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Focus on charities’ use of fame, power and influence
For reasons
of leverage, profile raising and donor development,
charities have long employed the use of celebrities,
members of the Royal Family and other influential or
high profile people as Patrons. This month, we are keen
to look at the top three issues which seem to emerge
around the use of the rich and famous: how to recruit
them in the first instance; how to keep them and how to
retire them without fallout. |
Recruiting a new Patron is usually relatively
straightforward. Most people are flattered to be asked
and usually will accept if you are clear about what it
is that you want from them and they feel able to deliver
it. Recruiting the right one for your charity is
usually trickier. Start with the obvious question to
staff and trustees: Why do we want a Patron? Once you
are clear about why, then start to think about whom.
Come up with a list of candidates and prioritise them.
Then draw up a 1 pager which states exactly what you
would expect from them, the time commitment you are
asking of them; what support they could expect from you
and how long you would like them to be a Patron. Think
carefully about having the resources in place to support
them. If you have a budget to work with them, then you
should mention this too. If you have no other way in, a
persuasive letter from your Chair asking for a meeting
should get you access in the first instance.
Getting the
most out of Patrons and maintaining the relationship, is
where most charities have the most problems. This is
often as a result of changing leadership where a new CEO
comes into post and inherits Patrons, but can also come
out of a lack of confidence from charity personnel to
work closely with them and ask them to do things and no
designated staff member to take responsibility to
develop the relationship. It is vital that someone is
responsible for developing the relationship and looks at
the charity’s year and how to involve each Patron
appropriately. At Midas, we rely on Patrons to help
with fundraising so are very used to strengthening these
relationships when we start working with a charity. We
suggest: an annual meeting to update the Patron on the
past year, discuss the charity’s headlines and plan
opportunities for the next 12 month period; sending the
report and accounts as soon as they are published;
circulating significant press coverage; and asking them
to make a visit to the charity, host an event or visit
beneficiaries annually.
If you are
always open and clear with people about the length of
time you are seeking their involvement, it is far easier
to end a relationship with someone if you feel it is not
benefiting the charity. Often people just take this to
mean that the Patron has received bad press, but to us
it means that the relationship is not fruitful from the
perspective of the charity and does not deliver any
actual benefits. With the possible exception of the
Queen and the Prince of Wales, it is no longer enough
for people solely to make an appearance on your
letterhead and do nothing more. Charitable resources
are hard to come by and keeping Patrons costs money, so
we must make them work for us and bring tangible
benefits. The onus is on us to confidently manage the
relationship and when it works it is hugely satisfying.
A recent piece of re-engagement work carried out by
Midas resulted in initial donations and pledges of circa
£50,000, appeals to new trusts and the introduction of a
new high profile networker interested in the charity’s
work. The work continues and we are confident that more
benefits will emerge as we proceed with the work.
CEOs should
ask themselves these questions:
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Have I
met my Patrons?
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Is my
charity in regular contact with them?
-
Do I
have plans in place to support their work for us?
If you have
answered ‘no’ to all three, then your Patron/Charity
relationship is dysfunctional and very likely to be
unproductive. Take steps as soon as possible to address
this. As we move into uncertain financial times, having
the right motivated Patrons can make all the difference
to your fundraising and income generation. Spend some
time on this – it will bear fruit. And if you need
help, Midas Partners Martin Shaw, Catherine Farrell and
Lesley Hynes can advise and support this work.
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Dates for
the Diary
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Open Day at
the Chellington Centre on 14th August.
Midas
client, the Chellington Centre is opening its doors on
the 14th August to raise awareness of the
Centre and its facilities. Chellington is a beautifully
converted 12th Century Church in Bedfordshire
used as a residential centre, principally for
young people. |
Catherine Farrell, a Midas partner supported
the charity to raise the necessary funds to convert the
church in 2004. It is basic but beautiful; the young
people who have visited have responded to its
simplicity, spectacular location, and its quietness. It
provides accommodation of the highest standard
particularly ensuring access for people with special
needs and physical disabilities. It is an ideal place
to bring youth groups, trustees, and charity staff if
you are looking for a residential or day venue that will
afford you the opportunity to get away from it all and
be creative, relaxed and open. If you are interested in
hiring the Chellington Centre, please go to their
website for more details:
http://www.chellington.org.uk/
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News from 'Celebrity' Funders
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Funding for projects that support young refugees
and asylum seekers (UK) -
The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund has
launched a call for applications under its
‘Refugees and Asylum Seekers’ initiative. The
Fund, which is open to locally based not for
profit organisations provides grants for
projects that deliver direct services or
advocacy for children or young people seeking
asylum or refugees up to the age of 21. |
The
minimum grant for which an organisation can apply is
£3,000 although the fund expects that the majority of
grants awarded will be in the region of £50,000. In
exceptional cases, the Trust may consider applications
for larger projects. The Trust is particularly
interested in funding projects that focus on the
following areas: detention; destitution; enabling access
to services such as healthcare, legal provision, housing
and education; and providing support to unaccompanied
children. The Fund anticipates that it will give
approximately 20 grants spread across the four countries
of the UK. The closing date for applications is 5 pm on
the 12th September 2008.
http://www.theworkcontinues.co.uk/landing.php
 |
Set up by Robbie
in 2000 the Robbie Williams Give it Sum Fund
is open to a broad range of self-help projects,
community groups and voluntary organisations
based in North Staffordshire. The Fund
aims to support local people to find solutions
to local problems.
The Fund offers
grants for up to two years and the grants are
not usually larger than £15,000 per annum. More
information from
http://www.comicrelief.com/apply-for-a-grant/uk/give-it-sum/ |
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The Sir Cliff Richard
Charitable Trust has general charitable
purposes with a preference for causes seeking to
improve spiritual and social welfare.
Applications should be from registered charities
only, in writing, and for one-off needs. All
applications are acknowledged. Grants are made
quarterly in January, April, July and October. |
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New Book
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This book covers:
- the difference between patrons, presidents and
personalities
- how to identify and find high-profile
volunteers
- how to choose an appropriate celebrity
- understanding what they can do for you
- how to recruit celebrities
- how to manage the relationship. |
Patrons, Presidents and Personalities is an
essential text for any charity looking to benefit
from a relationship with high-profile volunteers.
Details from
http://www.dsc.org.uk/Publications/Fundraisingtechniques/@14768
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Vacancies
This newsletter provides a free service to Midas clients
to advertise fundraising staff and trustee vacancies. Please
contact
lesleyhynes@midasappeals.org.uk if you would like to
advertise a salary or recruit a trustee.
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Exciting
Opportunities for 2 Directors at Toybox.
Toybox is
a Christian charity dedicated to bringing
lasting change, hope and opportunities to street
children and their communities in Latin
America. They are experiencing a period of
sustained growth in the UK and internationally.
Located in new offices in Bletchley, South
Milton Keynes , they are now looking for two
dynamic directors to join the senior management
team, reporting directly to the Chief Executive
and Trustee Board. |
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Director of
Finance & Support Services c £40,000 pa
This key role
offers responsibility for statutory accounts,
financial reporting, management accounts,
international accounting, payroll, IT and
Supporter services. The charity is looking for
an effective leader with excellent interpersonal
skills and strong practical abilities in
accounting practice and IT. Analytical and
capable of making well thought out decisions,
the successful candidate should be educated to
degree level with either CIMA or ACA.
Director of
Marketing & Fundraising c £40,000 pa
The charity is
looking for a candidate to develop its brand and
be an effective leader. Management and
interpersonal skills are essential for
motivating and developing the team. If you are an
articulate communicator, educated to degree
level, and have significant, demonstrable
experience of leading successful marketing and
fundraising operations within a medium to large
sized charity, please contact the charity. A
commitment to Christian beliefs and values is
essential for both these roles and some
international travel is required.For further
information and full job descriptions, please
visit
www.toybox.org Apply with your CV and
covering letter ASAP to
toyboxrecruitment@toybox.org
Closing date 8
August. Interviews from 27 August. Interviews
can be arranged before closing date. |
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