New Fundraising Facts for Chairites
Virtual fundraisers cost less and reap more donations
The pandemic hit and the non-profits suffering the most were those that shut down fundraising efforts. The charities that simply changed to a virtual course learned that yes, there are people desperately in need of services but there are also those who want desperately to help. And that group has proved the spirit of generosity and caring is stronger than ever.
Virtual fundraising isn’t for the inexperienced but if you have an expert leading your efforts, you can see results similar to the following three online organizations that I helped see donations rise while costs fell.
The Friendship Circle of Miami didn’t cancel its Walkathon, scheduled for March, it went virtual and while getting more attention and more publicity than ever, raising $177,587 to serve children with special needs.
The Breakthrough Collaborative, a national organization with a thriving Miami affiliate, used a platform I introduced to both raise funds nationally while uniting their affiliates in various cities to concentrate on local efforts. New partnerships, innovation, excitement, a supercharged board helped raise $184,090 for students in need.
Give Back for Special Equestrians is a small but powerful group that’s got volunteers, a love of horses, a belief in their mission and absolutely no staff. I helped them launch a new online fundraising campaign that worked by reaching out to a small group of supporters and leveraging social media. In only 5 weeks they will surpass their $30,000 goal – by far their biggest year yet.
Yes, in the midst of this mess, people are responding to good causes and trying to make an impact on our world. We don’t know exactly how the new normal will look but we know it will include online fundraising.
For over 30 years, Rolando Damian Rodriguez has been leading fundraising campaigns and creating new revenue streams for humanitarian causes. He has created, launched and managed dozens of innovative programs and generated millions in new revenue. He is an expert at developing fundraising Foundations to help non-profit organizations expand their revenue exponentially through major gifts fundraising and the recruitment of high-caliber board leadership.
In 2012, Rolando launched The Crosspoint Group to provide board development, strategic planning and fundraising support for South Florida charities. He also designed international healthcare business development programs in Latin America, South Florida and throughout the United States.
His career has included:
President and CEO of the Jackson Memorial Foundation, where he established the most successful public hospital foundation in the country, raising over $200 million for programs such as Jackson’s Ryder Trauma Center and Holtz Children’s Hospital.
Founder of the International Kids Fund, leading global fundraising programs that raised millions to provide life-saving care to seriously ill children from all over the world.
Founding Executive Director of the Catholic Health Foundation, working with Msgr. Bryan Walsh, who organized Operation “Pedro Pan”, to create and fund new health programs for the Archdiocese of Miami, including Catholic Hospice, St. Anne’s Nursing Center, and Genesis, one of the nation’s first living facilities for people with AIDS.
Consulting with Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Miami Foundation where he helped recruit a prestigious Board of Directors, developed new grant programs and launched membership groups leading to consistent double-digit fundraising growth. And, helping to launch the Plaza Health Network Foundation in Miami, dedicated to raising funds for the largest elderly care nursing network in South Florida.
Rolando is a proven leader in strategic planning, board training, branding and public relations, as well as a skilled writer and speaker. He has volunteered and chaired various committees, events and programs for local civic organizations as well as having served as President of the Miami Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), as well as on the National AFP Foundation board of directors.
