Welcome to Seacoastonline.com Get
Started
Subscribe Today. See our Special Offers.
Current Print Subscribers, activate your
online access.
Log In | Register | Subscribe
1 of 3 premium clicks used this month
Search Seacoastonline.com
27°
Forecast | Radar
Tuesday December 14, 2010
Home
News
Print this Article
Article
Your Paper
Business
Entertainment
Living
Sports
Obituaries
PORTSMOUTH — When Martha Cunningham arrived in 2007 as
development director for Families First Health & Support Center,
few could have anticipated the severity of the economic downturn
that unfolded beginning in late 2008.
"During the economic crisis, every single funding source that a
typical nonprofit relies on was getting blindsided," Cunningham
said. "Portfolios for individuals declined and many foundations had
to reduce funding because their portfolios also declined. There
were cuts in government funding while our demand for services
increased. It really was a perfect storm."
Real Estate
Classifieds
A
Nonprofits defying a downed economy
news@seacoastonline.com
November 29, 2010 2:00 AM
Autos
Text Size: A | A |
Email this
Organizations leverage new revenue in recession
By Michael McCord
Jobs
Advertisement
TODAY'S MOST VIEWED ARTICLES
McKinnon's grocery store, butcher
coming to city - 12/14/2010
Anthem declares impasse with
Exeter Hospital - 12/14/2010
Kisses for helping a doggie in
distress - 12/14/2010
Hunters face fines, license loss 12/13/2010
Kittery approves TIF districts 12/14/2010
ID thief flew from Calif. to steal
Two years later, it didn't turn out to be a fatal storm for local
from Newington bank, say police organizations that depend increasingly on individual donations,
12/13/2010
such as Families First, which functions as the region's all-purpose
community health center. Families First changed part of its fund-raising focus to target major donors
through a more robust development effort, intense networking and initiatives such as challenge grants.
Monetary and in-kind service donations now make up as much as 27 percent of the almost $4.4 million
annual budget for Families First, up from 24 percent in 2008-09, to fill a necessary budget hole as demand
for services increased. According to the past two annual reports, Families First — which served almost
4,200 people from the region during the reporting year that ended June 30 — had a more than $105,000
increase in monetary donations from 2008-09 to 2009-10, from $875,295 to $981,750.
This came during a time, according to the Boston College Center on Wealth and Philanthropy, when
overall household charitable giving was down 5 percent nationally in 2009 to $217.3 billion from 2008. And
in New Hampshire, according to IRS data compiled by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation,
itemized household charitable giving went from $3,405 in 2007 to $2,800 in 2008, a drop of almost 23
percent.
"Overall, the amount of giving does follow the economy," said Katie Merrow, program director at the NHCF.
In a 2010 survey, Merrow said, about half the state's nonprofits expected donations to stay the same,
about one quarter expect them to decrease and the remaining quarter expect an increase in donations.
She said the economic crisis forced nonprofits to rethink how they did business and many are poised to
take advantage of an economic rebound.
"There's no doubt that the economy has led to a increase in the demand of services while budgets were
being cut or stretched to the limit," Merrow said. "But there has still been a lot of charitable giving and
many donors want to strategically use their donations to get maximum effect."
Getting the most bang for the buck for Families First, Cunningham said, was done in part by tapping into
the fundamental goodwill on the Seacoast among major donors. In particular, challenge grants are effective
because they offer the ability, for example, to double the impact of a donor's dollar by matching it.
SeacoastOnline.com
DEAL OF THE WEEK
$50 OFF Your First Treatment!
At Pinewood Medical LaserIV Sedation
Available...
Pinewood Medical Laser
"In the world of nonprofits, it's not unusual to make a decision to look at major gifts to enhance revenue
streams," Cunningham said. "On the one hand, it's looking for people who have the capacity to give, but
more importantly, they have the desire to give to an organization that is vital for the well-being of the entire
community."
115 DEALS ONLINE TODAY
Martha Stone, development director at Cross Roads House in Portsmouth, said major gifts and challenge
grants were important in raising more than $4 million for the capital campaign for a new building that
opened last November to house the homeless.
Yoga in the Iyengar Tradition
"We were unique in that we had the major capital campaign over three years while doing our annual fundraising," said Stone, who was hired seven years ago to prepare for the capital campaign that is charged
with raising $5 million, to include a second phase of construction next year. One important ingredient was
that Cross Roads House, founded in 1982, had a foundation and reputation for good work that Stone said
made raising money "in this incredible community" if not easier than certainly more feasible.
Seacoast Rejuvenation Center
MORE >>
90 minute Private Yoga Instruction for $65!
Yoga in the Iyengar Tradition
First Class Free
Save $50 on Botox and Dysport While
Supplies Last
Weekend special offer: $1 off per person
Children's Museum Of NH
FREE SMALL COFFEE!!!
Pannaway Cafe and Restaurant
With the crucial holiday and end-of-year charitable giving season kicking off, Stone said the challenge
continues to be raising necessary donations every year to cover two-thirds of the annual $1 million
operating budget. Stone said the goal is to keep in contact with its existing donor base and expand it
further with a greater emphasis on communication that explains the shelter's needs and how it benefits the
community.
Cunningham said the number of major donors to Families First rose dramatically from 40 donors giving
$1,000 or more to 130 giving $1,000 or more. "We learned that donors are inspired when they see
someone in the community issue a challenge," Cunningham said.
The Schleyer family of Rye Beach was one of those challenge donors at the $25,000 level. Mary Schleyer
is also on the Families First development committee, after having had a 20-year affiliation with Berwick
Academy as a volunteer and trustee, including three years as board president. She said when she talks to
donors, they want to know how to best leverage their dollars, and challenge grants are a beneficial avenue
to that end.
"I know there is less expendable income and that decisions have become harder. They want to give to
organizations that will make a difference," said Schleyer, who has donated to or been involved with
Families First for five years. "With challenge grants, you know every dollar you give leads to two dollars,
and that's enticing for some donors."
Schleyer said her goals when meeting potential donors isn't an immediate solicitation, but a chance to
educate and communicate the mission of Families First. "What I do is tell them how passionate we are and
how the mission of Families First has stayed true to client needs," she said.
Another goal is to make fund-raising dollars go further. Merrow said nonprofits are leveraging the
expertise, enthusiasm and networking capabilities of volunteers more than ever. Cunningham said the
active engagement of the volunteer board and development committee helped create a large return on
investment and cut individual fund-raising costs to around 1 percent.
Donna Ryan, a local restaurant owner and developer, is co-chairperson of the development committee of
Families First and has been very involved with the organization. She said the successful fund-raising
efforts over the past two challenging years speaks volumes about the community. She engages in much
word-of-mouth sharing with families, friends and businesses she works with to raise money and
awareness.
"In this community, people realize the important role that Families First plays," Ryan said. "They can also
relate to having good health for themselves and their family."
Pannaway Cafe and Restaurant
$75 off any new Laser hair removal
package!
New Freedom Laser
Get $2 off any Peat Incense product
Celtic Crossing
Lunch Specials Starting at $6.95
Shalimar India Restaurant
20%
Join us
OFF
on any
weekly
of our
discoveries
award-winning
as we visitbigand sample
machine
movies! and put them in the Limelight.
local businesses
Little Hardhats
First Name
Last Name
FREE BENJAMIN MOORE PAINT SAMPLE!
Email Address
Coastal
Living Paint & Hardware
Ceremony and Reception Packages for
LOCAL Occassion
REVIEW
Weddings and Special
Celebrations!
PortVictoria
City Plumbing
The
Inn Bed & Breakfast and
Port-city Plumbing & Heating does not work
Pavilion
for any building contractors. The comment
below isbybyMaine
someDesigner
low... Michael Good
Jewelry
more
posted on 12/6/2010
Springer's
Jewelers
20% Off One Item in the Shop
Celtic Crossing
off & Jobs
New20%
Careers
Liv Well Salon
SPECIALTY PRACTICE is looking for a
PORTSMOUTH,
NH Confidential
$50 OFF Your
First Treatment!
Pinewood Medical Laser
AUTO/FLAT GLASS Installer wanted to
NORTH HAMPTON, NH GLASS PRO
$1 Oysters
WIRELESS
SALES CONSULTANT
SandersRETAIL
Fish Market
PORTSMOUTH, New Hampshire All Wireless
FREE LUNCH - Buy One Lunch, Get One
More jobs
Free!!
Pannaway Cafe and Restaurant
FREE GALLON OF PAINT
Apple Painting & Restoration, LLC
Mosquito & Tick Spraying
Reader Reaction
Echo
4 Items
Boot Hill Farm
Admin
Hot Properties
50% off any hair service
Double
Take Hair Studio
$428,000
$1,200,000
Staff Hunters
SeacoastOnline Article: Nonprofits defying a downed economy http://t.co/uGYx5HE
November 29, 2010, 11:51:33 AM EST – Flag
via Twitter
Families First
Families First wins generous financial support from individuals & businesses even in this
economy (Ports Herald): http://ow.ly/3gQ5M
November 29, 2010, 10:18:52 AM EST – Flag
via Twitter
Jenny Henry
Nonprofits defying a downed economy http://bit.ly/fPZ1Ht #nonprofit
November 29, 2010, 4:57:55 AM EST – Flag
Rye, NH
The Gove Group Real
Estate, LLC
More Details ...
Featured Cars
via Twitter
Nonprofit News
#nonprofit Nonprofits defying a downed economy - Seacoastonline.com: Nonprofits defying a
downed economySeacoast... http://bit.ly/fDIm9W
November 29, 2010, 4:36:44 AM EST – Flag
via Twitter
We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the
Community Rules. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the
Flag link next to the offending comment. New comments are only accepted for two weeks from the date of publication.
Ads by Google
Brentwood, NH
The Gove Group Real
Estate, LLC
More Details ...
$30,690
$19,905
2010 Ford Fusion
Hybrid
2011 Honda Civic
Prime Ford, LincolnMercury & Mazda
Prime Honda North
Chevy's Giving More
Chevrolet is Lending a Helping Hand In Your
Area. Find Out How Here.
www.Facebook.com/ChevyInYourArea
Ads by Google
Print this Article
Donate Car For Charity
2010 Full Tax Deduction + Free Trip Donate by
Dec.31, Free, Fast, Easy
See's Candy Fundraiser
Signing Up for Fundraisers with See's is Fast &
Easy - Start Now!
Email this Article
Sign Up for Text Alerts
CarsForKids.org/Donate-Car
Luxury Rehab & Detox
Integrated Holistic & Cutting Edge Luxury
Rehab. Non 12-Step Victory
www.fr.sees.com/fundraiser
Free Stimulus Grant Guide
Want Uncle Sam Pay For College? Get Your
Federal Grants & School Guide!
Sign Up for News by Email
PassagesMalibu.com
Edu.SearchByDegree.com/Grants
Free Personal Grants
Get Free Gov Funding To Get Education, Pay
Bills & More!
Car Donation to Charity
Get Maximum Car Tax Deduction! Free, Fast
Towing - Running or Not.
USFinancialHelpCenter.com
www.CarsForWishes.org
1-800-CHARITY-CARS
America's Top Auto Donation Program
100%Non-Profit. Seen on GMA-NBC-CBS
800CharityCars.org
Site index
Full index
Marketplace
Classifieds
Jobs
Cars
Real Estate
Hotels
Place an ad
Local search
Interact
Blogs
RSS Feeds
Rate/Review
Feedback
Submit a letter
to the editor
News
Local
Maine
National/World
Opinion
Columnists
Police Logs
Weather
Obituaries
Multimedia
Photos
Videos
User Submitted
Photos
Submit a Photo
Publications
Portsmouth
Herald
Exeter NewsLetter
Hampton Union
York County
Coast Star
York Weekly
Spotlight
Services
Subscriptions
Email Alerts
TextAlerts
Mobile News
NIE
Your Town
Eliot
Exeter
Greenland
Hampton
Kennebunk
Kennebunkport
Kittery Point
Newmarket
Ogunquit
Portsmouth
Rye
Seabrook
Stratham
Wells
York
More Towns
Copyright © 2010 Seacoast Media Group, a subsidiary of Dow Jones Local Media Group. All Rights Reserved.
Lifestyle
Health
Home &
Garden
Family
Parenting
Celebrations
Religion
Columns
Sports
High School
Youth Sports
Sports Blogs
Columns
Golf Guide
Entertainment
Movies
Music
Books
Food/Dining
TV
Bands
Lottery
Calendar
Columns
Follow Us
Social Networks
Special
Reports
Ice Storm 2008
Election 2008
Veteran's Day
USS New
Hampshire
Business
Local
Names & Faces
New Business
Mortgage Rates
Columns
Terms of Use | Copyright | Privacy Policy | Site Map | Contact | Advertise