Fundraising in the Healthcare Field

Fundraising in the Healthcare Field

Jaimie Olson

“It's critical for nonprofits who get all of their revenue from donors. It is the shared passion for their mission that allows them to continue to commit their lives and work to it. If either the donors or those working at the nonprofit were to loose their passion for the mission it would be over.”

Why does this matter?

Fundraising is important to the healthcare field because…

The fact that something is not profitable does not mean that it is not valuable to society.

As people put their money behind a nonprofit, their focus, passion, advocacy and time follow.

“The power behind a community to change policy, laws, culture and to do all the things a check book can only start.”

Hospital leaders are "rethinking" traditional strategies to use philanthropy to fund specific programs and capital expansion in favor of "more ambitious projects" related to population health management, Beth Kutscher reports for Modern Healthcare.

 The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy reports that charitable giving increased by 8.2% between 2010 and 2011, reaching a record $8.94 billion in charitable gifts to health care organizations.

Expanding the Fundraising Further

When it comes to Fundraising in the Healthcare field, people are usually willing to donate to ‘new’ things for the hospital. This includes, expanding the hospital, adding new technology and holding new events.

But raising more awarness of diseases and illnesses that people have that come into the hospitals are just as important.

"Philanthropy tends to be a very small piece of the pie, but it really takes a hospital from good to great," said Wilmington Trust's Walter Dillingham Jr.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFoYCBt0V90

Temple University Hospital

Patti LaBelle preforming privately at Temple University Hospital

This years Gala marks the 125th anniversary of the hospital.

The annual acres of Diamonds Gala is one of the oldest charitable events in Philadelphia. 

“The Acres of Diamonds Gala is an opportunity to bring together many of Temple Health and Temple University Hospital’s biggest advocates and to look back on 125 years of excellent patient care, dedicated staff members and community support,” said Dr. Larry R. Kaiser, president and CEO of Temple University Health System.

University of West Florida Hospital

More than $43,000 was raised at the 5th annual University of West Florida Dance Marathon in support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

Children’s Miracle Network, is a non profit organization that raises funds and awareness for approximately 170 pediatric hospitals in North America.

“I am elated with the rise in success of Dance Marathon,” said Dr. Kevin Bailey, vice president of student affairs. “The students have done a phenomenal job of making this event something they and UWF can be proud of, and this is only the beginning.”

Friarage Hospital

“A brand new MRI scanner has been lifted into the Friarage Hospital this week thanks to the fantastic hard work of fundraisers.”

Since the launch of a campaign to fundraise for a new MRI scanner at Friarage Hospital showed years of hard work and the community working together.

“Every single penny has enabled us to bring this state-of-the-art scanner to The Friarage, helping to improve care for thousands of patients across the South Tees patch for years to come.”

As well as providing crucial diagnostic tests for numerous conditions for people closer to their homes, the scanner will also knock down waiting times at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Connecting Fundraising and Communication

There are many goods and services that Non Profits do, actually don’t bring in profits for them.

t is because the nature of providing a 'public good' as a nonprofit finds them focused on a work that is ignored by businesses because it is not profitable.

Communication is key when it comes to non profit organizations. Mainly because they have to use multible resouces (media, networking and creating a image) to be successful.

Communication Flow

When it comes to non profit organizations. Typically, in the Human Resources approach everyone in the organization is on board with helping make the decisions.

The Multidirectional communication flow is usually team based when it comes to reaching goals. Raising money typically is one of the biggest parts for a non profit, especially for a hospital.

Having people that work with the accounting side, fundraising, development, event planning all tie in together when reaching that initial goal.

Technology in the Healthcare field.

Technology offers organizational participants a wide array of interaction and decision making options that can differ substantially from traditional ways of working.

When a hospital non profit organization holds events, broadcasting it on social media such as facebook, twitter and instagram can help bring awarness of people that usually don’t donate to the organization.

For example, creating a website for a specific event where you can put your own creativity in and spotlight different spots that you want to highlight.

The channel expansion theory states that depending on someones personal experience, that’s how they will receive it. SO if someone had a personal experience with cancer or prematity when having a baby, fundraising events that highlight those issues would attract them.

Telework and organizing

When it comes to events such as telethons and events that have been broadcasted on social media, this allows people that cannot come to the event to have the option to still donate.

From personal experience, calling people that have donated to events that are related to current events, sending information packets out on the event have helped raise more awarness of the event as well as bring in donations for the current event.

This only works when the organization is organized and has specific people analyze donors and dispurse the work into equal sectors to where the workers excell at the most.

Tips on Raising Money for Non Profits

The right mindset. Your attitude must be positive and you must believe that the support you are looking for is out there.

Passion for the cause. You must be passionate for your nonprofit’s cause. If you don’t care deeply, how do you expect others to care and to donate?

Strong leadership. Your nonprofit must have a strong Director and a strong Board who embrace their roles. Without strong leaders, fundraising will be tough if not very impossible.

Compelling mission. I believe that most nonprofit missions are compelling. More importantly, YOU must believe your nonprofit’s mission is worthwhile and deserves attention, and you must be able to communicate it to others.

Donor-based fundraising. Your fundraising must be focused on your donors, and your activities must seek to build relationships with these partners in your work.

Raising Money

Tell your story. When it comes to people relating to non profits, telling your story or a story about your non profit engages the listener.

Ask for a gift. No matter how wonderful your nonprofit is, you must ask for a gift. I suggest you ask several times during the year, and use a variety of strategies

Thank the donor. Even if you don’t receive a gift, thanking the person for their time is vital. A timely, warm thank-you letter serves many purposes.

Build relationships. You must build relationships with donors if you want to Get Fully Funded. Building friendships, networking as well as being a genuine person to the donors will go far.

Fundraising and the struggles

Even though fundraising for a nonprofit is difficult at times, having an organization that is working together through new technologies and overcoming obstacles is a succesful organization.

With new ways of overcoming struggles, working together, networking and bringing awarness of these issues and diseases will bring donations into the organization.

Questions

1. What kinds of obstacles to organizations face when they arent getitng donations? What tactics do they do to get out of a rut.

2. How important is networking when it comes to finding new people for the organization? What qualifications does certain organizations look for?

3. When it comes to asking for money for donors, are there certain things that you should do and you should avoid?

Questions

4. When it comes to holding events for non profit organizations, how do hospital non profits differ?

5. When it comes to Hospital non profit organizations, does all the money when it comes to donations come from people who have been to the hospital/people who work there? How do they reach out to others?

6. Are there other ways of organizing donors other than cold calling?

Citation

"MRI scanner lifted into the Friarage Hospital after huge fundraising effort." Richmondshire Today. N.p., 15 Mar. 2017. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

Prins, Paul. "Why is fundraising important for nonprofits?" Quora. N.p., n.d. Web.

Citation

Rees, CFRE Sandy. "Surefire Fundraising Tips to Help Your Nonprofit Get Money It Needs." Foundation Group®. N.p., 09 Feb. 2017. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

Report, Tribune Staff. "Patti LaBelle to headline Temple University Hospital gala." The Philadelphia Tribune. N.p., 28 Mar. 2017. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.

"The 'new' hospital philanthropy: From capital projects to population health." The Advisory Board Daily Briefing. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2017.