Indianapolis Bar Foundation
Founded in 1968 No annual fund drive until Annual Fund Goal: $264,500 One full-time staff member to plan fundraising events Shares Executive Director and Accountant with Bar Association 31 member Board of Directors
Outreach effort to encourage current year donors within 20% or less of the next giving level to make an additional donation before year end (20 days away) The listing of donors by giving level is published in our legal newspaper, so an additional donation gains greater recognition among their peers. Giving levels: Harrison Circle ($5,000 and up) President’s Circle ($2,500 to $4,999) Barrister’s Circle ($1,000 to $2,499) Benefactor’s Circle ($500 to $999) Patron’s Circle ($250 to $499) Friend’s Circle ($100 to $249)
Raise Foundation visibility Add $11,600 to the annual fund Reach dollar goal within fifteen business days Invest no more than five staff hours
IBF staffer created contact list 443 individuals (Final 2011 donor total was 1,433) Pulled information from E-Tapestry database Determination of those to be contacted was subjective based on staff awareness of willingness to give IBF staffer drafted to send to donors needing to contribute $50 or less Recruited five volunteers from Foundation’s board to make phone calls to those needing to contribute more than $50
sent from the Foundation Executive Director’s account (Sample text in the handout)
Volunteers were provided the listing of donors eligible for outreach to identify those they felt comfortable contacting Volunteers bid through reply all on those they wished to contact Small group of volunteers made this quick and efficient Assignments were confirmed by staff via Volunteers received suggested script/talking points, tracking sheets and blank thank you cards for follow up (Samples in handouts) Donors were contacted by phone
Raised $12, in five business days Reminder: Goal was $11,600 in fifteen days Increased donor level in 13% of donors Ultimately, exceeded annual fund goal by 5.4%
IBF staffer updated volunteers daily on contributions received to inform and encourage them All volunteers were provided with the total number of dollars raised at the end of the appeal Special notice sent to entire board acknowledging volunteers