The Essex County Development Group (ECDG) is please to present Tom Ahern, renowned communications specialist.

Mr. Ahern is considered one of North America's leading authorities on donor communications, has authored four well-received books on donor communications and is working on a fifth. He will be presenting on the amazing do-it-yourself donor communications audit.

When: Thursday, May 17th from 4-5:30pm
Where: North Shore Medical Center, Salem, MA
Cost: Paid Premium ECDG Attend Free, others $25

Please RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  or on the ECDG Big Tent event page.

Additional information including directions to the host site can be found here.

Isn't it great to have someone to turn to when you need professional advice or support? My friends and colleagues from NEAHP have filled that need for me and they can for you too.

I invite you to join over 300 development professionals in the New England area who are a part of NEAHP.

Here's just some of the benefits of NEAHP membership:

• Invitation to the annual Education Conference. This year slated for March 11-13 at the Inns at Mill Falls in Meredith, NH
• Earn credit towards CFRE accreditation by attending NEAHP educational programs
• Subscription to NEAHP Newsletter and Monthly Updates
• Access to our online discussion list and membership database

To learn more or to download an application, please visit our membership page.

Erin O'Gara Dollard, Membership Co-Chair
Lezlye Zupkus, Membership Co-Chair

More than 1,100 participants from across the globe convened in Boston for the 45th Annual Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) International Conference for four days of networking and educational opportunities. Below are some highlights and photos from the conference provided by our own Betsy Cross. 

During the AHP Annual Meeting Betsy Cross and Jeff McDaniel were pleased to accept the following awards of behalf of AHP-New England:

• Highest Percent Membership Growth
• Highest Percent of Membership Goal
• Highest Percent of Membership Net Increase
• Highest Number of Individuals Participating in AHP Foundation
• Highest Percentage Over Donor Goal in AHP Foundation Campaign

A big thanks to Jeff McDaniel, AHP Regional Membership Chair and Veronica Rose, CFRE AHP Regional Foundation Chair for their efforts!



New England members of AHP gathered at the Regional Breakfast to congratulate our own Susan J. Doliner, FAHP, CFRE on her election to Chair of AHP. You can read more about Sue and her election to AHP here. AHP International members from Australia, Mexico and Bermuda also joined in the breakfast.

Joanne Gregory is the Director of Community Affairs for the Southcoast Visiting Nurse Association, and winner of the 2011 T. Richardson Miner, Jr. Scholarship.

Thanks to the NEAHP T. Richardson Miner, Jr. Scholarship Award I had the opportunity to attend the AHP Institute for Healthcare Philanthropy for the first time. Based on my experience and goals, I chose the Major Gifts Track as my course of study.

The week began with an introduction to over 250 healthcare fundraising personnel from around the US and Canada. The Major Gifts Track had over 60 people enrolled so there were two separate classes. I was in class 1 with 30 other people. I was truly amazed by the fundraising work being done at hospitals and other organizations of all sizes and budgets. It was truly inspiring just to be around people with a wealth of fundraising experience.

Initially, I found some of the coursework challenging because of the heavy focus on hospital fundraising. I learned quickly to adjust my thought process to how I could apply what I was learning to a home health care organization.  By the end of the week, I felt confident that I could apply what I learned to effectively establish a major gifts program for the Southcoast VNA.

Key components of the Major Gifts track including how to identify prospects from existing donor and patient/family databases. Grateful Patient giving utilizing hospital doctors was extensively discussed. Although Southcoast VNA does not employ physicians, most of the principles and techniques can be applied to other clinicians who provide direct care to patients. Researching prospects was interesting. The reality is even the best wealth screening software has flaws. The best research is what you can learn internally. Cultivation of prospects takes much time, patience and is very systematic. Based on my current situation and size of my organization, I learned that a prospect pool of 5 – 10 will be most effective. I was very intrigued by the process of the “double ask”, which involves a request for a major gift and planned gift at the same time. For this reason I hope to attend the Institute again to take the Planned Giving Track. I lieu of traditional role play activities, the faculty chose a different style to review major gifts cases.  Participants were chosen to play a role from a script. The entire class was able to comment and ask questions after each of the four sections of the script were read. This was a highly effective way to role play and get full engagement by the entire class. I learned a tremendous amount about how to handle major gift solicitation with just two role play sessions.

By far, one of the best learning experiences came from having an opportunity to meet face-to face with a faculty member of choice. I chose to meet with Laura Rehrmann from Group Health Foundation in Seattle, WA. Laura was the Track Dean for Major Gifts. The meeting allowed me to share information about my organization, ask specific questions about major gifts fundraising at a home care agency, and learn how to apply the course to meet the goals to actually begin a major gifts program.

Attending the Institute was both a great opportunity for me professionally and for my organization. I am confident that the major gifts program that I begin over the next year will have success because of what I have learned.

The T. Richardson Miner, Jr. Scholarship was established by NEAHP in April 1996 to honor, Rich Miner, for his long-standing and devoted service to NEAHP and his commitment to the pursuit of educational excellence for health care development professionals. The scholarship funds the full cost of tuition at the AHP Institute for Healthcare Philanthropy and reimburse the recipient up to $1000 in housing and transportation costs. For further information on the scholarship please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Like most of us, the path to a career in development is rarely a straight road. Learn more about three members of the NEAHP Board of Directors.

Betsy Wadland, CFRE President NEAHP

 How did you get started in fundraising?

My first official development job was for the UMASS annual fund.  I went home crying three days in a row (after having alums hang up on me all night) and quit the next day. 

 What is the biggest challenge you face at your organization?

Coordinating between all the different interests/people, ie clinical staff/management, finance and donors

 Why did you become involved with NEAHP?

Urging from Liz Loudon, a consultant with who was a consultant, at the time with Copley Harris.

 What was the best advice you ever received?

There are a lot of idiots out there, don’t be one of them.  (My grandfather has been saying this for 50 years, specifically about driving, but it applies to everything in life).

Jack Dresser, President-Elect

How did you get started in fundraising?

 My first career was in real estate development.  The real estate market tanked in 1990 and put me out on the street, but I lucked out by getting a job at my alma mater working as their director of real estate gifts.

 What is the biggest challenge you face at your organization?  

It has been a challenge to manage the ever increasing expectations for development to make up for the decreases in patient care revenue.

 Why did you become involved with NEAHP?  

I attended a couple of educational events and found that not only did the content match my needs, but the group of attendees and organizers enjoyed each other’s company.

What was the best advice you ever received?

While it is not advice, per se, these words of Sy Seymour have stuck with me in so many things I do at work, “Every individual needs to feel that he is a worthwhile member of a worthwhile group.”

Elizabeth Macomber, Vice President Education

 How did you get started in fundraising?  

By accident (or default)!  I was working as a marketing manager for a non-profit organization when the person running special events left and they needed someone to jump in and run the golf tournament.  As they say, the rest is history.

 What is the biggest challenge you face at your organization?  

I’m sure most can identify with this challenge – there is never enough time to do all of the things I would like to accomplish.

 Why did you become involved with NEAHP?  

I was new to healthcare four years ago and NEAHP was recommended as a great way to meet and learn from other professionals who faced similar challenges in healthcare fundraising.  It was great advice to join!

 What was the best advice you ever received?  

There is no substitute for hard work.

In the next edition meet Rebecca Jamison, VP of Outreach and Networking, Martin Richman, Treasurer and Bernadette C. Robin, VP of Communications and Secretary.

Want to share the success of your campaign or event? Or perhaps, you've changed careers or taken on new responsibilities...be sure to share your news with fellow NEAHP members.

MEMBER NEWS

 Around the Region

Awards

At the 2011 New England Society for Healthcare Communications conference, Rutland Regional Medical Center (VT) received the Silver Lamplighter Award in recognition of the campaign communication efforts of the successful "i believe" campaign. The campaign was created as an opportunity for staff and volunteers of the hospital to invest in a new linear accclerator. Rutland Regional Medical Center is supported by The Rutland Health Foundation. NEAHP members, Bernadette C. Robin, CFRE and Rory House worked on the campaign.

Events

Betsy Wadland, CFRE Development Director of the Natick Visiting Nurse Association (MA) is pleased to report that nearly 300 people enjoyed an evening of delicious food, good wine and a lively auction at Fresh Taste on June 16, 2011. Fresh Taste features local chefs preparing tantalizing tastes of fresh local ingredients. Proceeds benefit the Natick Visiting Nurse Association.

Milford Regional’s (MA) roaring twenties event, Mélange drew 330 guests donned in their favorite prohibition era attire. Attendees enjoyed a night of festivities and dancing while supporting a very important cause - The Breast Center at Milford Regional. Funds totaling over $500,000 were raised through sponsorships, donations and a live auction. NEAHP members Sheba Pai, Development Officer at the Milford Regional Foundation and Martin Richman, Vice President of philanthropy and Executive Director of the Foundation worked on this highly successful event.

Have an interesting tidbit to share? Please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Get Inspired. Connect. Grow.

Now more than ever, it’s vital for fundraising professionals to continue to sharpen their skills and network with other development professionals. Your membership to NEAHP will enable you to connect with colleagues, get inspired and perhaps spark a new idea…

FIND OUT HOW TO JOIN NEAHP!

Invest in Your Future - Become a CFRE!
Submitted by: Linda Dodge, CFRE

Did you know that as a member of NEAHP you receive a reduced fee for CFRE certification and recertification? Since NEAHP is a Participating Organization of CFRE, one of your benefits as a NEAHP member is the opportunity to apply for initial certification at a current fee of $618 instead of $778. If you are already certified and are applying for re-certification, your fee is only $360 instead of $453.

Now is the time to invest in your future. If you have been thinking about becoming a CFRE, why not take the next step and participate in a CFRE orientation conference call for NEAHP members on Thursday, August 26th at 9:30 a.m. During this conference call you will learn some background information about CFRE International, information about the steps in the CFRE process, and get some ideas on how to prepare for the exam.

• Certification grants you more credibility.
• Certification can improve career opportunities and advancement.
• Certification prepares you for greater on-the-job responsibilities.
• Certification improves skills and knowledge.
• Certification may provide for greater earnings potential.
• Certification demonstrates your commitment to the fundraising profession.
• Certification enhances the profession’s image.
• Certification reflects achievement.
• Certification enriches self esteem.
• Certification offers greater recognition from peers.

To register for this conference call please e-mail Linda Dodge. Closer to the time of the conference call you will receive a confirmation with details how to access the call and some materials that will be referenced during the call. For additional information please call Linda at 717-355-6215.