Has anyone thought of this?

[Extremepredjudice]

Why don't NCSAs, encampments, and the like get sponsors. Let's use example inc (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN EXAMPLE.) as an example.

Why don't we make it, instead of National Emergency Services Academy, (I AM USING THE NESA AS AN EXAMPLE. IT CAN APPLY TO OTHER THINGS.) it is "Example's National Emergency Services Academy. Maybe we could increase the budget, and they get advertising!

Or instead of FLWG Winter Encampment, (PLEASE NOTE IT CAN BE SUMMER, FALL, WINTER, OR SPRING ENCAMPENT, ALSO IT CAN BE ANY WING) it could be FLWG and example's winter encampment.

Next thought: why don't CAP sites use ads? It could make money!
PLEASE NOTE I DON'T BELIEVE THAT CAP IS ALL ABOUT WEBSITES.

Before someone asks, the caps are cause I am tired of people thinking I think one thing. Nothing else. Here comes people raging over that last statement. 

[lordmonar]

Why don't we?  Because we don't have a full time marketing and fund rasing team at CAP NHQ.

We already do partner up with a number of organisations that foot a lot of the bill for some of our NCSA's....for example the Manufactuer and Maintenance NCSA is sponsored by Cessna.

The USAF sponsors all of the Fam Courses......which are pretty much free execpt room and board.

I am sure that if you could find a sponsor for the other others.....then I would not have a problem with the idea of going to the "Home Deport National Emergency Services Academy".

[Extremepredjudice]

Couldn't we hire someone on commission?

[lordmonar]

Couldn't we hire someone on commission?

Sure.....got about $100K+ for his salary?  That's the going rate for a good Fundraiser these days.

[Darkside1]

Dude, chill out.  People on the internet are going to pick stuff apart. Don't sweat it.

You're coming off a little intense at the moment.

[Extremepredjudice]

Couldn't we hire someone on commission?

Sure.....got about $100K+ for his salary?  That's the going rate for a good Fundraiser these days.

If he bring in enough money, the 100k is more than worth it. It might be tight the first year, but after that..

Besides I know people that do fundraising part time. And we could still try at least a little to get some sponsors. If they say no, who cares? Can't hurt.


Anyway, any feedback on squadron sites using advertising?

Darkside, I believe what I write. People picking it apart is good, it lets you know if you are a crackpot or a genius. Besides, in my opinion this isn't my most intense war debate with other people of this forum.

[lordmonar]

Oh....I agree with you.

I think that CAP ought to HIRE it's national, regional and wing commanders.....and one of their jobs would be to raise the money to pay their salary and fund CAP.

As for Squadron level advertising and sponsorship.......there is a reg on that and certain limintations....but it most certainly can be done.

[Extremepredjudice]

So if wing, regional and nat'l commanders are fundraising who will be doing CAP stuff? To get "professional fundraisers" we will have to look outside of CAP. not inside.

Which means we'll have 60 fundraisers (50 state, 9 regions, 1 nat'l) and nothing higher than group commanders.

Like you said, a good fundraiser is going to cost more than 100k. Hypothetically they all make the same, that is 6000k. Not really the sorta cash CAP has.

Maybe a progressive hiring of say 9 fundraisers? Hire one, than have him fundraise enough for 1 guys sqalary, hire another, etc. Then we'll have one per region. That sounds better than 60 fundraisers.

[FW]

There should be no problem getting sponsors to help pay for many of our non AF supported cadet activities and, having a full time team at NHQ or, with the CAP Foundation, deal with it is the proper way to go.  However, last time we hired one, we ended up sponsoring a NASCAR Busch League Car.  We all know how that ended...

[lordmonar]

So if wing, regional and nat'l commanders are fundraising who will be doing CAP stuff? To get "professional fundraisers" we will have to look outside of CAP. not inside.

Which means we'll have 60 fundraisers (50 state, 9 regions, 1 nat'l) and nothing higher than group commanders.

Like you said, a good fundraiser is going to cost more than 100k. Hypothetically they all make the same, that is 6000k. Not really the sorta cash CAP has.

Maybe a progressive hiring of say 9 fundraisers? Hire one, than have him fundraise enough for 1 guys sqalary, hire another, etc. Then we'll have one per region. That sounds better than 60 fundraisers.

That was more or less how I spelled it out.  Start at NHQ and move down over a 3-4 year period.
As far as how is doing CAP stuff.....they do both.

[Pylon]

Couldn't we hire someone on commission?

Just FYI, it's unethical (and explicitly against the code of ethics of the Association of Fundraising Professionals) for advancement professionals to work on any commission or percentage-based compensation.  (Link. Item #21.)

[bassque]

Personally, I think interns would be best here at the National or Wing level.  Non-paid Internships with non-profits show pretty well on resumes for young professionals to prove themselves not only to our command/management for referrals but also other hiring managers.  I worked for a number of non-profits trying to fund raise (mostly Art Fairs and such) and those interns were highly utilized and extremely valuable!  And they can "work from home."  Might be something worth checking into.  My only question is if the commanders of the activity have enough bandwidth to add one more oversight.

[jimmydeanno]

In most non-profits, the board is the primary fundraising source for the institution they represent.  The fact that our corporate officers cost the organization more than they bring in is pathetic.  Wing CC's should be fundraising, that is "cap stuff."  Plus, wings have a full staff.  I find that wing commanders get too far into the weeds anyway, and should probably be looking at different stuff anyway.

[Pylon]

Who is going to set the strategy, determine the best fundraising tactics and approaches, build the campaigns, and manage the interns?  Certainly we wouldn't entrust that level of responsibility to college students with little to no real world work experience.  Interns are a great resource, but to function well they need the guidance of experienced professionals.


Development/Advancement/Fundraising is an area that Civil Air Patrol severely lacks when compared to our peer non-profit agencies.  However, it's not an area that is best left to amateurs.  The complexities of fundraising coupled with its potential to damage sensitive relationships (you can't just send an intern to cold call the CEO at Cessna and ask for a half-million dollar major gift) if not handled properly mean it's something that is best handled by experienced fundraisers.  You won't find any major, national non-profit who leaves its fundraising efforts entirely unto unskilled interns or volunteer help.


It seems like an easy solution to say "Hey, we'll just fundraise and that will solve our problems!"  In reality, fundraising does have great, great potential to help Civil Air Patrol in the long-term.  But it's a long-term solution that needs to be approached with industry best-practices, not a quick fix.

[RADIOMAN015]

So if wing, regional and nat'l commanders are fundraising who will be doing CAP stuff? To get "professional fundraisers" we will have to look outside of CAP. not inside.

Maybe a progressive hiring of say 9 fundraisers? Hire one, than have him fundraise enough for 1 guys sqalary, hire another, etc. Then we'll have one per region. That sounds better than 60 fundraisers.

Why don't we start out with one, perhaps even a part timer at National    Somehow I don't think overall companies have a great interest in donating large amounts of money to Civil Air Patrol at the national level.

Lets face it if you looked at CAP's "consolidated", audited financial statements you'd be wondering where all that money was really being spent, especially with the lack of foot notes that point out without a doubt that squadrons for the most part are on their own for funding what they want to do at the local level.   Also there's certain other programs that don't get much AF funding, but that is buried in this consolidation.  Perhaps what really needs to be done is to add a percentage (in parenthesis) expense/program columns that shows what is NOT funded by the government grants, but by CAP members and other non government contributions.   The financial statements definitely need to show what programs we "self fund" (if in fact there's any we really do).  Perhaps a simple separate expanded footnote exhibit could be formulated.

Also the potential risk of having a fund raiser chief at National (which I think has already been approved by the BOG) is at the local level we could see ourselves at the unit level getting further restricted from approaching certain large retail chains IF CAP decides that they want to attempt to get funding for a larger program from the same source.  Likely you can bet there will be more reporting required when we get donations, since that staffer's going to have to get a feel of what is going on in the various wings as far as donations.    My personal feeling is "in kind" donations locally will be more successful.   Also, I'd like to see more "friends of XXX Squadron" formed to do the fund raising and keep the money (and even in kind donations) out of CAP wing banker program's /CAP Inc's logistics reach.   
RM       

[Eclipse]

, I'd like to see more "friends of XXX Squadron" formed to do the fund raising and keep the money (and even in kind donations) out of CAP wing banker program's /CAP Inc's logistics reach.   

Why?  There are zero issues with WBP in this regard, and there is absolutely no need for unit-level foundations.

[a2capt]

Just call the Doors Foundation, and accept their offer... ;-)

[LGM30GMCC]

I don't know if they use the same one over and over...

But I seem to recall most everyone thought that wasn't the best idea. 

[jimmydeanno]

That's because most people are afraid of changing the status quo.  Afterall, a proposal like that would eliminate people's fiefdoms they've built, highlight their weaknesses, and show us the shortcomings we've had as an organization for the last 70 years. When you really think about it, it's really people's personal objections to the proposal than any significant part of it that just wouldn't "work."

[Ed Bos]

I'm curious to know why isn't every wing in their local CFC as a "state-wide charity."

Nebraska and Alaska are the only Wings I know of that are involved in federated fundraising, and only because I'm a professional fundraiser assisting Alaska Wing in this way. In addition, I've only seen the NatCap Wing involved in the CFC as an independent agency.

I would recommend Wing Commanders take a hard look at alternative means of raising money that already exist, and that they can affiliate with, rather than CAP hiring an individual or group to work solely for the corporation. That seems like a good place to start, even considering my obvious biases.