By Jim Andreano • Fundraising Committee Chair
As with most nonprofits, the lifeblood of our Chapter is frequent small donations from our members. You may well be one of those donors. If so, please accept our most sincere thanks. If not, we invite you to join this much-appreciated group at www.sierraclub.org/new-jersey
But, we must ask, are you a heavy hitter? Are you in a financial position to help us in a very special way? For purposes of this communication, we define a heavy hitter as someone who can comfortably make a donation of four figures or more to the NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club.
If that’s you, you likely view your philanthropic activity as a social investment in return for tangible results—not as a charity. You demand a healthy social return on your investment. If you’re not convinced that’s happening, you’ll adjust your donation portfolio accordingly.
Focused on Results
Our New Jersey Chapter is focused on results. We’re strong advocates for cleaner air and water. We stand up for renewable energy and sensible development. Our staff of hard-working volunteers and paid professionals are dedicated to these objectives and more.
With that in mind, I respectfully ask that you include the Sierra Club NJ Chapter in your heavy hitting philanthropic portfolio. You can start by talking to me at jimandreano@gmail.com. I will be happy to show how your investment in our Chapter will generate the social return that you require.
Note that donations made to Sierra Club National are not the same as those made to Sierra Club NJ Chapter. Only the latter stay in New Jersey to be spent 100% on local causes.
If you’re not a heavy hitter—like many of us who still give what we can—maybe you know someone who is. Maybe that person could be invited to invest in our Chapter.
How do you know if such a person is a potential donor/investor? The answer to that question is as easy as A-B-C: Access, Belief, and Capacity.
Access–Do you have access to the person? Will the person take your calls, or return your texts and emails? Having an open channel is essential!
Belief–Does the person share our Sierra Club beliefs, or is this person a Sierran at heart who just doesn’t know it yet?
Capacity–To the best of your knowledge, does the person have the financial means to make a significant donation to the Chapter?
If your answer to all three questions is yes, then it may make sense for the two of you to have a preliminary chat.
At this point you may be thinking, “But I hate asking for money!” Fair enough. We are not asking you to solicit the person directly, although you are certainly welcome to do so. What we are asking is that you ask the person if it’s OK if we contact them. If they agree, you can send me an email with the person’s contact information, and Club representatives will take it from there.
With generous donor backing from you and others like yourself, we can achieve more in this very important effort to build a sustainable New Jersey.
All of that said, we cherish all our donors at all donation levels, and we thank you again for making our work possible.