Summer 2020
A Message from Our President
​A​s the Fall approaches, although times remain uncertain, ​we look forward to a gradual return to normalcy. Many of our clients are beginning to re-focus on their strategic plans and goals for moving forward, while continuing to address the implications of COVID: caring for the sick, providing relief for vulnerable populations, exploring alternative methods for educating young people, and implementing new protocols around cleanliness, safety, and social distancing.

In addition to continuing to work alongside our client partners as they navigate new demands, TAG has been pleased to support emerging initiatives to address pandemic-related challenges and systemic inequalities. We are privileged to be the chosen firm to partner with organizations formed with state leaders to serve people in need: the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) in New Jersey, and 4-CT in Connecticut. In just 5 months, these organizations have had a transformative impact on their respective states, and I encourage you to read more about their incredible stories below.

As always, TAG strives to serve as your resource for fundraising strategies and tools. Whether it's asking for gifts, re-directing campaigns, communicating with existing donors, organizing relief efforts, engaging new donors, and more, we are here to help with informal consultation and services. 

For those working in healthcare, be sure to keep an eye out for two ways you can engage with TAG in the coming months: 1) an informal virtual information sharing session with colleagues on September 24 and 2) at AHP International from October 21 - 23.

Below, you'll find resources including a Giving USA 2020 roundup, and news from a few of our client partners. We trust these tools help you with your own strategies for the remainder of the year. Is there anything you don't see here? Drop us a note and let us know how we can help - we are always looking for new ideas for our newsletter, blog, and more!
 
Please feel free to contact us anytime at (973) 540-1400 or [email protected].
COVID-19 Resources
We’ll continue adding resources and insights to our website to address the challenges of fundraising and communicating during these unprecedented times. Click below to read and download helpful tools.




Client Highlights
Across the country and across industries, our clients are making an immediate and measurable impact on their communities - now more important than ever! Below are just some of the highlights of our clients' good work.
Statewide COVID Relief Efforts Announce Early Success and Impact

TAG is honored to partner with two leading statewide COVID relief funds, the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund (NJPRF) in New Jersey and 4-CT in Connecticut.
Earlier this month, NJPRF, founded by First Lady of New Jersey Tammy Murphy, announced $37.5M raised, with $18M distributed to over 460 nonprofit organizations across the state, and a strategic move to pivot toward strategic partnerships for scalable funding and implementation to fill gaps in areas of need.

In its first sixteen weeks, NJPRF distributed financial relief across all 21 counties of New Jersey, primarily in the areas of food security, healthcare hubs, telemedicine, education assistance, relief for small businesses, and direct cash assistance to immigrants. Moving forward, NJPRF will no longer accept traditional grant requests but rather will approach resource allocation with the goal of creating partnerships for funding and implementation. The Fund will pilot and scale catalytic solutions, filling gaps in service and geography with strategic partners. The fundraising efforts continue unabated as the Fund begins phase two.

TAG has been working with NJPRF since its first weeks of inception to advance fundraising strategy and support the overall effort of the Board and volunteer-driven team.
Launched in April 2020 as a result of conversations with Connecticut Governor Lamont in response to the COVID-19 crisis, 4-CT has been working swiftly to bring together philanthropic families, foundations, corporations, and community organizations to rapidly provide resources to Connecticut residents in need, starting with those most adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The innovative "4-CT card" is a debit card program for vulnerable individuals and families excluded from federal relief programs. 4-CT has distributed over 1,000 prepaid debit cards to those in need already, with a goal of prescribing $1M in 4-CT cards by September 5. In addition, 4-CT has advised over $11M in grants from the nearly $18M pledged and launched StepUP 4-CT, a grassroots initiative which aims to raise an additional $2.5M for the 4-CT card program.

TAG has been working with 4-CT since May to develop fundraising strategy, build infrastructure, and share the mission with key prospects.
Gurwin Raises Funds, Advocates for Nursing Home Industry

TAG has partnered with the Gurwin Healthcare System and provided interim leadership for its Foundation throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While facing significant financial challenges, the Gurwin Jewish Healthcare Foundation has raised over $420,000 in support through monetary and in-kind gifts from friends, Board and family members and the business community for their COVID-19 Relief Fund.
Gurwin’s President and CEO, Stuart Almer, has made it his mission to be a vocal and visible advocate for the nursing home industry, which has been particularly hard-hit by the pandemic. Over the course of April and May, he was contacted by reporters from more than 30 mainstream media outlets and worked to put the resident-impact numbers in context, to support and applaud his staff, and to plea with elected leaders for help. The interviews continue and he is working now to help the industry going forward to both recover from the initial crisis and to be prepared should there be a second wave in the Fall.
Brookgreen Gardens named one of the "9 wildest, weirdest and most spectacular outdoor art experiences in the U.S." by CNN

Spanning 9,127 acres in the South Carolina lowcountry, Brookgreen Gardens is home to a zoo, museum, galleries, and a 250-acre botanical garden displaying more than 2,000 pieces created by 425 artists. This outdoor cultural experience has been a welcome opportunity for many this summer, with the chance to bask in creativity and beauty with social distancing measures in place. In the photo above, Bruce Munro's "Field of Light,'' showcases 11,700 stems of light in softly moving colors that cover the Arboretum at Brookgreen Gardens.

TAG has been working with Brookgreen Gardens for two years to raise money for their Campaign for the Next Generation that enhances all aspects of the garden's mission, including art, history, South Carolina native animal preservation, and horticulture.
Fordham Prep Launches Student-Managed Investment Fund as Part of Economics Curriculum

Many colleges and universities sponsor Student-Managed Investment Funds within their business curriculum. However, it's quite unusual to see a program where high school students control a small portion of their school's endowment. Recently, The Journal News highlighted a similar venture started at Fordham Prep. Prep students are managing a $100,000 portfolio, learning investment strategies and skills, as they consider pursuing careers in finance. The program launched this spring, just before the school transitioned to virtual learning in the wake of COVID-19. The S&P 500 had fallen from almost 3400 to 2409, but from the very start, the young investors came to understand the stock market’s volatility and risk. The S&P 500 enjoyed a rapid rebound though April and May and the students earned 25% in profit for the school. The Fund will remain fully invested in index funds throughout the Summer and Fall, while next year’s Honors Economics students are trained on how to invest it wisely. In December, it will reopen for students to begin trading.
L+M Healthcare Welcomes Christine Meola as Vice President of Development

After a national search led by The Angeletti Group, L+M Healthcare has named Christine M. Meola to serve as Vice President of Development for L+M Healthcare, a member of Yale New Haven Health, that includes Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, Westerly Hospital, the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut, and other ambulatory services throughout the region.

In this new regional role, Meola will provide strategic direction, leadership, and daily management to the staff of the Lawrence + Memorial Hospital Development Office and the Westerly Hospital Foundation. She will be responsible for the development and fundraising activities of both hospitals, including direct response, major and planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, events and donor relations. Meola is an accomplished leader and seasoned fundraiser with extensive experience in both higher education and health care. Read More.
Announcements
New and Renewed Partnerships
The Angeletti Group is proud to announce new partnerships and projects with the following organizations:

4-CT; Connecticut
Hopkins School; New Haven, CT*
Kingswood Oxford School; West Hartford, CT
Mercy Health Services; Baltimore, MD
Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children; Tinton Falls, NJ
The Pennington School; Pennington, NJ
Saint Michael's College; Colchester, VT*
WE CAN; Harwich Port, MA

*expanded projects with existing or previous TAG clients
Presentations and Webinars
The Angeletti Group offers insights, resources, and training with conference presentations, webinars, digital resources, and more!

Finding Your Footing During Fast-Paced Healthcare Consolidation and Systemization
October 21-23, 2020
AHP International (Virtual Conference)

Twenty years ago, dozens or more fiercely independent hospitals served any given region; today, with hospital consolidation, a few systems dominate most markets. Keeping up with the rapidly changing healthcare landscape is difficult enough, but how do you navigate when the storm descends on you? Fluid physician relationships, new administrative structures, uncertain capital investment plans...and perhaps even a CDO with responsibility across many states! What do all of these changes mean for philanthropy--and for your position?

Jay Angeletti will moderate a panel of healthcare fundraising professionals which includes Clelia Biamonti, PhD, Executive Director of Overlook Foundation at Atlantic Health System; Bill Littlejohn, Senior Vice President & CEO of Sharp HealthCare Foundation; and Kevin Walsh, Vice President of Yale New Haven Health. Drawing on their deep experience, the panel will discuss:

  • Communicating structural change with your donors and prospects
  • How to capitalize on synergies across the system while maintaining local identity
  • The effects of consolidation and systematization on naming and recognition--and how to plan for it
  • The role of key administrators in fundraising, from the system CEO to individual hospital administrators
Healthcare Fundraising Information Sharing Session
September 24, 2020

TAG has been discussing the evolving crisis with our client partners and friends throughout the last five months. Join us for the next generation of the COVID conversation. We'll be hosting an interactive ZOOM meeting for our client partners and colleagues in the healthcare industry to share plans and goals for moving forward. Keep an eye out for your inbox for an opportunity to come together to hear from your peers as you develop your own plans.
Partner Highlight: AFP-NJ's Whitley Lecture
September 17, 2020 (Virtual Event)

AFP-NJ's annual Whitley Lecture is one month away! Join Alice Ferris, CFRE, ACFRE and Jim Anderson, CFRE of GoalBusters Consulting, LLC, who will lead a robust conversation about Managing Change when Humans are Involved. Accept the challenge that is change, register today and advance your abilities!
New from Our Blog
Going the Distance: Hosting Fundraising Events with Social Distancing In Mind

As states determine the recreational activities and services that can re-open, as well as new measures for safely doing so, fundraisers across the country are asking themselves the same question: what does this mean for my fundraising event? TAG talked with Tara Knapp, Vice President of Development, Public Relations and Marketing at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, whose office organized a socially distanced golf outing fundraiser in June.
Deep Dive:
Giving USA 2020

It may feel irrelevant to review last year’s fundraising data when we consider all that has happened in the first half of this year. However, a look back at 2019—the strongest year of charitable giving yet—is germane as fundraisers consider multi-year trends to plan for moving forward and adapting to the current uncertainties. TAG believes philanthropy as an institution will persevere and continue to play an important role—especially in serving those in need.
Planned Giving:
A Tactful Approach

Many people have approached us for advice about asking for gifts, including planned gifts, which may be particularly sensitive in these times. Senior consultant Greer Polansky answers the most commonly asked questions about planned giving and COVID.



Fundraising During the COVID-19 Crisis

There is no question that this represents a period of significant change for our country. To that extent and through conversations that we’ve had with colleagues and clients, the most common theme that has transcended all other is that of responsibility and compassion. TAG outlines key actions to plan for the new normal.
Opportunities
Bonnie Brae - Director of Development
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