Full Transcript for Ep. 11 - Giving Circles: Multiplying Donor Impact with Alison Levin & Gay Prescott

journey into fundraising, I actually was in the advertising world, and um our ad agency gave back to the community. 00:02:43.199 --> 00:02:53.439 And so I got to be a part of fundraisers in that way, um, really in a different light, but toward the end, we got to where we really helped them with some of their fundraising. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:03:00.800 So I got to be a part of the first Ronald McDonald house in Jackson, Mississippi, which was fabulous and just a great experience. 00:03:00.960 --> 00:03:04.879 And that probably put me on my best path. 00:03:05.599 --> 00:03:13.120 When I moved here, I uh went to that agency and decided it was time for me to do something different. 00:03:13.439 --> 00:03:24.479 And so I took a part-time job really to get to know Northwest Arkansas and figure out um Fayetteville, Arkansas in comparison to Jackson, Mississippi and to meet people. 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:43.439 And through that, I met Bill Rogers at the Washington Regional Foundation and um came to work for the foundation to lead the cancer support home there, and it changed my life, and I've been a part of fundraising ever since. 00:03:43.680 --> 00:03:45.039 It changed our lives too. 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:47.280 It changed the lives of our community. 00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:48.000 That's right. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:53.360 Okay, tell us a little bit about Hope Cancer Resources Foundation and what you're doing there. 00:03:53.599 --> 00:03:53.919 Okay. 00:03:54.400 --> 00:03:58.639 It the foundation actually started in 1998. 00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:03.360 Um, the history of Hope Cancer Resources is a little bit of a dog leg. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:05.199 Um, we were Nartai at one time. 00:04:05.360 --> 00:04:10.000 We provided the radiation therapy for patients in Northwest Arkansas. 00:04:10.080 --> 00:04:13.199 And so the foundation was started when we had the clinic. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:19.360 Uh, we sold our treatment services in 2008 and then we merged with another nonprofit in 2009. 00:04:19.519 --> 00:04:24.000 So I've been through a lot of transitions, all I'm glad to be a part of. 00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:26.399 Um, none that I would want to do again. 00:04:26.560 --> 00:04:26.879 Yeah. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.199 So I'm glad to have the experience. 00:04:29.360 --> 00:04:32.160 I'm not saying I would like to do either of them again. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:37.439 Um, but our foundation um has changed its purpose through the years. 00:04:37.600 --> 00:04:51.040 Obviously, being a hundred percent nonprofit, um, we need the sustainability to make sure that our programs and services are vital and accessible to cancer patients and their families. 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:53.439 And so that's really the purpose of the foundation. 00:04:54.079 --> 00:05:07.680 My role is um really, I get to to do the best part and that's visit with people individually and talk about how they can be a part of the foundation, how they can be a part of the mission. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:13.199 Um, but what that really gives them is an opportunity just to make a difference in somebody's life. 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:15.279 Oh my goodness. 00:05:15.439 --> 00:05:16.639 Well, I'm glad you're here today. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:20.720 And I remember all of those ups and downs and changes. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:27.120 Um and I'm glad it's landed where it has been the last many years. 00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:27.519 Yes. 00:05:27.680 --> 00:05:29.120 So strong organization. 00:05:29.360 --> 00:05:30.879 Okay, Allison, it's your turn. 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:32.879 Yes, same question. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:33.439 Same question. 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:36.079 Your journey to fundraising or how it found you. 00:05:37.040 --> 00:05:40.800 So I was born into fundraising, truly born into it. 00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:45.759 I think uh my parents um made it a point to always give back. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:48.319 So we did things at our church. 00:05:48.399 --> 00:05:56.399 Um, as a child, I would do in the summertime put on fairs and raise money for different organizations. 00:05:57.120 --> 00:05:57.600 Of course. 00:05:58.319 --> 00:06:00.959 Of course, I'm not surprised by this at all. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:08.160 No, but we would like to support animals, we would support healthcare organizations, we would support children's organizations. 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:16.560 And I'm talking little amounts of money, but um, I think it started there that I realized that just small gifts can make a huge impact. 00:06:17.120 --> 00:06:24.079 So we moved here um in 1998, and I'm actually a master licensed social worker. 00:06:24.240 --> 00:06:27.279 So previous to coming here, I was a school counselor. 00:06:27.680 --> 00:06:29.279 Oh, I forgot that. 00:06:29.600 --> 00:06:40.000 And previous to that, I worked for an airlines and actually recruited um station agents, flight attendants, anybody other than the people that could fly the plane. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:48.240 But moving here, I was fortunate enough to live next door to somebody who was just starting to build the race for the cure. 00:06:48.480 --> 00:06:51.199 And she invited me to come to a meeting. 00:06:51.439 --> 00:06:58.160 And I remember sitting around that table with all these incredible women, one man, Bob Shoulders. 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:08.399 And I was so infatuated with the energy in the room in the room that eventually I started a 15-year career with Susan G. 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:09.199 Comen. 00:07:10.560 --> 00:07:12.079 And that's how I met her. 00:07:12.399 --> 00:07:14.639 And that's how that's how we all met. 00:07:14.879 --> 00:07:17.199 We all met while you were at Susan G. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:17.600 Comen. 00:07:18.879 --> 00:07:24.079 So, as I said, spent 15 years there, really passionate about cancer. 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:29.839 My dad had had several different bouts of cancer, um, lots of cancer in my family. 00:07:30.000 -->

00:07:38.399 That I knew that what I was doing not only was helping breast cancer survivors, but really making an impact in our community. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:47.920 And we would raise millions of dollars that went to Hope Cancel Resort Cancer Resources, Washington Regional, so many great organizations. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:51.199 Um, had an opportunity to join Mercy. 00:07:51.839 --> 00:07:57.519 Started back in I think 2012, maybe 2012. 00:07:57.680 --> 00:07:58.000 Yeah. 00:07:58.319 --> 00:08:01.439 And joined their foundation and never looked back. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:03.839 It has been an incredible opportunity. 00:08:04.000 --> 00:08:07.040 I work with a great group of leaders. 00:08:07.199 --> 00:08:09.360 Um, I report to Clark Ellison. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:14.319 Many of you know Clark, he's like the grand poo-bah of fundraising. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:15.279 Yes. 00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:19.279 Yes, and um, senior development officer. 00:08:19.519 --> 00:08:24.560 So, as as like gay, my role is really to go out and have conversations. 00:08:24.800 --> 00:08:26.240 It's the best part of my job. 00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:30.879 Go out and have conversations, talk about what's going on in the community. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:36.720 We all know there's a lot going on in healthcare in our state, um, in our world. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:40.639 And this is a great opportunity to share the mission of what Mercy is doing. 00:08:41.200 --> 00:08:43.840 And it's a continuation of how you got started. 00:08:44.080 --> 00:08:47.440 I mean, it's it's hand in hand with what you did at Susan G. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:48.000 Comen. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:48.879 Yes, you know. 00:08:49.279 --> 00:08:52.720 When I left Coleman, I thought I knew everything about healthcare. 00:08:52.879 --> 00:08:57.279 And I got to Mercy, and I was like, oh my gosh, I don't even know what that affromand means. 00:08:57.440 --> 00:08:58.320 What does that mean? 00:08:58.480 --> 00:08:59.200 And what is this? 00:08:59.279 --> 00:09:00.960 So it's been a great learning opportunity. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:02.080 It has its own language. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:03.840 It does have its own language. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:08.480 Um, I want to note that all three of us have our CFREs. 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:12.879 And for those of you that don't know, that is certified fundraising executive. 00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:16.240 And that is a credential that we've all earned. 00:09:16.399 --> 00:09:21.200 And we need to come back for another episode because that's too much to cover today. 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:30.960 But we need to come back and talk about that credential and how if you've had five years of experience, you need to be thinking about sitting for your CFRE. 00:09:31.200 --> 00:09:33.039 And you could contact any of us about that. 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:43.600 So that's an aside, and I just want to throw that in there, get that said, but we need to have a follow-up conversation about certified fundraising uh executive credential. 00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:47.360 It's something that's important and it's benefited all of us in different ways. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:52.320 And we all helped each other get through the trenches of getting that CFRE. 00:09:52.799 --> 00:09:54.960 That's the last, and they helped me a lot. 00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:55.600 Yeah. 00:09:55.759 --> 00:10:01.840 And honestly, I think one of the favorite things about having our CFRE is mentoring others. 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:02.799 Me too. 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:03.200 Yes. 00:10:03.519 --> 00:10:06.960 Are looking to follow in everybody's footsteps. 00:10:07.120 --> 00:10:07.519 I would agree. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:18.960 Because if they get the fundraising bug or the fundraising jolt or whatever we want to call it, it is what you want to, you want to have that credential to show that you are full, you're all in. 00:10:19.279 --> 00:10:20.159 You're all in. 00:10:20.639 --> 00:10:30.240 Um, okay, let's start with some of the basics because some of our listeners may have heard the term, but may have never actually worked with a giving circle. 00:10:30.320 --> 00:10:33.200 Or so let's start with what is a giving circle? 00:10:33.360 --> 00:10:37.360 That's the basic, like what in y'all in we'll start with gay again. 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:40.559 What in your words, what do you think a giving circle? 00:10:40.799 --> 00:10:42.240 What's the definition of that? 00:10:42.320 --> 00:10:55.519 Or what's well, I think um probably the easiest way to think of it is a giving circle is bringing a group of people together for a common purpose. 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:01.120 Um, they do give financially, but I think they give in other ways also. 00:11:01.360 --> 00:11:06.159 And so it's a commitment to the mission through a giving circle. 00:11:07.039 --> 00:11:15.279 Okay, Allison, let's start with you telling us about your giving circle, um, which is women with a mission. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:20.639 And uh, we've been in this podcast studio before to talk about women with a mission. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:27.440 And I am a member of it, but um, tell us what women with a mission looks like with Mercy Health Foundation. 00:11:27.679 --> 00:11:29.759 So I agree with your definition, Gay. 00:11:29.840 --> 00:11:38.639 It really is a group of like for us, a group of like-minded women who come together to support a mission. 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:45.360 And obviously, the mission is our hospital, providing good health care within our community. 00:11:45.919 --> 00:11:54.879 So um, our giving circle started in 2009, and we fashioned ours after our foundation down in Fort Smith. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:12:09.600 So the baseline of Women with a Mission was actually based upon Catherine Macaulay, who is the foundress of the Mercy House in Belplin, Ireland, who was called the Walking Sisters. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:10.879 So beautiful. 00:12:11.120 --> 00:12:11.360

Yes. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:17.440 So it was really to honor her legacy and to continue that legacy to grow. 00:12:17.759 --> 00:12:30.159 So in 2009, we had an anonymous donor make a very generous gift in honor of Susan Barrett, who at the time was the president of Mercy Hospital. 00:12:30.399 --> 00:12:35.200 And so ours is called the Susan Barrett Women with a Mission Giving Society. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:42.720 And so from 2009 and fast forward to today, we have between 125 and 130 women. 00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:46.879 It ebbs and flows that give a financial gift. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:50.240 Our minimum is$1,000 every year. 00:12:50.559 --> 00:12:58.559 And that those funds go specifically to provide care within our hospital or fund programs within our hospital. 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:01.440 So we meet in February of every month. 00:13:01.519 --> 00:13:05.519 We call it our give back, give heart allocation meeting. 00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:11.360 And as a group, we learn about the needs that are there within Mercy. 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:12.879 Allison, you've been there. 00:13:12.960 --> 00:13:14.159 It's like going to college. 00:13:14.240 --> 00:13:16.639 It's like a poster presentation. 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:22.480 We have that committee person share what they need and why this piece is so important. 00:13:22.720 --> 00:13:24.159 And then the women vote. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:31.600 And so we tally up whatever amount of funds that we have, and we take the top probably five or six items. 00:13:31.840 --> 00:13:35.840 And those are the items that we're able to fund for the for the next year. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:37.519 Huge impact. 00:13:37.919 --> 00:13:40.960 You know, as we all know, healthcare is expensive. 00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:46.240 So um this kind of fills in some of the gaps that otherwise wouldn't be filled in. 00:13:46.480 --> 00:13:46.879 Yes. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:54.639 And and that meeting is is such a uh big heart, I mean, full heart meeting. 00:13:54.799 --> 00:13:59.039 Because we're thinking, oh my goodness, my donation is doing something immediate and right now. 00:13:59.200 --> 00:13:59.440 Yeah. 00:13:59.759 --> 00:14:00.000 Right. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.840 So I know that my thousand dollars can't go very far at all. 00:14:04.240 --> 00:14:09.039 But together with 125 other people, we can make a huge impact. 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:14.799 And normally, you know, everybody's membership comes in at different times during the year. 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:22.320 But generally we have about$105,000 to$110,000 every year that we can put towards projects. 00:14:23.039 --> 00:14:31.519 So the benefit that you get about being part of Wing with Mission is obviously that heartfelt benefit. 00:14:31.840 --> 00:14:35.679 But we also do um educational programs throughout the year. 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:38.240 So we do four educational programs. 00:14:38.480 --> 00:14:43.440 We do a fall social, kind of just like a little networking fun event. 00:14:43.919 --> 00:14:46.720 Um, and then we do pop-ups throughout the year. 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:48.399 So yes. 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:55.200 Okay, gay, tell us, tell us about your giving circle and what it looks like. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:55.840 Okay. 00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:59.440 Ours is still new, I'm gonna say. 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:03.039 That's why that's why I invited you today because it's fresh. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:04.000 It's fresh. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:09.919 We launched our giving circle last year in 2005, in March of 2005. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:10.320 We had one. 00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:11.600 2025. 00:15:11.919 --> 00:15:12.320 I'm sorry. 00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:15.440 Yes, 2025 was last year. 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:17.440 Let's not go back to 2000. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:20.639 No, let's still go back to 2005, but 2025. 00:15:21.519 --> 00:15:23.519 Back to the future around the world. 00:15:23.600 --> 00:15:24.559 I'm sorry. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:47.279 Um, and we have had the idea um looking at really different ways for people to get involved at a in a different way, like um bringing also new donors to Hope Cancer Resources that may or may not have been involved with us before. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:52.320 Um, and I think a lot of that comes um through personal invitation. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:16:00.799 And so we did, we looked at, we had a goal of launching with 12 founders. 00:16:02.240 --> 00:16:15.600 Um these women, their commitment was there was a financial commitment, but a commitment to be with us year after year, but then to help us grow the circle, inviting other women into the circle. 00:16:16.240 --> 00:16:19.679 Um we ended up with 27 founders. 00:16:20.080 --> 00:16:20.799 That's wonderful. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:22.159 That is wonderful. 00:16:22.480 --> 00:16:34.559 And it was such, um, I think that in itself was so inspiring because we would be talking to somebody and she would say, I have somebody that has to do this with me. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:49.840 And so um that in itself kind of gave them just the inspiration that you know what, people want to be a part of something that um collectively you can do in a really big way. 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.320 And so that's where we started. 00:16:52.559 --> 00:16:59.200 We had our first imitation event last November and we added uh 30 more members. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:06.400 And so for our members to join the circle, we have three different levels. 00:17:06.559 --> 00:17:14.880 Um we have um$240 level, a$1,200 level, and a$5,000 level. 00:17:15.279 --> 00:17:22.480 Um, our$5,000 are our sustainers, and so we've invited them to actually join us in some of our founder events. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:24.960 Um, it matched our founder's gift. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:42.799 And then um the others, we we wanted to make it where people could do it monthly if they wanted to, but make it very affordable for people to make it a little more

accessible, and I think that that's been the right thing for hope cancer resources. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:48.880 Um before we did anything, we visited with a lot of people, and both of y'all were part of that. 00:17:49.039 --> 00:17:54.880 Like um, the university has a big giving circle, Mercy has a wonderful giving circle. 00:17:55.039 --> 00:18:01.839 There's some others throughout the community, and it's like, what what is what is it for hope cancer resources? 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:06.319 And and thinking like, what is the right um giving point? 00:18:06.960 --> 00:18:19.039 Um I'm very sensitive to we don't want to put something that excludes people from giving, um but we certainly don't want to limit someone's giving either. 00:18:19.680 --> 00:18:27.599 Um, and so one of the things we did add as part of our giving options is we went ahead and put in an endowment gift. 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:29.920 Um and it's$25,000. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:40.720 But that would be a hundred percent endowed and um really fits within the purpose of our foundation and the giving circle is a part of our foundation. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:49.920 So most of and unlike women with a mission, y'all don't meet each year and decide what what the money's gonna do. 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:53.279 The money is literally for the foundation. 00:18:53.839 --> 00:18:59.440 Well, the money actually the give all of the giving is for financial assistance for patients. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:18:59.839 Okay. 00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:01.839 That's pretty purpose. 00:19:02.319 --> 00:19:03.039 Very specific. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:05.599 It may change over the years. 00:19:06.079 --> 00:19:07.839 We just had our founder's brunch. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:09.039 It was our second one. 00:19:09.119 --> 00:19:15.519 Uh, we meet in August, much like y'all meet in February to really give um an impact report. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:18.720 Like this is what's happened since you started this circle. 00:19:19.519 --> 00:19:34.960 Um, and even looking at our financial assistance for patients in Northwest Arkansas, what we are able to help patients with, it's small, um, but it's really designed to be like a bridge to help them. 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:41.440 So it may be a mortgage payment, it may be a car payment, it may be something toward a prescription. 00:19:41.920 --> 00:19:44.640 Things have become a barrier to a patient. 00:19:44.880 --> 00:19:51.119 And um Allison mentioned, you know, health care is costly. 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:59.839 And even um when we are insured, um to be diagnosed with cancer can be very costly. 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:04.240 And there's a lot of tests that lead up to just a definitive of a diagnosis. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:04.640 Right. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:15.440 And um so a lot of times you buy you're meeting your deductible, and then you have a 20% of a high value test. 00:20:15.680 --> 00:20:18.400 It's sometimes it just puts us behind a little bit. 00:20:18.799

--> 00:20:23.839 And so for us to help people in that way, and that's really been the focus. 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:31.119 We talked about it at our meeting last week, and um, they felt very confident of staying in that. 00:20:31.359 --> 00:20:40.960 Um we feel like if we can help people financially, then they actually can have access to our other services that are also free to them. 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:52.240 Um, the counseling, we have a wellness center, we have transportation and a great group of uh case managers who work with patients to help them evaluate what they really need. 00:20:52.720 --> 00:21:02.319 And so um the money doesn't just sit at the foundation, it's just while it's at the foundation, it is invested and so it is growing. 00:21:02.559 --> 00:21:05.680 And then we utilize it to help patients day to day. 00:21:05.920 --> 00:21:13.440 And it sounds like one of the differences the founders, the founders' circle, they're the ones invited to the meeting to analyze. 00:21:13.680 --> 00:21:28.160 But the other members are invited to other events and like like Allison, y'all have programs and other perks throughout the year of ways to gather and visit, but the founders meet every August to decide to make sure we're still going to do this. 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:33.920 And then it's twofold it's immediate needs, but also the foundation endowment. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:34.400 Right. 00:21:35.119 --> 00:21:35.759 Yeah, yeah. 00:21:36.079 --> 00:21:45.200 And one of the things we've tried to do, we don't do a lot of engagement events, but we try to make sure that our engagement events are connected to our patient programs. 00:21:45.359 --> 00:21:50.640 And so we've offered yoga just for our circle and meditation. 00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:59.759 Those are things that um we can help people understand what it's like to be in our patient space, not necessarily with the patients themselves. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:17.119 We do that after hours, but just to help them understand how some of our services and get them into the atmosphere and how safe it feels and how welcoming it is, because we want to make sure that every patient has access to what is offered. 00:22:17.440 --> 00:22:28.640 And one thing that I noticed that both of you said is you found your membership tiers or your membership, you know, payment, whatever the donation is. 00:22:29.039 --> 00:22:36.480 It you took time to figure out what fit your organizations and what fit the people, your donors that you were talking to. 00:22:36.640 --> 00:22:39.519 And that's always good because every organization is different. 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:39.839 Yes. 00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:49.519 Every organization has a different major gift and a different small gift and a different um, you know, campaign pledge. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.599 They're all different shapes and sizes. 00:22:51.759 --> 00:23:01.680 So that's a real important thing for our listeners to remember is that it if you're gonna do this at your organization, you don't have to copy, you know, what everybody else is doing. 00:23:01.839 --> 00:23:05.200 You sit down and look at what is a major gift to us, right? 00:23:05.359 --> 00:23:10.400 Or what would a joining our circle be to us and you make it your own. 00:23:10.799 --> 00:23:21.359 Um, I was gonna say, so those of you that listening, we're gonna ask, if we were to join your giving circle tomorrow, and I'm a member of both of these circles. 00:23:21.519 --> 00:23:22.480 So thank you. 00:23:23.680 --> 00:23:24.319 Thank you. 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:34.000 So I I wanna want them to hear what what would what would their walk us through what their experience would be the minute they decided to join. 00:23:34.160 --> 00:23:35.839 What's the first thing that happens? 00:23:36.000 --> 00:23:37.440 I know we celebrate. 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:43.039 I mean, we celebrate because we love when someone has the aha moment and decides to join. 00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:45.279 So there's celebration going on in your honor. 00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:45.680 Yes. 00:23:45.759 --> 00:23:46.000 Yeah. 00:23:46.319 --> 00:23:54.000 Um, well, we always meet, obviously, face to face and talk about what the commitment is and thank them for joining. 00:23:54.160 --> 00:24:04.079 I know that at our first meetings, when a new person joins, we always make it a point to introduce them to the group, make sure that the other members have an opportunity to go say thank you. 00:24:04.319 --> 00:24:05.200 Glad to have you. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:07.119 Let's learn more about you. 00:24:07.680 --> 00:24:13.279 Um, I think um I know gay does a really nice gift. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:17.440 We do certain things at various times of the year. 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:21.920 Um, this past year we gave everybody a nice woman with a mission notebook. 00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:25.200 So when they came to meetings, they could take some notes. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:31.119 Um, years passed, we've done cool little makeup bags just as a little thank you for joining. 00:24:31.359 --> 00:24:38.720 Um, one year we did prayer books, and it was just a lovely opportunity to again share our mission through prayer. 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:43.599 Um, we are a very social unit group of women. 00:24:43.920 --> 00:24:52.720 It's really hard to quiet the group down for the presentation, um, which is great because that's exactly what we want. 00:24:52.880 --> 00:24:57.759 We want these women to feel like they're loved and part of a great organization. 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.720 So um I think stewardship. 00:25:00.880 --> 00:25:20.160 There's a lot of stewardship involved in not only welcoming that member, but also remembering throughout the year, we do birthday cards every month to those that are celebrating a birthday, just those little small touch points to let them know how grateful we are for their gift. 00:25:20.400 --> 00:25:21.200 It means a lot. 00:25:21.440 -->

00:25:27.279 One thing that I notice also is with healthcare being healthcare, it's in the news a lot. 00:25:27.440 --> 00:25:28.480 It is, isn't it? 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:29.200 Uh-huh. 00:25:29.519 --> 00:25:30.160 Every day. 00:25:30.319 --> 00:25:30.640 Yes. 00:25:30.720 --> 00:25:45.839 And so what I also love about being a member of Women with a Mission is it seems that y'all try to keep us abreast if there's going to be some news breaking, or if you can't share it ahead of time, you share it the same day so that we're all on the same page and we know. 00:25:46.000 --> 00:25:52.240 And as a member of a circle, that's the that's a nice benefit when you're out on the street and someone says, Oh, mercy did this. 00:25:52.319 --> 00:25:57.599 And you can say, Well, I got the information this morning, and actually, this is what it is. 00:25:57.759 --> 00:26:00.559 You know, let's just clarify that make that clear. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.440 Yeah, yeah. 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:01.839 Yeah. 00:26:02.079 --> 00:26:05.359 Um, so I think I don't know if we said this or not. 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.720 If we did, let's say it again. 00:26:06.880 --> 00:26:12.079 Like, why what made each of your organizations decide to start one? 00:26:12.960 --> 00:26:21.039 You know, I I think in the past, when I've worked with organizations, there comes a time when you need another way to connect. 00:26:21.119 --> 00:26:22.640 And that might be a reason. 00:26:22.799 --> 00:26:34.160 If you've been, you know, your organization's been around a while, like both of yours, and you feel like there's a group of people that's not being reached, you know, that might be a reason to start one. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:36.640 But do you remember like what the reason was? 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:42.400 Is it because you saw that Fort Smith was successful with their initiative? 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:48.000 Or um, well, Fort Smith and Northwest Arkansas were pretty much all part of the same team. 00:26:48.240 --> 00:26:51.279 We Clark oversees both foundations. 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:57.519 Um, I think they saw the value in that when that first started. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:27:14.079 But I think more than that, they saw how we could continue the legacy of Catherine McCauley and how this her legacy walks so closely to our women with a mission meeting, meaning and vision. 00:27:14.400 --> 00:27:15.920 Yeah, and so does. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:16.400 Yeah. 00:27:16.880 --> 00:27:23.039 And you touched on a little bit, but what made uh what made y'all decide to start the chapter? 00:27:23.440 --> 00:27:24.000 Really launch it. 00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.960 Uh to launch it. 00:27:25.440 --> 00:27:27.759 You know, we had talked about it for a long time. 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:41.440 And I think the idea behind it is um just that individual giving and bringing people together for for that very purpose. 00:27:41.759 --> 00:28:02.559 Um, I we all love Northwest Arkansas and our fundraising in Northwest Arkansas, and um this probably may be the most unpopular statement, but I I feel like we have led people to believe that fundraising is a certain thing and not everything. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:10.400 Um I think there's a lot of different ways to bring people into your mission. 00:28:10.799 --> 00:28:15.680 Um, I think the most sustainable um is individual giving. 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:18.960 And I think we see this in our hospitals for sure. 00:28:19.119 --> 00:28:30.240 You have legacy giving of um generations that they've seen their grandparents very involved in a hospital system. 00:28:30.480 --> 00:28:34.880 And so they go there and before they know it, they're invited to something. 00:28:35.200 --> 00:28:36.720 And before you know it, they're giving. 00:28:36.880 --> 00:28:38.319 And then their children see that. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:45.920 And so I think we've seen like three generations, maybe four generations of that happening, but it's the individual giving. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:52.880 And even when we say, let's have an event and let's let's do a fundraising event, I think sometimes we forget. 00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:55.039 It's like, yes, it is an event. 00:28:55.279 --> 00:29:00.799 It's individuals who come and become connected to make that happen. 00:29:01.039 --> 00:29:05.920 Um, I feel like a giving circle goes a little bit, a little bit deeper. 00:29:06.400 --> 00:29:08.240 It's not um more intimate. 00:29:08.400 --> 00:29:09.839 It's more personal. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:10.960 It's more personal. 00:29:11.279 --> 00:29:16.480 And it's like I said, it's that personal invitation to come and be a part. 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:23.440 Um, and for some, they may be introduced and it's like it's just not for me or not for me right now. 00:29:23.920 --> 00:29:33.920 Um, but I think it is a great way to have people join you, but also, like you said, like to become an advocate in the community. 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:36.400 Um, help us share our mission. 00:29:36.559 --> 00:29:40.480 We just can't do it all where you're going to miss people. 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:47.599 And this is a way to really be the multiplier of the mission within the community. 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:51.519 And I think we look at women with a mission as an educational tool. 00:29:52.079 --> 00:30:04.640 Um, this past year we actually did behind the scenes tours of our CAP lab and EP labs, which was really to me, I was like, oh my gosh, I don't know what goes on behind the walls here. 00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:07.440 I know they work miracles, but I don't know what happens. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:16.079 And it was just fascinating to watch how these groups of caregivers work together and how they dance together. 00:30:16.400 --> 00:30:19.759 When I say dance, I mean you have to do it. 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:27.440 You roll from one lab to another lab, the physician is ready to roll, his team is all set up, the patient is there.

00:30:27.680 --> 00:30:35.359 And I will just say it just made me feel so proud to be a part of Mercy because I could see the love that was going on. 00:30:35.519 --> 00:30:43.119 Even these people don't know that patient sitting on the table, but you could feel the love as they're watching the procedure. 00:30:43.440 --> 00:30:44.240 You can't, you can't. 00:30:44.720 --> 00:30:50.480 I came to one and I was, I had been on the other side where I was out in the waiting room waiting on my mom. 00:30:50.960 --> 00:31:06.480 And so to get to see the procedure that she had and see how kind and care, the care that was given and the love, yeah, but the choreography, oh my word, like no one messed up their dance step. 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:07.039 They took it. 00:31:07.200 --> 00:31:08.400 Everybody moved. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:17.519 And as the doctor went, like we were all in one window watching one thing, and then we got to the next one, and here he came to that lab. 00:31:17.680 --> 00:31:21.359 And it was like, yeah, okay, now he's gonna switch gears and do this now. 00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:22.079 You know, yeah. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:22.799 Fascinating. 00:31:22.960 --> 00:31:23.759 It was fascinating. 00:31:23.920 --> 00:31:38.960 And and once again, it's another part of welcoming in a group that um is dedicated to the mission, welcoming them in to see how their gifts are being stewarded and used to support our community. 00:31:39.119 --> 00:31:39.440 Yes. 00:31:39.680 --> 00:31:40.880 And it's all about people. 00:31:41.119 --> 00:31:41.680 And that's true. 00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:43.039 It's just all about people. 00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:59.279 It is, and yours, your events are helping them see what y'all offer to people walking the journey of a cancer diagnosis and um all the things that you offer to give them support as they go through that. 00:31:59.440 --> 00:31:59.759 Yeah. 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:14.319 And I will say, um when we were planning and trying to really do a lot of research to what was what was right for home cancer resources, what was right for our donors. 00:32:14.799 --> 00:32:19.680 Um, Jamie Dietrich met with some people and I met with some people. 00:32:20.240 --> 00:32:30.000 And um everyone when asked the question, like, do you think we should do a getting a circle? 00:32:31.599 --> 00:32:33.839 And every one of them said yes. 00:32:34.640 --> 00:32:35.119 Yes. 00:32:35.680 --> 00:32:37.200 And I would be a part of it. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:42.559 And it was just um, you know, you think you really check yourself sometimes. 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:43.839 Like, I have this idea. 00:32:44.480 --> 00:32:49.119 To me, that's always um a danger, but it sometimes is like the biggest blessing. 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:50.640 Like, I just have an idea. 00:32:51.200 --> 00:33:09.920 And um, but to have some confirmation, and then it was like, okay, we've had enough confirmation to say, let's let's put a true plan to it, again, what

fits our mission and the people who are in our community, and then go from there. 00:33:10.240 --> 00:33:11.359 And so it worked. 00:33:11.599 --> 00:33:23.119 If we if we go back to 2009, yes, when you started, knowing everything that you know today, would you create it in the same way, like and follow the same steps? 00:33:23.359 --> 00:33:29.920 Was there any time that you thought, oh, you know what, we should have gone right when we went left, or we should have gone left when we went right? 00:33:30.240 --> 00:33:33.519 So I was not with Mercy when they started it. 00:33:33.680 --> 00:33:37.039 Um, but I know that we had 15 founders. 00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.599 Okay. 00:33:38.079 --> 00:33:40.880 That that was their mission to meet. 00:33:41.039 --> 00:33:42.960 We had three tri-chairs. 00:33:43.119 --> 00:33:47.839 We had Martha Burgeon, uh, Casey Oakley, and Leslie Zanoff. 00:33:48.000 --> 00:33:49.920 Those were our three pillars. 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:56.400 Um, and they took that program and just began piecing it together. 00:33:56.720 --> 00:34:00.799 So it when I came on board, it was really small. 00:34:01.119 --> 00:34:07.119 It was, it was probably, I would say, maybe 35, 40 members. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:20.079 And I think between everybody on our team, we have really worked diligently to make sure that that message and that opportunity to be a part of Women with a Mission is being shared. 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:28.079 And and also, as you say, gay, when somebody that's a member invites somebody else to join, that has also helped. 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:32.079 So I think we I think we did pivot. 00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:37.840 I think we did a pivot from how it first started to what it looks like today. 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:40.960 I think you have to do that to stay real. 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:41.760 Uh-huh. 00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:57.519 Um, I think now we're using a lot more of our physicians to come in and do really amazing programs on sharing what their specialty is and educating our members on things you should or should not do. 00:34:57.679 --> 00:34:58.960 What tests do you need? 00:34:59.440 --> 00:35:00.559 What should you be eating? 00:35:00.719 --> 00:35:13.360 We just did an incredible partnership with Brightwater, the culinary school, where they actually prepared us a brain healthy meal and then shared about why that's important. 00:35:13.679 --> 00:35:14.880 And it was delicious. 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.159 Black bean brownies. 00:35:16.480 --> 00:35:17.920 Who would have thought? 00:35:18.159 --> 00:35:18.880 Who knew? 00:35:19.119 --> 00:35:19.519 Who knew? 00:35:19.679 --> 00:35:22.320 They tasted very annum brownies. 00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:26.320 And these had black beans in them, and they were still delicious. 00:35:26.880 --> 00:35:28.480 But I do think you have to pivot. 00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:36.480 I do think as you grow and the members, our age group is anywhere from 23 to 91. 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:42.800 So when you look at that age group, you have to find the common denominator. 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.360 Right. 00:35:43.599 --> 00:35:43.840 Right. 00:35:44.000 --> 00:35:44.320 Yeah. 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:46.480 And healthcare has changed so much. 00:35:47.039 --> 00:35:47.760 Truly it has. 00:35:48.639 --> 00:35:49.440 Oh goodness, yes. 00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:52.639 Healthcare in Northwest Arkansas has changed a lot. 00:35:52.800 --> 00:35:55.440 Um, thankfully, I feel like for the better. 00:35:55.599 --> 00:35:58.239 I'm always so proud of the health care that we have here. 00:35:58.800 --> 00:36:01.519 And um, can we do better? 00:36:01.679 --> 00:36:02.000 Yes. 00:36:02.239 --> 00:36:04.559 Do we have teams committed to do better? 00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:05.119 Yes. 00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:05.519 Yes. 00:36:05.760 --> 00:36:12.239 You know, and then our giving circles help us in um, you know, sometimes we can get tunnel vision. 00:36:12.320 --> 00:36:13.760 And it's like, what do you see? 00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:14.800 What do you hear? 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:20.639 What would you what was your experience in an oncology clinic in the hospital? 00:36:20.800 --> 00:36:22.159 And we learn from that. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:25.360 Um, and that that just helps to make us all better. 00:36:25.599 --> 00:36:26.000 Yeah. 00:36:26.639 --> 00:36:33.760 Okay, this is where our nonprofit friends are probably going to need to get their pencils out, or if you're driving, just know you can listen later. 00:36:34.000 --> 00:36:36.880 Rewind, rewind, and re-listen and share. 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.840 Thank you. 00:36:38.079 --> 00:36:47.760 Um, but so for all of our friends out there, and they're listening right now, and they're thinking, we need one of these. 00:36:48.159 --> 00:36:50.159 Where should they even start? 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:58.000 Um, I know that's a loaded question, but it's broken down into several, several little questions. 00:36:58.239 --> 00:37:03.119 But um, what needs to be decided before you even launch a giving circle? 00:37:03.360 --> 00:37:10.960 Y'all covered some of it, but it sounds like uh you've you both did the same thing, which was gather some founders. 00:37:12.800 --> 00:37:16.079 And you need a committed you need a committed team. 00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:16.639 Yes. 00:37:16.880 --> 00:37:22.880 Um, I think your your staff needs to understand the importance of it. 00:37:22.960 --> 00:37:23.280 Your board. 00:37:23.679 --> 00:37:26.079 Your board definitely needs to understand the importance. 00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:46.159 They need to understand that that's part of um the strategy to um increase your number of donors and to build, I think every um board will say, I met so and so and they didn't know that we did this or they didn't know about us. 00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:53.519 And it's like giving circles give you again, like an opportunity for that to be shared more. 00:37:54.079 --> 00:38:08.079 Um, but

I do think it's important for the board to understand like it is part of all of your fundraising strategy that just really and and the whole purpose of the fundraising strategy is just to to feed into the mission. 00:38:08.719 --> 00:38:11.280 You know, um, money is money. 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:16.719 What gives money value is how it changes the lives in people. 00:38:17.039 --> 00:38:18.320 That's the real value of it. 00:38:18.719 --> 00:38:21.840 And also, you know what, focus on what you do best. 00:38:22.079 --> 00:38:30.320 You don't have to make yours look like mercy or make it look like hope or make it look like the University of Arkansas. 00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:31.599 Make it yours. 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:35.039 Make it unique to your organization. 00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:35.920 Mm-hmm. 00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:36.480 Mm-hmm. 00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:51.119 I I mean I so I think just for to reiterate, we're saying one of the first things that has to happen is your board has to be on board with it and have the buy-in to be committed to helping share it and understanding it. 00:38:51.519 --> 00:39:05.280 And then probably the next is finding that that group of volunteers that want to be the leaders or the founders, which is so good about our stewardship and our information that we share with our donors. 00:39:05.440 --> 00:39:11.679 It's another way for us to reach out to them, to ask them if they think it's a good idea, to ask for their advice. 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:12.000 Yep. 00:39:12.320 --> 00:39:15.760 To ask, you know, you know, have you heard of a giving circle? 00:39:16.000 --> 00:39:20.320 It gives you a whole reason to talk to them and tell them you're thinking of launching it. 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.519 Would you be interested? 00:39:21.679 --> 00:39:22.400 Yeah, that's right. 00:39:22.639 --> 00:39:23.599 You know, that's right. 00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:36.480 Um, I know it uh takes a lot of staff time, but uh I'm sure you're able to balance that because it is part of your stewardship strategy and donor relations and asking. 00:39:36.800 --> 00:39:39.280 So it fits in with everything you're already doing anyway. 00:39:39.440 --> 00:39:39.840 Yes. 00:39:40.079 --> 00:39:47.440 Um Gay has a success story about how you communicate the concept to prospective members. 00:39:47.599 --> 00:39:48.800 And I know you do too. 00:39:48.960 --> 00:39:58.719 Y'all both have great, great stories about how we get the word out and how we, you know, uh get more members to join. 00:39:59.039 --> 00:40:01.920 And there's probably some ebbs and flows. 00:40:02.079 --> 00:40:06.079 Some years it's probably like, great guns, we got tons of people joining. 00:40:06.159 --> 00:40:10.559 And then there's some years is nobody seems to be answering my email. 00:40:10.880 --> 00:40:11.840 Nobody calls me back. 00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:13.360 What else would that do? 00:40:13.519 --> 00:40:16.320 Yeah, nobody seems to be excited as they were last year. 00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:24.159 But yeah, what are some of those uh ways that you can get the word out to to gain members or get, you know, get traction? 00:40:25.280 --> 00:40:37.519 Um one of the things I remind our founders especially is that's part of our commitment is to um invite people to be part of our circle. 00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:46.480 Um, but even in our we had a um event in April and it was open to all of our members. 00:40:47.199 --> 00:40:53.119 And and at the end we just talked about like who's missing in this room? 00:40:53.360 --> 00:41:01.119 Like where in where in this hour were you thinking, oh, I should have invited so it's so to be here. 00:41:01.280 --> 00:41:02.239 She would have loved it. 00:41:02.400 --> 00:41:06.639 You know, and so those are things that just naturally kind of come to our mind. 00:41:07.280 --> 00:41:09.840 Um, but getting people involved. 00:41:09.920 --> 00:41:16.800 Um, and I think when we feel like we're like something is we're making a difference, we want people to join us. 00:41:16.960 --> 00:41:21.679 And we know people, it's like they would so love this to be a part of this. 00:41:22.320 --> 00:41:32.480 Um after I leave here, I'm actually going to an event that one of our founders has put together, um, Melissa Fleman. 00:41:32.559 --> 00:41:34.400 I'm gonna give a big shout out to her. 00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:39.760 Um she we have our regular invitation event in November. 00:41:39.920 --> 00:41:44.079 Um people can join at any time during the year, but it's kind of our focus. 00:41:44.320 --> 00:41:50.159 And so she asked if she could do um a personal invitation event. 00:41:50.559 --> 00:41:56.320 And so she is hosting it at one of our local or uh places in here in Rogers. 00:41:56.960 --> 00:41:59.840 And um, she invited 36. 00:42:00.400 --> 00:42:10.880 Well, and 33 women will be gathering in a couple of hours to hear our mission and to be invited to join our circle. 00:42:11.360 --> 00:42:11.920 Very nice. 00:42:12.400 --> 00:42:23.679 She is doing the whole thing, and she asked me to come and speak on behalf of Ho Cancer Resources and really more so on behalf of the patients that we serve. 00:42:24.000 --> 00:42:27.119 And um and again, she's a part in it. 00:42:27.599 --> 00:42:29.199 She is such a champion for cancer. 00:42:29.679 --> 00:42:32.000 I mean, cancer is part of her fabric. 00:42:32.320 --> 00:42:33.280 So yes. 00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:43.199 They got a lot of cancer in their family, and she is one personally who is like, there's gotta be a way we can help. 00:42:43.760 --> 00:42:55.280 And so this is her using her network and people that um again, it's not just people on a list. 00:42:55.519 --> 00:43:00.159 These are women that she really feels like this can be important to them. 00:43:00.480 --> 00:43:04.559 And so she's invited them very personally to be involved. 00:43:04.800 --> 00:43:06.320 So I'm thrilled. 00:43:06.480 --> 00:43:08.480 That's how uh circles should work.

00:43:09.199 --> 00:43:09.679 You know. 00:43:10.719 --> 00:43:15.760 We um so we make sure that women with a mission is part of everything we publish. 00:43:16.000 --> 00:43:22.000 Um, it's in our corporate um um opportunities to give brochure. 00:43:22.239 --> 00:43:24.880 It's talked about at our charity ball. 00:43:25.039 --> 00:43:27.599 It is always front and center. 00:43:27.920 --> 00:43:32.000 It's just another piece of Mercy Health Foundation. 00:43:32.480 --> 00:43:35.920 Um, we report to our board, every board meeting. 00:43:36.239 --> 00:43:42.159 There is an update on what we have done and what's the future look like for Women with the Mission. 00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:50.639 Um, we have a new champion that has joined Mercy, and she came from our Joplin um hospital. 00:43:51.119 --> 00:43:59.760 And she says, I am gonna find every every female leader that is in Mercy needs to be a part of. 00:44:00.639 --> 00:44:02.960 She said it is just what we should do. 00:44:03.440 --> 00:44:09.199 Since our mission is to carry on the legacy of Catherine Macaulay, we need to continue that mission. 00:44:09.440 --> 00:44:12.960 So this is a physician or a person that works at Mercy. 00:44:13.119 --> 00:44:14.639 She is a senior vice president. 00:44:14.880 --> 00:44:15.119 Okay. 00:44:15.199 --> 00:44:16.480 So she's in administration. 00:44:16.639 --> 00:44:17.360 She's in administration. 00:44:17.679 --> 00:44:18.960 She is a Mercy employee. 00:44:19.119 --> 00:44:20.159 She is a Mercy employee. 00:44:20.320 --> 00:44:22.320 And she's made it her when her mission. 00:44:23.280 --> 00:44:25.840 When I met with her, I said, this is great. 00:44:26.000 --> 00:44:28.159 I'm going to let you carry the torch. 00:44:28.800 --> 00:44:32.400 We have a lot of employees that are part of Limited Mission. 00:44:32.719 --> 00:44:40.480 You can do your payroll deduct through your paycheck monthly, quarterly, or in one lump sum. 00:44:40.559 --> 00:44:45.760 But we do, and we're starting to get more and more employees that want to be a part of it. 00:44:46.400 --> 00:44:51.920 But keeping that mess message about our giving circle front and center. 00:44:52.159 --> 00:44:54.079 I mean, it is it's annual giving. 00:44:54.239 --> 00:44:54.480 Right. 00:44:54.800 --> 00:44:58.239 You know, it's to build upon future gifts. 00:44:58.800 --> 00:45:12.639 And I know both of you have like a brochure or materials that you give each member so that if we're somewhere and it pops in our head, we can say, Oh, I've got a brochure right here and and share it with someone. 00:45:12.880 --> 00:45:13.360 Yes. 00:45:13.679 --> 00:45:26.400 But um we need to think like these two ladies that we need to be thinking like them and how we could share anything, any day, about something we're passionate about. 00:45:26.480 --> 00:45:26.639 Right. 00:45:26.800 --> 00:45:30.079 That's all it takes is to share it with somebody else. 00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:31.599 Now we'll say this. 00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:34.480 Um, it doesn't have to be a women's giving circle. 00:45:34.800 --> 00:45:41.119 No, no, I was gonna say, you know, circle of life is is expanding theirs to have men want to be involved. 00:45:41.360 --> 00:45:43.280 It's anybody can be involved. 00:45:43.440 --> 00:45:47.280 There are some that are just men's getting circles. 00:45:47.360 --> 00:45:49.280 Um, Colin had a men's giving circle. 00:45:49.599 --> 00:45:55.760 We did have a we had um a great group of men, not a big group, but they were they were passionate. 00:45:56.000 --> 00:46:05.440 They were passionate, but it was what they wanted is the thing, and um they could direct how they used their gifts, which was really nice. 00:46:05.679 --> 00:46:19.679 Um they did it very much in the background, only if honestly, only if I think we only had you know, um, but like um Saint Joe, Saint Joseph's Catholic Church, they have a men's giving circle. 00:46:20.559 --> 00:46:25.280 And so it it can be what you need it to be. 00:46:26.239 --> 00:46:27.679 Yeah, yeah. 00:46:27.920 --> 00:46:44.159 And and cre just be like Allison said earlier, take your own situation and make it grow from what you already do and use the basics to set it up, but you don't have to copy or make it just like make it fit your your organization. 00:46:44.400 --> 00:46:56.159 And that brings me to one of the questions we have to answer is does it take a lot of seed money or do you does an organization need to spend a lot to start or maintain it? 00:46:56.800 --> 00:47:04.320 Um I have a gut reaction to that question, but I haven't started a giving circle this year. 00:47:04.559 --> 00:47:06.159 So you know what? 00:47:06.239 --> 00:47:17.679 I think, and I'll go back to one of my first um women of the mission programs that I went to when I first started at at Mercy. 00:47:18.639 --> 00:47:20.480 It was a cup of tea. 00:47:21.199 --> 00:47:25.760 It was a cup of tea and some cookies, and it was a program. 00:47:26.400 --> 00:47:29.679 So not a huge expense by any means. 00:47:31.039 --> 00:47:32.880 And and I think we touched on this earlier. 00:47:33.039 --> 00:47:41.199 If you're a small nonprofit with limited staff, um it might not be realistic to do this right now. 00:47:42.159 --> 00:47:53.280 Um, if you've been a one-person development office for several years and it is you know it's time to start something like this, you probably could do it. 00:47:53.360 --> 00:47:58.320 If you in your gut, you know it's time, then that means you probably can do it and you're probably ready. 00:47:58.480 --> 00:48:09.920 But if if you're just starting out and the development department isn't strong yet, you don't have a signature special event yet, it's not the first thing you hop into. 00:48:10.079 --> 00:48:10.400 No. 00:48:10.559 --> 00:48:28.159 It it comes after you've built your development department on the other basics, like a an annual mailer and uh an event and um ask face-to-face asks and

that it's more of a it's something you do on down the road when you have something to offer. 00:48:28.480 --> 00:48:28.800 Right. 00:48:29.360 --> 00:48:29.840 Right. 00:48:30.079 --> 00:48:30.320 Yeah. 00:48:30.480 --> 00:48:34.239 And I think you know, you will find a champion. 00:48:34.480 --> 00:48:42.800 You will find a champion that is either on your organizational board, hospital board, hope cancer foundation boards. 00:48:44.000 --> 00:48:48.480 That that champion can help you get your program going. 00:48:49.679 --> 00:48:50.079 Yeah. 00:48:50.320 --> 00:48:53.760 And I've noticed it works for um operations. 00:48:53.920 --> 00:49:02.400 Like, like just a reminder, with women with a mission, it's it's we're giving to operational equipment, stuff that's happening right that second. 00:49:02.960 --> 00:49:07.920 With gays, uh foundate founders' circle or uh hope circle. 00:49:08.239 --> 00:49:09.119 What's the official name? 00:49:09.360 --> 00:49:11.039 Circle of heads, circle of hope. 00:49:11.440 --> 00:49:16.400 They are able to, they're giving towards the endowment, but they're also giving to an immediate need. 00:49:16.800 --> 00:49:22.960 It you can come up with, it could be an annual giving circle, a monthly donor giving circle. 00:49:23.039 --> 00:49:28.800 Like you can come up with all different shapes and sizes of your circle. 00:49:28.880 --> 00:49:35.440 Um, but the pooled gift is the ultimate greatest thing about this circle. 00:49:35.679 --> 00:49:38.719 And um, so uh we talked about it earlier. 00:49:38.960 --> 00:49:45.760 You may feel like your small donation or your donation that's big to you is not making a dent in anything. 00:49:45.840 --> 00:50:00.000 But when you see it come to fruition when it's pooled with everybody else's, um have you seen members who are a part of the circle increase their giving because of their experience in the circle? 00:50:00.480 --> 00:50:01.199 I know yours. 00:50:01.519 --> 00:50:01.920 Yes. 00:50:02.159 --> 00:50:02.559 Yes. 00:50:02.960 --> 00:50:04.159 And yours is brand new. 00:50:04.639 --> 00:50:05.039 Yeah. 00:50:05.360 --> 00:50:07.199 We have seen it in different ways. 00:50:07.360 --> 00:50:07.599 Okay. 00:50:07.840 --> 00:50:10.159 Not necessarily an additional gift. 00:50:10.400 --> 00:50:11.679 Well, I'll take that back. 00:50:11.920 --> 00:50:12.800 Yeah, take it right back. 00:50:13.119 --> 00:50:14.639 I'm gonna take it right back. 00:50:14.960 --> 00:50:33.840 Because we did, when we did our allocation meeting last February, there was um a program that really spoke to one of our members, and she had already paid her annual dues, and she took out her checkbook and wrote a check right there and said, I can pay for that. 00:50:34.079 --> 00:50:35.360 Let me buy that. 00:50:35.760 --> 00:50:41.280 So I think yes, but the other ways we see it is their involvement in other activities. 00:50:41.840 --> 00:50:46.639 You see, they may come to our charity ball, they may play in our golf tournament. 00:50:47.679 --> 00:50:49.280 They'll call they'll come to cornhole. 00:50:49.519 --> 00:50:49.760 Right. 00:50:49.920 --> 00:50:54.719 Um, they'll they may come to corporate roundtable to hear what's going on in the hospital. 00:50:54.960 --> 00:51:00.000 So I think once they're engaged with your mission, they crave more information. 00:51:00.159 --> 00:51:00.320 Right. 00:51:00.480 --> 00:51:03.519 They want to know more and how they can help do more. 00:51:04.159 --> 00:51:12.480 And I think in do in thinking of that, like being willing to be transparent and open to their questions. 00:51:12.880 --> 00:51:20.079 I had a um one member before she joined, she said, Would you share your financials with me? 00:51:21.280 --> 00:51:22.239 I said, Absolutely. 00:51:22.400 --> 00:51:24.800 Yeah, and so I did that. 00:51:25.039 --> 00:51:30.880 I gave a lot of information, but I'm like, if we we want to sit down and visit, I was like, I'm good. 00:51:31.840 --> 00:51:33.119 Thank you for being willing to share. 00:51:34.559 --> 00:51:40.559 Um anything mission, I would say share um through a e-newsletter. 00:51:40.719 --> 00:51:44.719 Sometimes it's picking up the phone and saying, I gotta tell you what happened today. 00:51:45.360 --> 00:51:54.559 You know, um, but it it helps people again, it's like it's so personal and it's like I just wanted you to know. 00:51:54.960 --> 00:52:00.800 And I think the stewardship of a circle um is very, very important. 00:52:01.199 --> 00:52:02.960 It's important with any donor. 00:52:03.440 --> 00:52:11.599 Um, but because it's a little bit tighter, I think the stewardship um needs to be a little bit stronger. 00:52:13.199 --> 00:52:20.800 And what you said about the choices, you know, at that at our meeting, that annual meeting, um, that happened to me one year. 00:52:21.039 --> 00:52:28.719 Because you list, you don't just list the thing, like some of that equipment, you see the zeros on that, and you're like, oh my word. 00:52:28.880 --> 00:52:42.000 But then you think we're able to help with that because of our all of our pooled resources, but then always down at the the bottom, there's like, you know, breast bags for the mammogram patients. 00:52:42.079 --> 00:52:49.440 Or and yeah, I went home that day, and I thought, I mean, that is less than$2,000. 00:52:49.920 --> 00:52:53.679 Yeah, we I could just ask you 10 friends or something. 00:52:53.760 --> 00:52:55.519 And I five friends, yeah, yeah. 00:52:55.679 --> 00:52:56.800 And she raised the money. 00:52:57.119 --> 00:53:01.599 And we all support so that they could this one did we can just get this one taken care of. 00:53:02.880 --> 00:53:04.639 Scratch that scratch that off the desk. 00:53:04.719 --> 00:53:06.079 That's when you put a little heart diet. 00:53:06.320 --> 00:53:13.840 Yeah, we give we provide these these blessing bags or these uh breast bags because it was just like a uh whatever comes. 00:53:14.239 --> 00:53:17.199 It was

a book, it was a book, educational materials. 00:53:17.280 --> 00:53:19.679 I think there was a blanket that might have been in there. 00:53:19.840 --> 00:53:21.039 I think the blanket's what got me. 00:53:21.119 --> 00:53:22.639 Yeah, blanket. 00:53:22.800 --> 00:53:25.280 I thought I know people that would want to give to that. 00:53:25.360 --> 00:53:27.119 And if we just split it up, we get it all. 00:53:27.440 --> 00:53:42.239 And that that was it gives an opportunity that's um for us to go ahead and tackle that stuff at the top with all the zeros, but it's always good keep listing those because the people like me and like the lady that said, I can just do that. 00:53:42.480 --> 00:53:43.360 You know, that's the best. 00:53:45.119 --> 00:53:49.920 Um, and gay brought up stewardship, which is totally my language. 00:53:51.280 --> 00:53:57.599 Because it's not about just getting the membership and the gift, it's everything that happens after. 00:53:57.840 --> 00:54:06.800 And that's that's where I think um this donor stewardship relationship building, all of it comes in, is after they join. 00:54:07.119 --> 00:54:10.400 And how has that helped with your donor stewardship? 00:54:10.559 --> 00:54:15.440 Like how has it helped you be more mindful, more thoughtful? 00:54:15.599 --> 00:54:23.199 Um, you probably think of the circle as, oh, need to let them know the news is about to break that we won the five-star. 00:54:23.679 --> 00:54:28.320 Yes, yes, you know, right, leap front, yeah, gold standard. 00:54:28.400 --> 00:54:32.079 And we want them to know and explain what that is out when they're out on the street. 00:54:32.320 --> 00:54:37.679 Or um, it just gives you all those reasons to continue to communicate. 00:54:37.760 --> 00:54:43.039 But tell us about stewardship and how has the circle helped you with your stewardship goals? 00:54:43.280 --> 00:54:53.599 And I say that because even though we all know stewardship is so important, a life in a nonprofit has all these burning flames. 00:54:53.840 --> 00:55:04.400 Just they're all it's like chicken dinner, tablecloth color, um, you know, balls that are dropped, you know, flames are just happening all around us. 00:55:04.639 --> 00:55:12.400 And so the the things that aren't so urgent, like saying thank you a billion times, get put on the back burner. 00:55:12.639 --> 00:55:34.559 And is this a way that helps get that back to the front burner of this is just as urgent as this fire that's on, you know, that's happening right here on my desk, or I think we do a really great job in thanking our our our donors, or whether um annual giving, major gift, regardless, donors. 00:55:35.119 --> 00:55:42.639 Um, I think that is the key to building that relationship is to continue to be in touch with them. 00:55:43.039 --> 00:55:49.599 You know about them, you know about their kids, you know about their spouse, you know about where they like to vacation. 00:55:49.760 --> 00:55:51.280 You're a part of their

family. 00:55:51.519 --> 00:55:52.159 That's how I feel. 00:55:52.400 --> 00:55:54.079 It has it deepens the relationship. 00:55:54.400 --> 00:55:54.800 It does. 00:55:54.880 --> 00:55:55.119 Yeah. 00:55:55.280 --> 00:55:55.920 It does. 00:55:56.159 --> 00:55:59.280 Um, I will remember, and I'm sure gay, you do. 00:55:59.519 --> 00:56:03.360 If I know somebody's taken a nice trip, just a quick little note. 00:56:03.679 --> 00:56:04.880 Hey, enjoy your trip. 00:56:05.039 --> 00:56:05.199 Right. 00:56:05.440 --> 00:56:12.320 It it stewardship should not be, oh my gosh, I'm gonna have to write a letter or something. 00:56:12.480 --> 00:56:14.000 Kids don't write letters anymore. 00:56:14.159 --> 00:56:14.880 I do write letters. 00:56:15.280 --> 00:56:16.000 I still write. 00:56:16.159 --> 00:56:16.639 Yeah. 00:56:16.880 --> 00:56:27.360 But um, stewardship should be the fun part of receiving a gift because you're, like I said, continuing to build that relationship with that person. 00:56:28.800 --> 00:56:30.800 And really a a thank you. 00:56:34.960 --> 00:56:35.920 It is not hard. 00:56:36.559 --> 00:56:38.159 It's not hard to thank someone. 00:56:38.559 --> 00:56:42.239 And the stamp and the handwritten note are still the best way. 00:56:42.800 --> 00:56:46.400 I write a lot of notes, um, I make a lot of phone calls. 00:56:46.960 --> 00:56:54.719 You know, Northwest Arkansas is really big, but we all laugh because we're like, and yet it's really small. 00:56:54.880 --> 00:57:11.920 We rub elbows a lot, and so we run into each other, and so it it's great when you run into uh someone who's part of your circle, who is one of your donors, or their friends, and you still can have this meaningful conversation. 00:57:12.079 --> 00:57:20.960 And we're not asking them for money every time we see them, but we we do remind them that we care about their life. 00:57:21.360 --> 00:57:33.280 Um kids going off to college, um, starting first grade, you know, um, empty nesting, all the things that are pivotal moments in our lives. 00:57:33.440 --> 00:57:35.519 Well, they happen in our donors' lives too. 00:57:35.679 --> 00:57:36.000 Yes. 00:57:36.239 --> 00:57:47.039 And so um the more I think the one of the big things that we can do um in the fundraising field is give people our time. 00:57:48.000 --> 00:57:52.639 And um sometimes people see that as like, oh, you have a meeting. 00:57:52.880 --> 00:57:56.480 And it's like, well, actually, we're just we're connecting. 00:57:56.719 --> 00:57:56.880 Yeah. 00:57:57.280 --> 00:58:00.079 And I learned something every time I sit down. 00:58:00.320 --> 00:58:07.599 We did um with our founders just this summer, just to kind of break up the group a little bit. 00:58:07.760 --> 00:58:16.480 We had some smaller coffees, and so we just call them circle connections, and we met in coffee shops in different places in northwest Arkansas. 00:58:16.880 --> 00:58:17.760 And who could come. 00:58:19.199 --> 00:58:31.440 And but I will

say um we talked um a little bit about the services of hope cancer resources because there was usually a question. 00:58:31.760 --> 00:58:44.079 But what really that time was about was tell me about your summer, tell me what's going on with your family, um tell me about your friend, you know, everybody has so much in their life. 00:58:44.639 --> 00:59:00.159 And so, um, but to see other members connect, um, one coffee specifically, one had a really good friend who had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, um, and very she was very concerned about her and how can I help? 00:59:00.480 --> 00:59:08.239 And another person that was at the coffee is like, I'm actually a six-year breast cancer survivor. 00:59:08.480 --> 00:59:19.599 Um, and so if she has questions that she wants to ask someone who's actually had this surgery, had this treatment, I'm happy to visit with her. 00:59:20.079 --> 00:59:25.679 And I was like, this is what it is, this is what connections are, and this is how we help each other. 00:59:26.079 --> 00:59:39.119 And so it was really a beautiful way to bring um a group of women closer together that maybe would not have done that just in our regular brunch meeting. 00:59:39.440 --> 00:59:39.840 Right. 00:59:40.079 --> 00:59:45.599 So uh women with a mission, our little members um have become my new book club. 00:59:46.559 --> 00:59:46.880 Nice. 00:59:47.199 --> 00:59:52.320 I get better recommendations from this group of women on what should I be reading? 00:59:53.199 --> 00:59:58.079 And it's just a wonderful opportunity for them to share what they liked, what they didn't like. 00:59:58.239 --> 01:00:02.159 And um, I have read three great books that have been recommended. 01:00:03.199 --> 01:00:03.679 Nice. 01:00:03.760 --> 01:00:04.639 Yeah, yeah. 01:00:04.880 --> 01:00:11.039 Y'all, y'all have done so well that half of the questions on that that one page, y'all answered them in your other answers. 01:00:11.199 --> 01:00:13.679 So sorry I'm gonna no, no, it's great. 01:00:13.920 --> 01:00:14.480 It's great. 01:00:14.559 --> 01:00:18.719 It's it's exactly what I love about this because it all just bubbles up. 01:00:18.800 --> 01:00:19.039 Yeah. 01:00:19.199 --> 01:00:21.760 And it's not it, we don't have to be structured. 01:00:21.840 --> 01:00:23.199 We're literally just talking. 01:00:23.360 --> 01:00:27.119 But okay, now we have to talk about have there been any mistakes? 01:00:27.280 --> 01:00:32.960 Has there been anything that you did along the way and everybody thought, uh oh, we shouldn't have done that? 01:00:34.480 --> 01:00:37.199 I'm sure that I'm sure I've made money. 01:00:37.679 --> 01:00:38.559 Let me think. 01:00:39.039 --> 01:00:40.239 I think y'all would know. 01:00:40.400 --> 01:00:41.199 I think you would know. 01:00:41.280 --> 01:00:42.400 You'd say, well, uh-huh. 01:00:42.639 --> 01:00:49.760 The day we gave away the blue thing and it got blue all over everybody's, you know, dress or whatever, you know. 01:00:50.159 --> 01:00:58.480 I would say we all need to be reminded that we're not perfect, but also perfection is not expected. 01:00:59.280 --> 01:01:03.440 And so there will be things that we don't do as well. 01:01:03.840 --> 01:01:07.440 I can't say, like, oh, that was an absolute mistake. 01:01:07.679 --> 01:01:14.000 Um but there are probably things that are like I may would have done that differently. 01:01:14.079 --> 01:01:14.400 Yeah. 01:01:14.559 --> 01:01:14.960 Yeah. 01:01:15.199 --> 01:01:17.119 And it's the thing, you gotta do it. 01:01:17.199 --> 01:01:19.840 You gotta push yourself and do it so that you find that out. 01:01:20.079 --> 01:01:20.320 Yeah. 01:01:20.880 --> 01:01:21.199 Yeah. 01:01:21.360 --> 01:01:21.599 Yeah. 01:01:21.760 --> 01:01:22.639 That's right. 01:01:23.280 --> 01:01:24.159 That's right. 01:01:24.400 --> 01:01:25.360 I'm trying to think. 01:01:25.440 --> 01:01:28.639 We definitely I don't want to admit that. 01:01:28.880 --> 01:01:29.440 Yeah, yeah. 01:01:29.599 --> 01:01:31.440 Do not, you don't have to either. 01:01:31.679 --> 01:01:35.599 Um, okay, we're we're to the portion we're gonna do this rapid fire advice. 01:01:35.760 --> 01:01:36.320 Oh gosh, okay. 01:01:36.559 --> 01:01:43.840 Like I'm gonna ask something, and then y'all can give quick, quick advice to the nonprofit uh professional that's listening. 01:01:44.079 --> 01:01:46.320 Okay, so small situation. 01:01:46.400 --> 01:01:51.119 So small nonprofit, one development person, giving circle, yes or no? 01:01:51.360 --> 01:01:52.400 Not yet. 01:01:53.119 --> 01:01:53.440 Okay. 01:01:54.159 --> 01:01:56.159 Brand new development program. 01:01:56.480 --> 01:01:58.000 Start now or wait. 01:01:58.400 --> 01:01:58.800 Wait. 01:01:58.960 --> 01:01:59.280 Wait. 01:01:59.440 --> 01:01:59.679 Okay. 01:01:59.920 --> 01:02:01.760 That you can plan in your waiting. 01:02:01.920 --> 01:02:02.239 Yes. 01:02:02.480 --> 01:02:02.719 Okay. 01:02:03.119 --> 01:02:04.639 Like you can have your idea list. 01:02:04.880 --> 01:02:05.119 Yes. 01:02:05.440 --> 01:02:08.800 And and kind of like maybe, maybe now, still wait. 01:02:09.039 --> 01:02:09.440 Yeah. 01:02:10.400 --> 01:02:13.920 Uh can't decide on your minimum gift for the circle. 01:02:14.079 --> 01:02:15.440 What should they consider? 01:02:18.079 --> 01:02:21.760 Again, it's based upon your organization and your mission. 01:02:21.840 --> 01:02:24.880 And I mean, there's so many factors involved in that. 01:02:25.360 --> 01:02:31.840 Um, again, don't follow some other program just because that's what they ask for. 01:02:32.000 --> 01:02:37.280 But you know your board is gonna say, well, if they can get that, then we should ask for that. 01:02:37.679 --> 01:02:41.360 But we have to say to the board, but here's why we need to do our own thing. 01:02:41.760 --> 01:02:43.519 It's gonna say evaluate your own data. 01:02:43.679 --> 01:02:43.840 Yeah. 01:02:44.000 --> 01:02:45.679 Like what's your largest gift?

01:02:45.760 --> 01:02:54.320 What's your average gift, annual gift, and look at where your donors are, meet them where they are, make it accessible. 01:02:54.719 --> 01:03:03.599 It may still be a stretch goal, which is okay, but it still needs to be accessible to you and attainable to your donors. 01:03:03.760 --> 01:03:04.000 Yeah. 01:03:04.320 --> 01:03:04.559 Okay. 01:03:04.800 --> 01:03:07.119 Say you have 10 donors interested. 01:03:07.360 --> 01:03:09.360 Is that enough to start? 01:03:10.639 --> 01:03:11.280 It could be. 01:03:11.679 --> 01:03:12.480 I think so too. 01:03:13.039 --> 01:03:14.239 It's a good starting point. 01:03:14.800 --> 01:03:15.440 That's right. 01:03:15.760 --> 01:03:18.960 Okay, your board is not excited about it. 01:03:19.119 --> 01:03:20.400 What do you do? 01:03:22.239 --> 01:03:24.480 I think you show them a story. 01:03:24.960 --> 01:03:36.639 I think you show the value to them on how this could really change somebody's life, um, benefits to the hospital, benefits to our patient. 01:03:37.039 --> 01:03:37.760 Share a story. 01:03:38.000 --> 01:03:41.119 I think storytelling is so valuable. 01:03:41.440 --> 01:03:41.679 Yeah. 01:03:42.480 --> 01:03:42.639 Okay. 01:03:42.800 --> 01:03:50.960 What if your giving circle was launched, but lately it something, you know, there's been change and now that it's been stale for a couple of years. 01:03:51.119 --> 01:03:52.000 What do you do? 01:03:52.639 --> 01:03:54.159 How do you revive it? 01:03:57.599 --> 01:03:58.960 I think you pick up the phone. 01:03:59.119 --> 01:03:59.360 Yeah. 01:04:00.079 --> 01:04:03.840 You know, I think there's it I think it depends on why it went stale. 01:04:04.559 --> 01:04:08.000 You know, there might like evaluate really what's going on. 01:04:08.320 --> 01:04:16.800 And back to like asking them, talk to some of them, either on the phone, in person, like help me identify this. 01:04:16.960 --> 01:04:23.039 Help us get this, help us get this fire feeling to do to survive it, to bring it back. 01:04:23.199 --> 01:04:24.480 Like we're down to an ember. 01:04:24.800 --> 01:04:26.159 We need this to be a glow. 01:04:26.480 --> 01:04:27.679 Help us get to that. 01:04:27.920 --> 01:04:41.599 And I think in again, like asking people to join you, um, it will it will flourish unless there's a a really horrible reason, which that's probably not gonna be the case. 01:04:41.760 --> 01:04:43.679 No, sometimes it's busyness. 01:04:44.320 --> 01:04:49.840 Um, and so, or we may realize like we've dropped our communication, right? 01:04:49.920 --> 01:04:52.800 Like, so we have to be willing to self-evaluate also. 01:04:53.199 --> 01:04:59.440 Now remember we had that episode with Teresa Mills, and it was about what do you do when the blank hits the fan? 01:05:00.559 --> 01:05:09.039 And she said the blank hit the fan, she became executive director and realized the fan was blowing the blank all over. 01:05:09.599 --> 01:05:11.280 Blanket it blank blank.

01:05:11.519 --> 01:05:13.280 And she said, I saw the books. 01:05:14.239 --> 01:05:24.320 She said the first thing she did was she just got on the phone with every board member and then every donor to tell them personally, here is what's happening. 01:05:24.559 --> 01:05:33.599 So it's it's literally a a way to just communicate, ask for advice, which always leads to a commitment and a partner partnership. 01:05:34.559 --> 01:05:44.960 And I think it gives us perspective when we ask people, because what we may feel like, oh, this has kind of gotten they're like, no, no, I don't feel that way at all. 01:05:45.199 --> 01:05:45.360 Yeah. 01:05:45.519 --> 01:05:50.800 And I was just talking to somebody about this yesterday, or this just happened, and I'm looking forward to this. 01:05:50.960 --> 01:05:57.119 And so, but sometimes we just need to hear that to be like, okay, yeah, that's that's good. 01:05:57.280 --> 01:05:57.920 Yeah, you know. 01:05:58.800 --> 01:05:59.599 Okay, members. 01:06:00.239 --> 01:06:02.880 Love the social part more than the fundraising part. 01:06:02.960 --> 01:06:05.360 Is that a problem or an opportunity? 01:06:05.920 --> 01:06:07.280 I don't see that as a problem. 01:06:07.679 --> 01:06:08.239 I don't either. 01:06:08.800 --> 01:06:10.800 No, I don't make it fun. 01:06:11.039 --> 01:06:12.239 So they want to be a part of it. 01:06:12.400 --> 01:06:12.639 Yes. 01:06:12.800 --> 01:06:16.000 And that's what they said today in that one session we were in. 01:06:16.320 --> 01:06:19.280 You know, you don't have to spend a lot of money to have fun. 01:06:19.519 --> 01:06:19.760 Right. 01:06:19.840 --> 01:06:20.320 That's right. 01:06:20.480 --> 01:06:23.840 So they encourage us, you know, just make something fun. 01:06:24.159 --> 01:06:25.360 People want to have fun. 01:06:25.519 --> 01:06:25.840 Yes. 01:06:26.000 --> 01:06:27.440 And they want good lemonade. 01:06:27.599 --> 01:06:28.559 That was also sick. 01:06:29.039 --> 01:06:31.679 Well, and people are drawn to where there's energy. 01:06:32.480 --> 01:06:34.880 You know, and so and fun creates energy. 01:06:35.039 --> 01:06:35.519 Yes. 01:06:35.760 --> 01:06:36.079 Okay. 01:06:36.320 --> 01:06:39.840 One thing every successful giving circle must have. 01:06:44.639 --> 01:06:47.360 You have to have a strong commitment from the very beginning. 01:06:48.079 --> 01:06:49.199 That board commitment. 01:06:49.840 --> 01:06:50.719 And the founder leadership. 01:06:50.960 --> 01:06:52.400 And a founder leadership. 01:06:52.480 --> 01:06:54.800 And we do have a steering committee. 01:06:55.119 --> 01:07:00.559 So the commitment from them to give ideas on things they want to see. 01:07:00.719 --> 01:07:02.079 So that commitment. 01:07:02.800 --> 01:07:03.119 Okay. 01:07:03.360 --> 01:07:03.760 Good. 01:07:04.079 --> 01:07:04.400 Okay. 01:07:04.639 --> 01:07:05.760 We're running out of time. 01:07:05.840 --> 01:07:09.519 So we're going to the um towards the end. 01:07:09.679 --> 01:07:26.960 And I thank you both so much for being here and doing this because this is just one of those things in the fundraising toolkit that we can add to all of the things we do, you know, at the right appropriate time when we have, you know, when we're ready to go with it. 01:07:27.199 --> 01:07:37.519 But your experiences, your ideas, the lessons you've learned along the way, this is what I hope my listeners get to hear about all the aspects of nonprofit life and fundraising. 01:07:37.679 --> 01:07:43.519 And I hope they all walk away, remembering that a giving circle isn't just about pooling money. 01:07:43.760 --> 01:07:52.400 It's about pooling the people, the passion, ideas, relationships, and generosity around something they care about. 01:07:52.960 --> 01:07:55.440 And so we have done that today. 01:07:55.519 --> 01:08:04.159 And I know that if you have any questions or want a follow-up, you can always email me at askallison at allisonmackelroy.org. 01:08:04.320 --> 01:08:08.719 And I can get you to Allison Levin and Gay Prescott. 01:08:08.800 --> 01:08:10.480 I can get you their information if you want to talk. 01:08:10.639 --> 01:08:13.280 They would talk to anybody about we love to talk. 01:08:13.440 --> 01:08:14.320 They love to talk. 01:08:14.559 --> 01:08:15.039 We love to talk. 01:08:15.280 --> 01:08:16.560 We all love to mentor. 01:08:16.720 --> 01:08:18.399 So you can always reach out to us. 01:08:18.560 --> 01:08:24.640 Okay, so now you guys get to ask me anything you want because it's the Ask Allison podcast. 01:08:24.800 --> 01:08:28.000 Y'all get to ask me anything you want about anything. 01:08:28.079 --> 01:08:30.479 It doesn't even have to be about fundraising. 01:08:32.560 --> 01:08:34.640 What's your favorite vacation place? 01:08:35.119 --> 01:08:36.159 Oh my goodness. 01:08:36.239 --> 01:08:38.720 There have been so you were going to ask about a book. 01:08:39.520 --> 01:08:40.079 Yeah. 01:08:40.319 --> 01:08:43.840 Um, we were just talking about this the other night. 01:08:44.000 --> 01:08:50.079 We've my Dwayne is our vacation planner, and he goes overboard on the special. 01:08:50.560 --> 01:08:54.000 Um, it seems to be every other year now on the big one. 01:08:54.159 --> 01:08:55.199 We call it the big one. 01:08:55.359 --> 01:08:55.680 Okay. 01:08:56.000 --> 01:09:05.359 And we were talking the other night, and we we we feel guilty against it's nothing against the other vacations because they were all wonderful too. 01:09:05.600 --> 01:09:18.399 But we were talking about the the vacation to Italy and Greece, and how I never thought I would see those places in my life and getting to see the things I'd seen pictures of all my life. 01:09:18.560 --> 01:09:20.640 And it was a breathtaking trip. 01:09:20.800 --> 01:09:24.319 And then that led us to talk about some other trips and the great things about those trips. 01:09:24.479 --> 01:09:29.920 But I think we both keep going back to, and I think I do too, is

getting to see Venice. 01:09:30.640 --> 01:09:33.920 And we both were born in 1970. 01:09:34.079 --> 01:09:45.439 He was born in January, I was born in December, and we had a children's book, both of us, called um, oh goodness, what was it called? 01:09:45.760 --> 01:09:46.479 Dad Gum. 01:09:46.720 --> 01:09:48.560 It just went right out of my head. 01:09:48.880 --> 01:09:58.079 It was about the little kid who visited all these places, and we both remembered the Venice section of that book, and it shows him in the gondola. 01:09:58.319 --> 01:09:58.640 Yes. 01:09:59.279 --> 01:10:01.840 And while I can't, I think of the name of that book. 01:10:01.920 --> 01:10:03.439 I'll think of it before this is over. 01:10:03.520 --> 01:10:04.239 I have to. 01:10:04.479 --> 01:10:10.880 And we both, when we both realized we both had that book, uh, we we neither one had it anymore. 01:10:11.199 --> 01:10:13.119 Come over to my house. 01:10:13.439 --> 01:10:14.640 That's what it's called. 01:10:15.199 --> 01:10:24.319 Anyway, uh, so that was something close to Venice, yeah, was because we remembered the Venice part of that book and wanting to see it someday. 01:10:24.800 --> 01:10:29.279 And he had already seen it, I think at 15, uh, which is a whole nother story. 01:10:29.359 --> 01:10:33.439 He got to go on a trip all by himself with a group. 01:10:33.680 --> 01:10:44.640 Um, but for me to finally get to go, you know, at 53 years old and see it with my own eyes and experience it, yeah. 01:10:44.800 --> 01:10:45.680 That's a good question. 01:10:46.000 --> 01:10:46.159 Yeah. 01:10:46.640 --> 01:10:48.479 So and then Santorini. 01:10:48.800 --> 01:10:55.039 Oh seeing Santorini, yes, you know, and the glow and of those white just the beauty. 01:10:56.800 --> 01:10:57.119 Yeah. 01:10:57.600 --> 01:10:58.720 Do you have a good question? 01:10:59.119 --> 01:10:59.840 I have a question. 01:11:00.159 --> 01:11:00.479 Okay. 01:11:01.359 --> 01:11:13.600 So what what has been your favorite ask donor experience that has just kind of stayed with you and inspires you when you think about it? 01:11:14.239 --> 01:11:27.119 I think it would go back to our when Brenda and I were doing our capital campaign at Open Avenues and things just kept at first it seemed like nothing was gonna happen ever. 01:11:27.439 --> 01:11:30.560 And, you know, why can't we be popular like Mercy? 01:11:31.039 --> 01:11:34.560 Or why can't we, you know, no one gets us, you know. 01:11:34.800 --> 01:11:36.960 And then things just started happening. 01:11:37.039 --> 01:11:37.199 Yeah. 01:11:37.359 --> 01:11:41.199 And I remember we kept meeting with this gentleman named Arthur. 01:11:42.000 --> 01:11:50.640 And um, Arthur wasn't the a big philanthropist, it wasn't something that he did all the time. 01:11:50.880 --> 01:12:01.039 And when we found out that he finally decided to make a gift to the campaign that was substantial and would help us, you know, inch toward yeah, yep. 01:12:01.279 --> 01:12:02.399 It it was huge. 01:12:02.560 --> 01:12:03.359 It was huge for me. 01:12:03.680 --> 01:12:05.199 You know, I remember being at lunch. 01:12:05.279 --> 01:12:10.800 I remember uh going to the bathroom while we were at lunch because the lunch was we kept talking and talking. 01:12:10.960 --> 01:12:16.560 And Leanne, my very best friend, was pregnant and she went into labor while we were at the lunch with Arthur. 01:12:16.640 --> 01:12:17.760 And so I'll never forget it. 01:12:17.840 --> 01:12:18.960 It was February. 01:12:19.279 --> 01:12:32.079 Um but that that was very monumental because we honestly did not know if he was a true candidate or if we were just barking up a tree of but for him to do that was huge. 01:12:32.159 --> 01:12:38.479 And then and then there was the other one was um a planned gift that was made during the campaign. 01:12:40.000 --> 01:12:58.560 And um it was a parent of a participant in the program, and we thought one thing it was decided he was going to leave the organization in his plans and uh for when he passed away. 01:12:58.960 --> 01:13:03.119 And that was going to that also counted in the campaign. 01:13:03.199 --> 01:13:05.279 So it helped us, you know, reach next goal. 01:13:05.439 --> 01:13:09.119 But when he passed, lo and behold, he had changed it. 01:13:09.439 --> 01:13:16.880 And but we weren't upset about it because it was to the participant, uh his daughter, still uh needed that. 01:13:17.119 --> 01:13:18.800 Yes, and so it was to her. 01:13:18.960 --> 01:13:28.239 Yes, um, and so we understood that everyone would understand that, but but then she passed away uh two years ago. 01:13:28.720 --> 01:13:31.199 And Brenda and I are no longer at Open Avenue. 01:13:31.439 --> 01:13:32.640 Brenda's retired, you know. 01:13:32.720 --> 01:13:39.600 I left in 2015 and he had left it all after she passed away. 01:13:39.920 --> 01:13:51.359 Oh Open Avenue received this beautiful planned gift after years and years, and we had decided that maybe it could still be possible, but we weren't sure. 01:13:51.520 --> 01:13:51.760 Yeah. 01:13:52.000 --> 01:13:56.479 And to know that it came to fruition and it's a a big reminder of planned giving. 01:13:56.640 --> 01:13:57.439 That's right. 01:13:57.680 --> 01:13:58.880 You just never know. 01:13:59.199 --> 01:13:59.520 Never know. 01:13:59.920 --> 01:14:00.399 You never know. 01:14:00.479 --> 01:14:09.600 The ones that are yeses could be no's by the time something happens, and the ones you think are absolutely never gonna happen can happen just not in mid time you thought it was. 01:14:10.079 --> 01:14:20.159 So but how deeply meaningful our programs are in Northwest Arkansas helping people and it shows. 01:14:21.279 --> 01:14:21.680 Yeah. 01:14:22.079 --> 01:14:22.319 Yeah. 01:14:22.479 --> 01:14:23.039 Well, nice. 01:14:23.279 --> 01:14:23.920 Thank you all again. 01:14:24.159 --> 01:14:31.199 And to all my nonprofit friends listening, you don't have to do everything or have everything figured out all by yourself. 01:14:31.439 --> 01:14:36.880 You can start somewhere, build relationships, take care of your donors, and keep moving your mission forward. 01:14:37.039 --> 01:14:41.520 And remember, when you don't know what to do next, you can always ask Allison. 01:14:42.159 --> 01:14:43.279 Of course she can. 01:14:43.680 --> 01:14:45.439 So I'll see you next time. 01:14:45.680 --> 01:14:49.039 And oh my goodness, there's some big news coming out tomorrow. 01:14:49.199 --> 01:14:55.119 By the time this airs, I will be starting a new position. 01:14:55.359 --> 01:15:00.239 Um, and I am thrilled to say that I am, I've totally forgot this. 01:15:00.880 --> 01:15:05.600 I am going to be the chief development officer at the Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. 01:15:05.840 --> 01:15:06.399 Yay! 01:15:07.039 --> 01:15:14.800 So when you hear this, the news has gotten out, and the Ask Allison podcast will still be here. 01:15:15.119 --> 01:15:21.920 Um, but I will be coming with uh some new perspectives as getting back into the uh trenches. 01:15:22.079 --> 01:15:23.359 I guess I missed them. 01:15:23.600 --> 01:15:27.119 I'm wanting to get back in there and roll my sleeves up even more. 01:15:27.359 --> 01:15:31.199 So, anyway, that's just a little aside that we threw in at that last. 01:15:31.359 --> 01:15:34.479 And and now remember, all you have to do is ask Allison. 01:15:34.880 --> 01:15:40.720 Well, and you are gonna make a major, major change to that fabulous organization. 01:15:41.039 --> 01:15:42.079 I love the food bank. 01:15:42.159 --> 01:15:43.279 Yeah, I have volunteered there. 01:15:44.239 --> 01:15:44.880 I love it too. 01:15:45.199 --> 01:15:50.479 Yeah, it's it's a jewel in our Northwest Arkansas or uh organization lineup. 01:15:50.640 --> 01:15:51.520 So beautiful. 01:15:51.680 --> 01:15:56.239 Um, we'll see how I sound next month at the Ask Allison podcast. 01:15:56.560 --> 01:16:00.000 If I'm have all my hair pulled out or, you know, we'll see. 01:16:00.159 --> 01:16:04.079 But I know it's gonna be rewarding and I am tickled to death to be a part of it. 01:16:04.319 --> 01:16:05.359 So, but thank you both. 01:16:06.000 --> 01:16:06.159 Thank you. 01:16:06.399 --> 01:16:06.640 Thank you. 01:16:06.800 --> 01:16:09.600 Okay, ask Allison, share with your friends.