Ace Fundraiser Exceeds Personal Goal-An Inspirational Story

by JenSeaLLC | | 0 comments



Organizations rely heavily on fundraising to help keep programs running, for research to continue on a particular disease, and services to help those in need.  The current state of our economy has made that task all the more difficult. The unemployment rate is at an all time high and people are cutting back on the extras, which includes donations. So how is it that Bob Silipigni raised more then $23,000 for Relay for Life this year, toping last years amount of $19,253?
When I came across this article on the Success Stories page on the Relay for Life website, I was moved by the fact that Bob Silipigni really dedicated his whole heart to raising money for the fight against cancer. His mother had lived thru the loss of a brother and father, both taken by cancer.  Nine years ago, Bob decided to take action and personally make it his mission to raise more money each year to help cancer research.
Bob committed to spending three to five hours a day, seven days a week for three and a half months to raising contributions for the Douglas County Relay for Life.  In the end, 1,410 people made a donation that added up to the $23,000! Impressive when you realize that there was no corporate sponsor, but individuals and families that made up the donor list. So besides the long hours, how did Bob accomplish this feat?
The answer lies in the following statement. Jeanne Klein, one of Bob’s yearly donors, was quoted in the article saying “He gets to know you on a personal level, and he remembers who you are and he remembers what you are interested in.” 
Bob has taken the time to build relationships with people in his community, therefore making it easier each year to ask for the contribution. People know that he cares about them as a person and does not see them as a dollar sign. Bob also has researched where their donations are going and what services have been provided thanks to their contribution. He is knowledgeable about the Relay for Life cause and dedicated to making a lasting impact, not only on cancer research but the lives he touches every day.
An important lesson for us all to take away from this story is that when it comes to fundraising, knowing your organizations cause, goals, and where donations are allocated is crucial. More importantly, by taking the time to build solid relationships with your donor base now, you will assure yourself of continuing contributions in the future!
To read the full story on Bob Silipigni, go to: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/successstories

Jenny Winchell is Co-Founder and CEO for Jensea Solutions, a strategic fundraising firm. She can be reached at Solutions@JenSeaLLC.com and for more information visit www.JenSeaSolutions.com

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Changing the Face of the Nonprofit. Are Alliances the Only Way to Make It?

by JenSeaLLC | | 0 comments



Traditionally, nonprofits have been in competition with each other. With grants being cut and less donations flooding in, the tide is turning. Belts are tightening and ways of staying afloat are turning to the creative like forging alliances with other, either like-minded or complimentary, organizations.
There are whispers in the air of a new nonprofit business model that might be the only option for smaller nonprofits to survive this economic tumult that leverages the strength of strategic alliances among nonprofits. A positive result has come out of our current recession in the US. Non-Profits are coming together for the common good, pooling resources and personnel. Collaboration and sharing on every level from professional services to office supplies, websites and donor databases has been thrown out there to see if it will stick. They are learning to do more with less.
The Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations suggest nonprofits collaborate by pooling resources, offering referrals to other organizations, and coordinating training and education opportunities to save time and, most importantly, money.
There are books to educate nonprofits on creating strategic partnerships in the community and with other organizations like Forging Nonprofit Alliances by Jane Arsenault and Fieldstone Alliance Nonprofit Guide to Forming Alliances by Linda Hoskins and Emil Angelica.
The Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington started holding workshops this year on topics like Nonprofit Mergers, Shared Back Office Admin and Strategic Reconstructing. 
A white paper from AIRS, a professional membership organization that brings people and information together stated that “successful non-profits will shift from sharing ideas to sharing resources and clients.”
In Charlotte, NC there is a proposal on the table to create a central web portal for all nonprofits in the area so donors could easily locate and contribute funds, but some charities are concerned about being lost among the hundreds of other organizations on the site. The idea is in response to a program called Mission Possible that Charlotte is pioneering to find creative solutions to the nonprofit crisis.
So is this a temporary band-aid or the “new normal”? We’re thinking only time will tell. It seems like a no-brainer, but are organizations willing to concede control and market share just to help out their fellow charity? Well in the name of charity, we hope so.
Have a story about how your nonprofit is collaborating to save precious resources? Tell us about it.
Angela Magee is VP of Communications at JenSea Solutions, a strategic fundraising firm and she can be reached at angela@jenseasolutions.com. For more information about JenSea Solutions visit JenSeaSolutions.com.

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Organization Appreciation + Volunteer Motivation = Success for All!

by JenSeaLLC | | 0 comments



Volunteers, if not motivated to work hard and more efficiently with a success plan, will cause a ripple effect within the organization. They may feel unprepared to go out and ask for donations, they may run out of time or wait until the last minute to start their personal campaign; or they may or may not meet their personal goals set forth by the organization. If this happens, then the overall fundraising goal will not be met and volunteer retention falls year after year. 
One solution to the motivation problem is that organizations MUST set volunteers up for success by supplying the appropriate materials and or guidance for a successful event. Not just handing over donation packets and sending them out into the fundraising world without a plan or direction.
Volunteers are motivated when your organization shows appreciation for their hard work and long hours. Reward them for their achievement of reaching his / her goals. Reward them for their participation and make the volunteers feel as if they belong within the organization, not just an outsider. Send out personal thank you notes and or emails. That personal touch will be remembered for years to come.
So what are some ways that you can motivate and appreciate?
Build Relationships
·         Take time to get to know your volunteers personally
·         Host a volunteer soiree to meet and greet your volunteers
·         Assign each volunteer an organization ambassador to go to with questions
·         Introduce them to people your organization has impacted in the community

Over Communicate
·         Make sure your volunteers know your mission and your story
·         Provide literature and resources about any products and events they are selling/promoting
·         Give them tips and tactics for fundraising or working with your organization

Recognize and Reward
·         Write personal thank you notes or send individual emails
·         If holding an event thank often and enthusiastically on the event day
·         Train everyone in your organization to thank volunteers upon introduction
·         Recognize special efforts and those who go above and beyond
Remember honey is sweeter than vinegar and appreciation goes along way.

What are some ways you’ve motivated or showed appreciation to your volunteers? Let us know.
Stacey A Benson is Co-Founder and CFO for JenSea Solutions, a Strategic Fundraising Firm. She can be reached at Solutions@JenSeaSolutions.com and for more information visit www.JenSeaSolutions.com

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Changes for Co-Founder & CFO of JenSea Solutions

by JenSeaLLC | | 1 comments


My name is Stacey Benson, a mother, a wife, a business owner, and a military spouse. Over the past 6 months, I have had some major changes in my life. These changes have been stressful, some scary, and some trying, but I have overcome them all.

I am married to a wonderful man, husband and father, who has been in the US Military since the day I met him, November 5, 2000. He was first in the US Army and working in the Special Operation Command units, but the draw back was that he was ALWAYS deployed. When we got pregnant with out son, Zach, my husband made the life altering decision to switch from the Army, to the USCG in 2005, where he would be home more to watch Zach grow up. When he made this decision, not only did he have to return to boot camp, but his rank dropped from E6 down to E3. Basically, he had to completely restart his military career!

Getting back to my changes, about 7 months ago, my husband come home with a dream sheet with 30 different locations listed all over the US and several Islands. (At this time, we were living on the beautiful Crystal Coast in the Southern Outer Banks of NC.) To say the least... I was scared!!! The locations we had to rank from 1 - 10 were not pretty. Especially for a girl who was born and raised in the beautiful, warm South.

I received a phone call one morning from my husband that he had received his orders, and that we would be moving by the end of May. Destination...... Station Buffalo... right in the middle of the SNOW belt! Now for a southern girl, who hasn't had to deal with the kind of snow that the north gets, thinks this change is completely and utterly nerve-racking!!! I DO NOT DO SNOW!!! AT ALL!!!

So, not only was this change sudden, but it is also VERY stressful for me to deal with!

When we got the news, that we were moving, I had to find a way to tell my very best friends, Jenny and Marcie, who are also military wives. Everyday in NC, I was with one or the other, and sometimes both! We all had a blast together! Marcie, is the one who always keeps you laughing to the point of crying and knows exactly what to say to make you feel better. And Jenny... Jenny is my not only my best friend, but she is also my business partner and CEO of JenSea Solutions.

Now, not only am I living in the middle of the SNOW belt of NY, but I don't have my friends here to share the snow with! Talking about STRESSFUL!! Can you see a southern girl trying to shovel snow, and even worse driving in the snow.... NY YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!!! (LOL)

Leaving NC on May 29th, was one of the hardest days of my life. Not only was I leaving my best friends behind, but also my business (my other baby). JenSea Solutions was about to go through HUGE changes...that I like to call EXPANSION!!!

With the economy in the shape that its in, Jenny and I had to decide how we were going to make our business work. We thought long and hard, and decided to shut down our business and completely restructure our company. We brought two other ladies on board, and created the DREAM TEAM! We work non-stop for 3 months to come up with a plan on how we were going to proceed, and what direction we were going to take. We decided to focus all of our efforts on helping NonProfits Organizations (NPO's.)

Our plan included a way for NPO's to incentivize and reward volunteers and donors. We help NPO's by fostering volunteer retention and donor loyalty with our "gift 2 go" Programs. Needless to say, the success of our new business venture has kept me busy and on my toes.

So I guess moving, hasn't been such a bad things after all. It has lead to meeting new people, making new friends, and expanding and creating a new business adventure.

Here's to the US Military, and to the positive and unknown possibilities that it brings!

written by Stacey Benson, Co-Founder and CFO of JenSea Solutions. I can be reached at Solutions@JenSeaLLC.com and for more information about our fund raising solution programs visit www.JenSeaSolutions.com.

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