Beating the odds | Nonprofit organizations drum up funds despite the struggling economy
There is no doubt the worst economy since the 1930s has had an impact on Maine’s nonprofit sector. Even so, some organizations are beating the odds — Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset, Camp Sunshine in Casco, Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance in Montville, Coastal Studies for Girls in Freeport and the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland are among them.
Chewonki Foundation, which runs a summer camp and environmental education programs, completed its largest capital campaign ever this September, raising a total of $11 million in 18 months to ensure long-term stability of the organization. According to President Don Hudson, Chewonki announced its campaign in September 2008, literally the day the market headed south. “We could not have picked a worse week,” he says. The good news was that Chewonki only had $1.5 million of the $11 million remaining, and they had also received an $850,000 matching grant from the Kresge Foundation, which they used to spur additional fundraising.
The bad news was, as Hudson explains, the hardest dollars to acquire are the ones at the end of a campaign. “We started with a commitment from our wealthiest donors, and it was exhilarating. Then, as we neared the end, we knew we needed to get our numbers up.”
To meet the final deadline, Chewonki set participation versus financial goals, and experimented with new fundraising approaches to grab the interest of younger alumni, including an electronic newsletter campaign, online giving and social network tools such as Twitter and Facebook. They emphasized the multi-year pledge, allowing donors to make initial smaller gifts to be followed by larger gifts over the next three to five years.
In addition to extraordinary effort and creativity, Hudson believes the school’s strong relationships with donors and alumni won the day. “We have been focused on walking the walk, and being true to our mission,” says Hudson, who is retiring this year after 20 years as leader of the school.
Stepping up
Like Chewonki, Camp Sunshine, a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses, was in the middle of a $14.5 million capital campaign when the economy tanked. Buoyed by its 25th anniversary, a compelling mission and an ability to raise monies nationally, Camp Sunshine attracted significant corporate support in a year when corporate giving was way down. Gifts included $250,000 from the New Balance Foundation and $275,000 from Tropical Smoothie Cafe.
Matt Hoidal, executive director, says Camp Sunshine also received $500,000 from one private foundation, and experienced a 10% jump in attendance and annual giving. “Doomsday was not guaranteed for all of us,” he says. “If you are optimistic and inspire as many people as possible, it pays off.” When the economy went south, Hoidal curtailed expenses and harnessed volunteers. “There is no doubt that we did see an impact, and had to work hard to fill the gaps,” he says. “We believed in our mission and believed that there were still people out there with money.”
The Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance, with a $50,000 operating budget, is reflective of the majority of Maine’s nonprofit organizations, 70% of which have budgets under $500,000, according to the 2005 census. To date, the organization has conserved 816 acres and it’s seeking to preserve another 410. To help meet this goal, last year, Land for Maine’s Future awarded the land alliance a $244,000, two-to-one matching grant.
Despite the economy, a small population to support its efforts and a deadline of February 2010, the land alliance has successfully raised $479,000. In addition to support from individuals, foundations and the land trust community, SWLA has used its campaign to increase awareness and membership. “We have clawed our way every inch of the way,” says Buck O’Herin, executive director. The organization also hired a consultant with a background in fundraising in that field.
Startups, like smaller organizations, are vulnerable in a bad economy. Coastal Studies for Girls, the country’s first residential science and leadership semester school for 10th-grade girls, is no exception. But despite significant odds, Coastal Studies for Girls will welcome its first class in February 2010. The organization has had to raise $1.3 million in the past two years to renovate a farmhouse, establish its campus at Wolf’s Neck Farm, create a scholarship fund, purchase computers and hire staff.
David Troup, director of marketing at the Farnsworth Museum, says strategic decision-making by the museum’s senior staff last fall led to record-breaking attendance, and an increase in membership and fundraising in 2009. Instead of retreating, the management team invested in an aggressive exhibition schedule, a national marketing campaign and increased community outreach.
In this challenging economy, it seems patience and persistence, loyal volunteers, can-do staff and adherence to inspired visions have managed, at least for these five varied nonprofits, to take the day.
Elizabeth Banwell is director of external affairs for the Maine Association of Nonprofits in Portland. She can be reached at editorial@mainebiz.biz. Read more of Elizabeth’s columns at www.mainebiz.biz.
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