In classic “lemons into lemonade” fashion, Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy executive director Renee Carey is turning a tight budget into an opportunity. “The board is paying more attention to finances than they have in the past,” said Renee. “I’m thrilled that they are stepping up to the plate. More importantly, we’re discussing fundraising and their role in a way that’s not been possible in the past. This will make a big difference for us in the long term.” 

 

In Maryland, Bob Parks, executive director of the Chester River Association, had a slightly different dilemma. The board had historically played a strong role in fundraising, but stepped back some after hiring Bob (a yeoman fundraiser in his own right!) three years ago. Bob asked ICL to lead a discussion about the organization’s finances and fundraising with the board. The “pep talk” worked, and board members got the message to redouble their fundraising efforts.

 

“Board members are coming up with lots of names,” reported Bob. “And I’m confident that with their help we’ll reach our goal of $100,000 from existing and new major donors.”

 

Back in March Sudha Iyer, vice president for finance and administration, and John Carno, vice president for development, of New Jersey Audubon attended one of ICL’s “Managing in Hard Times” workshops. “The Managing in Hard Times workshop has helped us stay on top of things,” said Sudha. “In the face of adversity, we are taking steps that help us address short-term needs and will make us stronger in the long-term.” Those steps include board members hosting “friendraisers” at their homes, the finance and executive committees reviewing financial reports monthly rather than quarterly, and getting an early jump on preparing next year’s budget.

 

Mary Felley, executive director of Countryside Conservancy in Pennsylvania, attended “Managing in Hard Times” with one of her board members. Their board decided that now is not the time to cut back on the organization’s work. 

 

“I’m really pleased that the board understands that our program, and the staffing to deliver it, is not something we can cut back on,” Mary said. “We are now making a big push to contact lapsed donors and our board members are adding personal notes to many of the letters.”

 

Many organizations are becoming creative with tried and true activities that keep them close to their donors. House parties with a local foods theme, moonlit walks or river trips, and “singles” night volunteer events are just a few of the ways groups are putting their own spin on traditional activities. For tips on organizing house parties, check out this article.

 

Send ICL your “Staying Positive” story and we’ll share it with others. If we use it in a future issue, we’ll send you a print copy of Managing in Hard Times.