You Had Me at Hello! 3 Easy Steps to Increase Your Fundraising

Civil Air Patrol's Newsletter

for Field Fundraising

February 2019

You are receiving this e-mail because you agreed to receive communications from CAP NHQ.

Inside this issue...

3 Easy Steps to Create Interested Donors, We've Issued a Double Dare, Lt. Col. Marlene Johnson - CAP Shares Her Unit Fundraising Secrets & More!

You Had Me at Hello!

Fundraising Starts With Relationships

Funds often flow to your unit because of community relationships established by your fellow Civil Air Patrol members.

Step 1: At a CAP meeting, ask members to take a moment and jot down two people they know in your local Rotary Clubs, Veterans Organizations, Property and Real Estate Management Companies, Fire and Police Stations, Airport Managers, Flying Clubs, City/County Council or other local businesses.

Step 2: Ask members to make a point the next time they see one of the persons listed above to share their most recent CAP success or personal experience and what makes CAP meaningful. (It's also a great answer when anyone says, "what's new with you" to answer with your CAP experience.)

Step 3: It's much easier to inquire about available funding or support, or send a letter of request, to someone who knows the impact of Civil Air Patrol. (Make sure the member with the local relationship is involved in the ask!)

Individuals and businesses give because they see and know about Civil Air Patrol. The more awareness and firsthand knowledge a potential donor has, the more they want to be part of making things better in our communities.

Our greatest opportunity is to include others in what we do.

We Dare You to Look! Warning... It Just Might Cause Double Donations!

You might be surprised to find your unit is qualified to receive money for your member's volunteer hours to CAP.

You can also make it easy for a member, parent, or spouse who works for a matching gift company to have their charitable contributions doubled.

Since October 1, we have received more than $39,000 for Wings and local squadrons. All because someone took a few minutes and made the request.

Add this link https://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/giving/corporate-matching

to your unit website and promote it to your membership!

Click Here Check out the Matching Gift and Volunteer Hour Grant Page

Do you promote matching gift and volunteer hour grants in your squadron or Wing?

Yes - We've Announced It At a Meeting

Select

Yes - We've Added the Link to our Website

Select

Not Yet - But I'll Ask to Add the Link to our Website

Select

Not At This Time

Select

Grants from $250 and up to $5,000

CAP units have successfully received grants up to $5,000.

Get to know your local manager and share about your local unit.

THEN fill out the application.

New calendar year for applications began 15 February 2019

Learn More about the Walmart and Sam's Clubs Community Grant Program

We want to know! Has your unit received a Walmart grant?

Yes - Within the Last 12 Months!

Select

Yes - But It Was A Long Time Ago

Select

Not Yet - But We've Already Applied

Select

We are Thinking About Applying

Select

I'm Not Sure

Select

Local Unit Ideas From You!

Lt. Col. Marlene Johnson - CAP, shares her local unit fundraising ideas this month.

Learn more about how the Kona Composite Squadron on the Big Island of Hawaii does Wreaths Across America.

What is your favorite unit fundraising activity?

My favorite fundraising experience is Wreaths Across America. Kona Composite Squadron has done the event for more than 10 years.

Why is it your favorite fundraiser?

WAA gives cadets a chance to do something great for the community and honor past veterans. The community and the squadron come together for a ceremony one day a year.

How do you measure if you are successful?

Through support of the Mayor’s office and the County Council and our members, as well as various organizations within the community, we are able to cover all of the graves at our local veteran’s cemetery with wreaths. We are also able to memorialize veteran’s graves around the island. The results of the fundraising enable the squadron to send our cadets to Encampment and other Cadet Activities.

What logistical considerations did you have to take into account? i.e. personnel, location, cost, etc.

The Logistical side is receiving all the wreaths and putting together the ceremony. The Squadron members make the time to help receive over 600 wreaths and to get things set up. Everyone supports the arrival and are often on stand-by due to the irregularities of shipping to an island. The WAA handles all the shipping arrangements to locations we designate. The squadron arranges to unload and arrange them for the ceremony. The cadet leadership runs the ceremony with oversight from the senior Cadet Programs Officers (CPOs). The cadets organize the speeches, special guests, color guard preparation, snacks, etc.

Do you have any fundraising lessons learned that you want to share?

Working with one’s County Council or the Mayor of the City brings in the community. Work hard to develop and maintain these relationships by inviting them to attend your open house events, special promotion ceremonies and fly-ins. This gives them the opportunity to see all the awesome things Civil Air Patrol is doing for their community while continuing to connect with them on a personal level.

What recommendations do you have for others who might want to try this?

This is a simple fundraiser. You can sign up via the button below. WAA helps with advertising by providing templates to submit to newspaper/radio/tv outlets. WAA provides the script and everything you need to start the fundraising sale of the wreaths. How big an event you make it is based on how much time and effort you have/want to put into it. Your greatest asset will be the relationships you have established in the community.

>>Note from NHQ Field Fundraising Team - Many units start fundraising for Wreaths Across America in July. Start your plan now for early success!<<