Feeling badly

[Peggy Law]

So I just got back from the airport- I took my friends to Dulles. I was able to get through the weekend because they were here but now I am really frustrated and sad about the whole graduation thing.

One idea is to send the video(s) out to our mailing list for a virtual graduation. If you think its a good idea, perhaps I can write a message to accompany it.

I was glad to hear of the $5K from the Breeden Foundation. Now we have $45K more to go...

Ideas and thoughts?

P.

[Rachel Potter]

I thought the plan was to reschedule graduation.  Is there now consideration of a virtual event only?  Hmm.  I think it will be harder to do an effective "ask" virtually rather than in person.  Or, are you thinking something virtual to supplement a rescheduled event?

Rachel

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "SDVBoard" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to sdvboard+u...@googlegroups.com.
To post to this group, send email to sdvb...@googlegroups.com.
Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sdvboard.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.

--

Dr. Rachel S. Potter, BCBA-D
Director, Graduate Teacher Education Program

Mary Baldwin College

PO Box 1500, Staunton, VA 24402

Edmondson House (221 N. Market St., Staunton, VA 24401)
540-887-7134 - office

540-887-7303 - fax

rpo...@mbc.edu

Please "like" the Graduate Teacher Education Program on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MaryBaldwinCollegeGTE

[Peggy Law]

Yes, the plan is to reschedule graduation but it won’t occur before next year and most likely in the spring, lest we have a repeat of Sunday, weather wise. So any hope of raising some much needed funds by the end of the year from graduation is not going to happen. What I was wondering is if there is some way to reduce the loss and recoup some of the giving we might have had.
Peggy

on 12/9/13 3:44 PM, Rachel Potter at rpo...@mbc.edu wrote:

[Jessica McCoy]

Historically, I don't think that graduation has really brought in much money (correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like most money came in from people who *couldn't* attend, right? Not people who gave at the event).  Based on history, making the $45K up from graduation alone seemed a bit like a long shot.

If re-scheduling the graduation isn't going to work, then a virtual graduation or "year-in-review" isn't a bad idea. We could put the slide show up on YouTube, and include a link to it.

However, I was thinking that maybe it would be better for SDV to shift graduation to the spring, when graduation is more traditionally on people's minds, and it would tie in closer with the end of the fiscal year, rather than the calendar year.

Then the year-end appeal could be a bit more of a traditional year-end appeal, and it wouldn't conflict so much with holiday scheduling (or the New Year rebound).

Jessica

  

Jessica McCoy

136 Goodman St., Apt. A

Charlottesville, VA  22902

+1 202 657 4307 or jessicamccoy - Skype In number/SkypeID
+1 434 906 6079 - mobile

+1 434 282 2762 - home

[Peggy Law]

Graduation specifically did not yield big donations but the month of December always has. I have thought that graduation was part of the impetus for that giving even though the checks were not handed in that day. Moot point now, it will be held in the spring. I guess we will see if we still have a good month or not.
P.

on 12/9/13 3:58 PM, Jessica McCoy at jessica....@gmail.com wrote:

[Maupin Christy]

I'm totally on board with Jessica re: reasons behind an annual spring graduation instead - especially if that is the end of the fiscal year.

That said... a year-in-review online couldn't hurt (I loved the email from Lauren... I had no idea about such things)  and may possibly drum up some ruff-cuts and/or volunteer interest.  I have about a million thoughts swirling in my mind on how to spin this to our advantage.  Development is still meeting next Monday, correct?  5pm?

[Jessica McCoy]

Yes, development meeting is next Monday.

I'm sure that the graduation was a motivating reason to give for people in the past, whether or not they attended, but most people give because they are asked and feel connected to the mission. I doubt that a lot of people said to themselves "hey, I can't make it to graduation, so that's why I'm giving."  It was still connection to the mission that mattered.

The invitation for graduation is not really a direct ask, so it might be that SDV would do better having a year-end appeal with a heart-tugging ask and a heart-tugging spring graduation ceremony.  

It would be nice to do some sort of in-person thing in the fall, perhaps before the holidays get rolling. We may not be ready for a big gala fundraiser, but some kind of reception might be nice.  

Jessica

Jessica McCoy

136 Goodman St., Apt. A

Charlottesville, VA  22902

+1 202 657 4307 or jessicamccoy - Skype In number/SkypeID
+1 434 906 6079 - mobile

+1 434 282 2762 - home

[Shannon Wilson]

Our fiscal year is the calendar year. We'll be closing the books on 2013 within the first few weeks of January 2014 after I'm sure I have everything for '13 in QB.  

I don't know of the top of my head how much or how many but it seems like we're getting a good response to the graduation invitation/yr end mailing. However, it did come very quickly on the heels of the sponsorship mailing and I think we need to be cognizant of donor fatigue. 

I do know that some of the people who mailed a check in response to the invitation were also planning to attend, but far more people simply sent donations. 

Maybe we can tie a spring graduation event in with the spring appeal mailing and have that as the annual campaign. One reason the grad invite worked well as dual year end appeal was the savings realized on not having to do separate mailings. 

To be honest though, I look at all of the mailings as annual campaigns since we do them every year: Spring Appeal, Sponsor A Service Dog (fall appeal), and Grad/Year End. They're typically spaced apart in such a way that we're not irking the shit out of people by begging for money (see donor fatigue) and we send eblasts in between that keep people informed on what we're doing -- although this doesn't really happen on a set schedule, nor is there a specific "ask" in the eblasts. I *do* sort of crack the whip on getting the dog sponsorship updates out in a timely fashion because that's part of the deal. 

If we're going to be developing a new marketing & events calendar, then this is a good a time as any to do so, I suppose, otherwise I'll print one for 2014 based on 2013 (which is based on the one Stacey created in 2011). 

Shannon 

Sent from my iPhone

On Dec 9, 2013, at 4:33 PM, Kyle Bollmeier <ky...@servicedogsva.org> wrote:

Peggy-

I think the people that planned on giving in December/Graduation will still give.  Jennie Sue Minor and the Breeden Family Foundation is maybe a good example.  I think the opportunity lost was getting new donors and getting more people on board with our mission but we can do that other ways as well and even if it is with the delayed graduation this spring.

K

On 12/9/13 4:06 PM, "Peggy Law" <peggy...@gmail.com> wrote:

Graduation specifically did not yield big donations but the month of December always has. I have thought that graduation was part of the impetus for that giving even though the checks were not handed in that day. Moot point now, it will be held in the spring. I guess we will see if we still have a good month or not.
P.

on 12/9/13 3:58 PM, Jessica McCoy at jessica....@gmail.com wrote:

Historically, I don't think that graduation has really brought in much money (correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like most money came in from people who *couldn't* attend, right? Not people who gave at the event).  Based on history, making the $45K up from graduation alone seemed a bit like a long shot.

If re-scheduling the graduation isn't going to work, then a virtual graduation or "year-in-review" isn't a bad idea. We could put the slide show up on YouTube, and include a link to it.

However, I was thinking that maybe it would be better for SDV to shift graduation to the spring, when graduation is more traditionally on people's minds, and it would tie in closer with the end of the fiscal year, rather than the calendar year.

Then the year-end appeal could be a bit more of a traditional year-end appeal, and it wouldn't conflict so much with holiday scheduling (or the New Year rebound).

Jessica

  

Jessica McCoy
136 Goodman St., Apt. A
Charlottesville, VA  22902

+1 202 657 4307 or jessicamccoy - Skype In number/SkypeID
+1 434 906 6079 - mobile
+1 434 282 2762 - home


On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 3:44 PM, Rachel Potter <rpo...@mbc.edu> wrote:

I thought the plan was to reschedule graduation.  Is there now consideration of a virtual event only?  Hmm.  I think it will be harder to do an effective "ask" virtually rather than in person.  Or, are you thinking something virtual to supplement a rescheduled event?
Rachel


On Mon, Dec 9, 2013 at 3:40 PM, Peggy Law <pegg...@servicedogsva.org> wrote:

So I just got back from the airport- I took my friends to Dulles. I was able to get through the weekend because they were here but now I am really frustrated and sad about the whole graduation thing.

One idea is to send the video(s) out to our mailing list for a virtual graduation. If you think its a good idea, perhaps I can write a message to accompany it.

I was glad to hear of the $5K from the Breeden Foundation. Now we have $45K more to go...

Ideas and thoughts?

P.

 
Kyle Bollmeier
ky...@servicedogsva.org
434.466.3688
<image.png>

[Shannon Wilson]

Another thought on graduation as fundraiser..... It was my understanding that there was to be a concerted effort to make this year's event more of a fundraiser through the efforts of the board interacting directly with attendees & making personal appeals, a direct ask by Rachel during her closing remarks, and remit envelopes included in every program. 

We haven't really had that level of focus in the past (at least not the 2 grad events I've been to), especially with board participation (other than being in attendance), so I think we're heading in the right direction, no matter what time of year the event is held. 

Shannon E. Wilson

Office Administrator

Service Dogs of Virginia

PO Box 408

Charlottesville, VA 22902

www.servicedogsva.org

[Linda Morris]

Having to cancel graduation was a definite let down and very frustrating. For me, in the whole scheme of real life, this is just a bump in the road. It's my feeling that here is no replacement for having the graduation in person. Maybe spring would be a better time so we don't run into weather issues in the future.  I do think an additional 'year in review' video is a great idea.  Kyle... would you mind to send me a link to Bruce's video?  I agree with Shannon that it's important to spread the 'asks' out.  We could possibly have an annual spring graduation, an annual end of summer/fall event(we would need to brainstorm) and an annual video in December.