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Dec
13
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Gone Without Trace:
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Dec
02
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JessicaBefore she became ill, I used to see Jessica every Sunday night when her parents came to play in the little mixed-couples pickup basketball league at the parish gym. At that time — and this was twenty years ago — Jessica was about one year old. Cute kid. An only child who was barely talking yet.
During the games when I was on the sidelines, I’d try to say hello to her and make friends. Usually, a child will come over and get acquainted with me sooner or later, but not Jessica. No matter what I tried, she wasn’t having any part of it. She kept her distance. For some reason, I frightened her.
Later that year, Jessica became ill. The doctors said she had neuroblastoma, a form of cancer that most commonly affects children under the age of five, usually detected only after it has started to spread. So even before she was age two, Jessica knew what it was to lose her hair to chemotherapy.
The illness brought our whole parish together to find ways to help Jessica and her family. It was no surprise that one major area where help was needed was money. Jessica’s parents were not well-to-do people — just good people.
Many Voices
So with the parents’ permission I began organizing fundraising events. One was a multi-choir concert featuring singers from four multi-denominational local churches. It seemed a life-affirming way for the community to contribute. Ticket proceeds would help to pay the $5,000 deductible on the little girl’s health insurance.
One day I met Jessica and her parents at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh — where the little girl was receiving an emergency transfusion — to finalize some important concert details. Jessica’s dad invited me to stick around until his wife and Jessica returned. Knowing the effect I had on the child, I was hesitant to stay, but ultimately
I did.
Soon, Jessica’s mom turned the corner pulling one of those portable IV drip trolleys. Jessica was in her arms connected to an IV tube. When Jessica saw me she immediately hid her face against her mom. We all chuckled, and I thought, “Some things never change. What is it about me that frightens her?”
Jessica’s Gift
But the next thing I knew, Jessica turned back, stared at me for what seemed like minutes, then reached out her little arms like she wanted to give me a hug! After I cautiously approached, she put her arms around my neck and just squeezed. One-and-a-half-year-old Jessica was giving me the biggest hug she could. Words can’t describe how I felt at that moment.
Then her parents explained.
“Do you know why Jessica hugged you, Jack? It’s because you’re bald. Jessica thinks you have cancer, too. And she’s trying to comfort you.”
Jessica passed away a few months later. If she had lived, she’d be celebrating her 20th birthday in 2012. Fortunately, her parents were later blessed with another daughter and a son — all healthy.
I share this story because Jessica’s compassion changed my life. I began by trying to generate a gift for her, and in the end her gift to me was greater — a lesson on how suffering can help people put aside their fears to serve one another. She enabled me to realize that there is no greater gift than the gift of compassion.
When I was recently ordained a deacon in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, I incorporated Jessica’s story into my first homily. I continue to share it today with others as I have with you.
Despite Jessica’s short lifespan, she lives on through her kindness and compassion.
That’s what I call leaving a legacy.By Jack Miller, CFRE
By Jack Miller, CFRE Before she became ill, I used to see Jessica every Sunday night when her parents came to play in the little mixed-couples pickup basketball league at the parish gym. At that time — and this was twenty years ago — Jessica was about one year old. Cute kid. An only child who was barely talking yet. 
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Nov
20
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Suggested payment rates for charitable gift annuities will decline effective January 1, 2012Suggested payment rates for charitable gift annuities will decline effective January 1, 2012. Many fundraisers are viewing the drop as a marketing opportunity – a chance to prod their prospects into locking in current higher rates by making a gift now. If you’ve been trying to get this message out to your prospects but haven’t had the time to compose and produce it on your own, we invite you to download one of our sample letters (download at the end of this post). There’s no charge and there’s no catch: We’re committed to making your job more easy.
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Nov
04
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“Monkey See, Monkey Do” Fundraising:E-Marketing Is Not the Answerby Viken Mikaelian If you really think you can run a planned giving program on autopilot with outsourced help that supplies electronic tools online such as tax reference libraries for prospects and financial advisors, articles on gift laws, automated email blasts, complicated calculators, etc., this article is for you. One of the scariest things I see is that many fundraisers are entirely, foolishly depending on this stuff (which no one reads) and on the Internet for marketing, and worse, simultaneously abandoning direct mail and other print media for outreach to new donors and prospects. It is terrifyingly stupid, ugly, lazy, and cheap.
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Nov
04
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You’re Late for the New ParadigmBy John Foster Not so long ago, fundraising reflected the sunny optimism of the overall economy. Our donors had secure, well-paying jobs; the value of their McMansions and vacation condos was projected to follow an endless upward arc; and when they opened their retirement-plan statements, the ending balance was always gratifyingly larger than the previous month’s. What a difference a few years and some economic “uncertainty” make. Read more »
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Nov
03
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Headless Fundraising: Where is the Leadership?By Viken Mikaelian I was invited to speak at a national charity conference with over 800 attendees. I know some of them were Directors of Operations and Chief Executive Officers. So where the heck were they hiding? The conference featured something for everyone, topic-wise — from operations and finances to strategies and fundraising philosophy, they had it covered. The conference was a huge success… except for my session, which was on planned giving marketing. Read on.
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Oct
20
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Survey Says: Snail Mail Speaks Louder Than E-mailThe folks at Pingdom put most of these survey numbers together based on estimates for 2009, and you know what? If you were expecting miracles from e-mail, you’re going to be disappointed.
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Oct
09
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Is Your Planned Giving Website Senior-Friendly?Is Your Planned Giving Website Senior-Friendly?
Some new survey numbers indicate it better be. The new Nielsen Norman Group “Web Usability for Senior Citizens” survey not only notes that more than 12 million Americans over the age of 65 use the Internet, but that the numbers are increasing. But dig this:
• Of those who decided to stop (quit) trying to execute their online tasks, 71% were age 65+, while only 29% were 21 – 55.
• Of those who ended their tasks because they had successfully completed them, only 39% were age 65+, and 61% were 21 – 64.
What this means is your website better have intuitive navigation, clear content, and user-friendly tools. Or you’re going to lose some members of your most valuable demographic.
Some new survey numbers indicate it better be.
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Oct
08
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How to Fall Behind in Your Jobby Viken Mikaelian If you want to simply drift in your career, keep to a 40-hour workweek. So many ask me, “Viken, you are so successful but you only work 20 hours a week. You have the freedom to do whatever you want.” This makes my hair stand on end! Read more »
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Oct
06
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Are You Sending Out Death Brochures?Planned Giving Newsletters — Does anyone really read these things? By Tom Ahern I remember the first time I encountered a “planned giving” newsletter. A college in Minnesota sent me theirs for a critique. Which I did with cackling glee. As a communications attempt, the poor thing was a wreck. The writing was technical and trite; the prose of an accountant’s final exam. The headlines were a tragedy, they were so inept. And it was glaringly over-designed, a common feature of publications with nothing to say. Read more »
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