen Beavor, executive director of the Georgia Center for Nonprofits, an advocacy and training association for the state's nonprofits. "Individuals and earned revenue are two areas that hold the most promise," Beavor said. "More and more groups are moving toward earned-income streams and are seriously delving deeper into strategies to increase individual donors." For example, Georgia Justice Project has a landscaping company that helps its clients and its bottom line, she said. Nationally, a study by The Foundation Center, a New York-based organization that tracks grant-making and reports on trends, supports the Chronicle's findings that although many foundation assets began to profit from the stock market's upturn during the p |
