Why Do I Need a Partnership Council?
Actual Stories.
With this training, my council sent our revenue on an annual golf tournament from $27,000 to $165,000 net the first year and then we averaged $250,000 + each year thereafter. We learned how to put together a "partnership council" of leaders who began to solicit major gifts. Now many of these council members are engaged in raising money for a capital campaign.
KS, former cancer organization executive
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After your training, I made 50 ö 60 asks of people I would never have contacted. These were some of the most affluent and influential people in our community. You showed me how easy it could be and I raised over $1 million.
JC, former Vice President, national health research organization
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After Sean became Donor Relations Director at the community environmental group, he asked the Board to choose one of two development approaches: the get-Îem quick, bring in the money now or build relationships and retain donors' method.
"I could have implemented either one, but I know that the latter method is ultimately the more successful one. That's the one they picked." he said. "Since I met Marshall, I've studied his book and attended his workshops and my goal seven months ago, was to establish our own prestigious Partnership Council."
In Sean's own words, here's how he did it!
Our agency completely changed its direction four years ago. We now focus on energy resources and its affect on global warming. Our slogan is "Fossil-Free by 33." In one generation, we want to achieve this goal. Our agency works with everyone from the homeowner who asks about light bulbs to the state Public and Utilities Commission, as well as business owners, architects and contractors.
In the first two years after this change, we funded ourselves. After Al Gore's movie "An Inconvenient Truth" came out, we managed to get a little more attention.
I started by selecting 60 people who had been donors or people we wanted to meet and I invited them to see the new CEC at a breakfast. We had about 25 people join us for the two-hour breakfast and 50% said they would participate. Our Îask' was what I learned from Marshall - 20 hours of their time, plus their talent and leadership.
We now have 15 committed, active leaders who are highly influential in our community and are now holding "eco salons" to introduce more people to our mission.
Already, we've accomplished the following outstanding results:
Two very prominent people joined our board
My salary and that of my assistant was funded from the Community Foundation. After the first year of funding, our caseworker was so impressed with our progress we secured funding for two more years!
What is my Board's reaction? They are pleased because, like so many other agencies, we did not have a Board incubator. Now we do and, through this process, we secured a very prominent contractor and a young woman who is a "green" realtor. We would never have met them without going through Marshall's relationship-centered process and building our Council.
Now, I'm moving onto the next step of finding a campaign and motivating them to stay involved. It's just like Marshall says, keep executing the basics over and over and you will be a master. Stay tuned for more great results!
SF, Donor Relations Director, Santa Barbara, CA
Just wanted to drop you a note and tell you how much I appreciated the training last week in Grand Rapids. I've been in fund development for over 25 years and have done a lot of trainings and consulting through the years, so "ah ha!" moments are rare.
Even though I read your book last spring, Friday's information was transforming. I've never had difficulty connecting with people and have always enjoyed the process, but you have organized the plan into a real recipe and methodology that will give me new focus and direction. I'm not even sure what my first project will be at this point, but I was on the phone with 3 donors today simply chatting and setting up a follow up get together at their homes. By the time that first meeting rolls around, I hope I have my project defined! I just didn't want to wait because I know how the grind of everyday work can cause procrastination and lessen enthusiasm. So I dove in and had a great time doing it! I shared with my staff today as well, and they are also excited.
So thank you very much! I've always been a dreamer and very good at casting vision; now I'm dreaming really big and won't feel guilty about "wasting"
people's time by "connecting." You've given me permission and validation to spend more time building those bridges - which is what I really love to do.
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For More Info:
Why Do I Need a Partnership Council? Actual Stories
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