Charter's new outreach program ....

Charter's new outreach program .... Together, we can help improve our communities. Learn how

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Charter our Community, our national philanthropic initiative, has been changing lives one home at a time. Our goal is to improve 25,000 unsafe homes by 2020. Since January 2015, we've helped strengthen and improve over 300 homes across the U.S. Check out our inspiring stories From energy-saving tips to home improvements, find out how you can keep your home safe and healthy. Help us reach our goal! Learn how If you are a low-income homeowner or know someone in need of assistance with their home, you can apply for help through our partner Rebuilding Together.

Talking about Planned Giving ...

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You Don't Have to Learn Armenian to "Get" Planned Giving Thursday, June 25 @ 2:00 PM EDT Lauren D'Ambrosio and Viken Mikaelian Don't just simplify. Over-simplify. Your prospects should not have to learn another language to "get" planned giving. In fact, they won't learn another language. So if you're not speaking to them in ways they can easily understand … forget about it. You might as well close down your planned giving program and go back to chasing checks. In a world where your average prospect is inundated with over 3500 marketing messages a day, the secret to getting your message heard is to make it very simple. Any communication that requires analysis or a second read … nix it. This goes for your planned giving website, direct mail, display ads, donor estate planning webinars, videos, and digital outreach. Anything that's impossible to simplify (such as a planned giving newsletter) … ditch it. In this webinar Lauren D'Ambrosio and Viken Mikaelian of PlannedGiving.Com will show you how to speak to your prospects in simple, everyday language. They'll showcase real-world examples and give you punchy phrases and elevator pitches you can start using right away. They will tell you which simple gifts to pursue and how to pursue them. At first, it takes effort to break habits and learn to oversimplify. But once you get the hang of it, you'll never go back. You'll know where the real money is and how to get it (simply, of course).

Sign Me Up! REGISTER NOW Space is limited.

SwingShift and the Stars celebrate milestone - Grand Traverse Insider - Morning Star Publishing

By Karin Beery
Contributing Writer

Photo by Windborne Photography 2014 champions Troy Broad and Pam McCormick danced a bolero last monthand held on to the lead, taking first place in the dance portion of the competition. They also topped the leader board in fundraising with more than $126,000 for Leelanau Christian Neighbors.

TRAVERSE CITY – Another successful season saw new records set during the 2014 SwingShift and the Stars Dance-off for Charity. Though the dance portion of the event is over, there’s still time to donate and
participate in this fundraising event.

Season seven saw new and returning dance professionals taking the floor during four nights of competition. Veteran instructor and former champion Hans Benghauser suffered the first injury of the event, but everyone was prepared for such an emergency.

“Immediate attention was given to address the situation, allow for recovery time, and put in back-up plans if needed,” said Leslie Haskin, event coordinator. “Our number one focus was the health and well-being of our injured cast member.”

Benghauser recovered and returned to the dance floor with partner Beth Footh for Brickways Foundation. It was the team of Troy Broad and Pam McCormick dancing for Leelanau Christian Neighbors (LCN), however, that danced away with the win. They took an early lead by one-tenth of a point and never looked back, winning the overall championship by eight-tenths of a point.

More ...
SwingShift and the Stars celebrate milestone - Grand Traverse Insider - Morning Star Publishing

Wineries Of Old Mission Donates $8k To Nonprofits

December 22, 2014: TC Ticker

The Wineries of Old Mission Peninsula (WOMP) are donating more than $8,000 to northern Michigan nonprofits this holiday season, proceeds from their annual Day of Giving event held on December 13. Each winery donated 15 percent of tasting room and online sales to the nonprofit of their choice. Here's the list: 2 Lads Winery: $500 to Food Rescue of Northwest Michigan Black Star Farms: $330 to Traverse Health Clinic Bowers Harbor Vineyards: $350 to TART Trails Brys Estate Vineyard & Winery: $500 to the Father Fred Foundation Chateau Grand Traverse: $750 to the Women's Resource Center Peninsula Cellars: $500 to Gift of Live Michigan Hawthorne Vineyards: $676 to Mariposa Pathway Chateau Chantal: $700 to American Red Cross of Northwest Michigan In addition, WOMP as a group is donating an additional $500 to each of the selected nonprofits. Permalink

Donations in the name of loved ones offer unique holiday gifts

Grand Traverse Insider Published: Monday, December 22, 2014

By Kristine Morris

Contributing Writer

Photo by Kristine Morris Wings of Wonder, the organization that serves to rehabilitate injured and ill raptors and return them to their natural environment, can use extra help this holiday season

REGION – During this holiday season, it’s good to remember those who have suffered losses or are in need. And what better gift can there be than one that honors its recipient with a donation to a worthy cause in their name? Here are a few suggestions:

More - Click here

Traverse Health Clinic tells their story

Traverse Health Clinic tells the story of Catherine and gratitude in her own way ...

http://vimeo.com/112833743

Your Community Foundation video release

The Grand Traverse Community Foundation launched into a social media presence with the release of a video explaining from an advisor's prospective why giving through the Community Foundation is a good thing. Only that more non-profits would tell their story like this...

Here is the Link:
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=539179662883862&set=vb.346645115470652&type=2&theater

Their Happy Thanksgiving greeting on Facebook was also excellent!

Good job Alison!

Estate Sale Today To Benefit Father Fred

November 25, 2014: TC Ticker

An estate sale today (Tuesday) from 8am-6pm at 4375 Five Mile Road in Acme Township will benefit the Father Fred Foundation and Traverse Area Community Sailing's Adaptive Sailing program. Real estate agent Cindy Anderson of Coldwell Banker Schmidt says there is a special story behind the sale: “(Owner) Walter has lived in this home for 20 years,” Anderson says. “Due to health reasons, (he) needed to move in with family downstate near Detroit. We have sold the house. Walter was hoping to take his belongings, but it is just too challenging. The family decided to have a sale. Nothing will be priced – you tell us what you are willing to pay. Walter said over the years Father Fred has helped him, and he would like to give back. TACS Adaptive Sailing gives sailing opportunities to those with physical challenges.” Anderson explains Walter was the art and activities director at the Traverse City State Hospital until it closed in 1989. A wire sculptor who loves “to make art out of just about anything,” he has carved “detailed mosiac-like designs on most of the wood surfaces in the house.” Items for sale will include art-related goods, antiques, furniture, boats, Christmas ornaments, fishing supplies, tools and other household items. Permalink

Traverse City Health Clinic

Traverse City Health Clinic does a remarkable job in keeping constituents informed on their needs and how the money is being use. Here is their latest update via email.
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Resolution Run/Walk 5k 

January 1, 2015, 11:00am

Registration now open!
 

Start 2015 off right and earn your right to sleep on the couch! Relatives and friends in town?  They want to start the year right too!  $35 registration fee benefits Traverse Health and gets you a T shirt too!  The run is through downtown TC, beginning and ending at Little Fleet.

Register today at:

https://events.bytepro.net/ResolutionRun5K.

 

Event Recap:
 

River's End Block Party 2014, $11,150!

Bras for A Cause 2014, $23,000!

Thank you for the terrific support of these creative fundraisers!  


Matching challenge status:

We are in need of just $4,872 to receive the $25,000 dollar-for-dollar matching gift from American Proficiency Institute.

Please consider a gift of any size--to be matched 100%.  You may donate online at www.traversehealthclinic.org or by mailing a gift to Traverse Health Clinic, 3155 Logan Valley Road, Traverse City, MI 49684, attn: Sherri.  Please write 'matching gift' in the memo line. Or call me direct at 231-935-0412.

Thank you!

Sherri Fenton
Development and Marketing Director

Kiwanis Flag Project Praised

Letter to the Editor - Traverse City Record Eagle - 10 September 2014 - Click here - subscription may be required.

Focus on blessings

What a beautiful sight on Labor Day weekend as I rounded the corner coming off Old Mission Peninsula. What appeared to be hundreds (stretching it, I didn’t count) of large American flags, standing tall, waving proudly in the breeze as they lined the street along the edge of Bryant Park. My heart swelled with pride.

I caught my breath and breathed, “Thank you, God,” that we live in the most wonderful country in the world. Praise God for his blessing and “God bless the Red, White and Blue.”

I appreciate Kiwanis for reminding me how blessed I am. Join me in putting away the negatives and focus on our blessings. Karen Wood 

Wade Van Houzen, president-elect for the Kiwanis Club of Traverse City, Michigan, was one of the chairpersons of the Kiwanis Flag Project. May our flag long wave, over the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Dementia/ Alzheimer’s Informational Seminar

A Dementia/Alzheimer’s Informational Seminar

Where do I look for help?

Our seminar is designed to help you navigate this challenge on behalf of your loved-one, and to provide you with resources where more information can be obtained.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

9:00 am – 12:30 pm local

East Bay Calvary Church

2225 E Hammond Road, Traverse City, Michigan, USA

NO CHARGE

Click here for more information.

Click here for reproducible flyer.

Former Timbers Girl Scout Camp Permanently Protected

June 26, 2014: The Ticker of Traverse City Magazine

The approximately 250-acre Timbers Recreation Area – formerly the Timbers Girl Scout Camp for 50 years – will be turned over to Long Lake Township and open to the public by the end of August. The Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy (GTRLC) confirms that a fundraising goal of $891,300 was met with just days to spare to permanently protect the recreation area. These matching funds followed a $2.1 million grant award from the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund in December 2012. The property includes nearly 9,000 feet of water frontage – 2,000 feet on Long Lake, the entire 20-acre Fern Lake within its boundary with 4,500 feet of shoreline, and approximately 2.400 on Page Lake. The property also features a network of two-tracks and trails with potential for future trails. Development of the property's management plan and activities will be conducted by the township with assistance from the conservancy. "The property was such a mystery," says Glen Chown, executive director of the GTRLC. "So many people around the lake had never set foot on it because it was a camp, and they respected the privacy of the Girl Scouts. It's so close to Traverse City and yet it's real wild country." Discussion about preserving the former Girl Scouts camp began in 2004, with negotiations to purchase the property from the Girl Scout Council in 2009. Interim buyers Don and Gerry Oleson purchased he property in 2012, holding it while the township awaited the decision on the grant award. Fundraising included an anonymous $150,000 match for all donations, a $25,000 match for donations made by, or in honor of, former Timbers campers and staff members, a $20,000 match for all donations made by Long Lake Association members, support from the Long Lake Foundation and the sale of the old troop house. Girl Scout alumnae also held a reunion and yard sale, with former scouts traveling from as far away as Alaska to support conservation of the property. Permalink

Newsletters in the Modern Era

The necessities of newsletters today for charity are that they provide constant communication, consistent release of timely information, and continual thanks for service and gifts no matter the form of gift.  

The stories could be as simple of a picture with a short paragraph by-line under it or full fledged articles broken up by thumbnail pictures and pull quotes. 

If I were going to design a monthly philanthropic newsletter for a charity, I think it would have the following stories:

·         Lead with a donor profile and why they gave to your organization.

·         Have a composite or real beneficiary story of someone who benefited from your program.

·         Profile of a volunteer who is helping your program.

·         Staff profile giving some up-to-the-minute information on your cause or field of service as an expert.

·         Featured program and how giving helps to advance the program.

·         News about key donations and donated dollars at work.

·         Review of key events or sponsored outreach programs.

·         Calendar of events that donors might participate.

·         Listing of new donors.

·         Philanthropic officer describing a way of giving.

·         The CEO having an article or a picture where mission is in action.

·         Pictures showing how your celebrating the activity of your mission.

In this day and age, newsletters can be traditional printed and designed format, or electronic working on all platforms like e-newsletters, blogs, websites, twitter links, etc. 

In all newsletters they have to be visually pleasing and picture laden. In the electronic environment, your newsletter could be broken up to appear weekly with a differing parts of the list above happening throughout the month.

All stories need to focus on the mission you are about and the impact you are making to your service area or people.

Regional Giving

Taking data from USA giving on the Chronicle for Philanthropy, here is the regional giving overview. Do note that it is compared to discretionary income and not total income. Click here

Grand Traverse Regional Giving
Chronicle of Philanthropy datasets
County	Total	Median	Median	Percent of
	Giving	Discretionary	Contribution	Income given
		Income
Antrim	$  6,300,000.00	$      52,396.00	$      2,382.00	4.5%
Benzie	$  3,900,000.00	$      51,298.00	$      2,309.00	4.5%
Grand Traverse	$ 37,800,000.00	$      53,216.00	$      2,197.00	4.1%
Kalkaska	$  3,100,000.00	$      49,100.00	$      1,768.00	3.6%
Leelanau	$  9,200,000.00	$      60,510.00	$      3,194.00	5.3%
total region	$ 60,300,000.00	$      53,304.00	$      2,370.00	4.4%
Michigan	3,800,000,000.00	$      52,396.00	$      2,382.00	4.5%
USA	135,800,000,000.00	$      54,783.00	$      2,564.00	4.7%

Reminder

Have you talked to a donor today about how their donation was used?