Keeping it All in the Family…
More and more nonprofits have come to the realization that if you can’t count on your family who can you count on? Through social networking, electronic or otherwise, many charities are finding new ways to connect with core audiences.
Parkinson Society Canada’s Family Fund is a fantastic example of a nonprofit that is both getting into the “social networking” game and also building a group of leadership supporters drawn from their family & friends. The brainchild of a long-time Parkinson’s volunteer, the “Parkinson’s Society Canada Family Fund’ has been created to provide Family members of those affected by Parkinson’s a way to pool their dollars to help support the Society’s work towards finding a cure.
Together members' dollars will help build a pooled fund of $3 Million. Families are asked to contribute to the fund to collectively help it grow.
The program is being introduced to “family” members using a multi-faceted, integrated approach that includes: highly personalized mail, phone, online and face-to-face visits.
Through the mail, a personalized invitation package will be sent to prospective members. The Manager, Major & Planned Giving will then be following up with personal calls.
Feedback from a recent donor whose siblings pooled their funds to donate several thousand dollars to the fund, says it all,
“This was the best way for my sister, brother and I to really make a difference for our dad who has Parkinson’s.”
Isn’t that what our philanthropic work is all about?
