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A Publication of Ruotolo Associates Inc. |
ARTICLES AND ADVICE TO ADVANCE YOUR MISSION
During the past few years, we have presented a wide range of topics in Netlinks. Included were articles about philanthropic issues, most recently sharing information about the Pension Protection Act and trends in giving. We also have focused on board and governance issues and strategic planning, topics that we found were of interest to many of our clients in recent years. (A directory of articles is on the firm's website.) We also have shared with you our client successes. We have enjoyed celebrating the triumphs that result from the collaboration of our employees with non-profit boards, volunteers and staff. A regular feature in this publication is the staff profile, where we highlight consultants in our firm. I am proud of the strong backgrounds of our professionals as well as the hard work they devote to Ruotolo Associates' clients every day. The profiles provide an opportunity to showcase our team, a fine group of people who have dedicated their careers to improving the world in which we live through their consulting work with non-profit clients as well as the volunteer work they all actively pursue in their "spare" time. Please contact us and let
us know what else you might want to see in an upcoming Netlinks.
We'd like to share our expertise to ensure that all non-profits can
serve their constituents to the best of their abilities. TECHNOLOGY
AIDS NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL'S FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES "We wanted to try to stay ahead of the curve and implement current technologies that are available," said Stephen H. Kirck II, director of alumni relations and communications at the school. "Additionally, students are using new technologies in the classroom, and they will expect us to utilize those technologies when communicating with them after graduation." Notre Dame High School decided to launch an electronic communications initiative after the results of a development program assessment conducted by Ruotolo Associates. The firm, which has worked with the high school on three different occasions, encouraged Notre Dame to develop a comprehensive list of e-mail addresses to communicate with constituents. This would allow Notre Dame to complement its print materials with cost-effective, timely electronic messages that could be used to send "news flashes" to supporters, as well as updates and other key announcements. Additionally, Ruotolo Associates encouraged the school to launch a secure online giving program through the NDHS website. Both the e-communications and online giving program have been extremely successful. Notre Dame High School now has a regular schedule of electronic publications:
Notre Dame High School also utilizes electronic communications to provide information about sports' scores, school happenings and event invitations. Many of these messages end by reminding recipients about the availability of the online giving capability through the website. Online giving has been highly successful, with gifts received online during the first week covering the first two years of the service contract for this functionality. The school continues to see the number of donations made through the website increase each year. Mr. Kirck is dedicated to
continual expansion of the Internet relations program in the coming
years. He sees the biggest potential for growth in securing more e-mail
addresses for the school's constituents. "Right now, we have valid e-mail
addresses for about 30 percent of our alumni, a percentage we expect
to increase dramatically when our next Alumni Directory update occurs
in 2008," he said. BENEFITS OF A DEVELOPMENT ASSESSMENT
 Decades
ago, Ruotolo Associates decided to use the term "assessment" when looking
at the strengths and challenges of development/advancement programs. At
the time, many of our competitors were conducting "audits" a term sure
to strike fear in most people. Anyone who has ever received a letter from
the IRS immediately begins to think of receipts and information that may
not be readily available. Rather than evoking the panic and fear the phrase
audit can conjure, Ruotolo Associates' assessments generate positive feelings
by celebrating accomplishments of fundraising activities. We then provide
specific advice and action steps that address why a development/advancement
program may not be as productive or philanthropically satisfactory to
an organization as needed. The goal of the assessment is to migrate a
development program to the next level in an accelerated manner.
During an assessment, a member of Ruotolo Associates' staff will interview many individuals who are involved with development/advancement activities, including key administrators, board members, office staff and volunteers. In addition, we analyze all components of the fundraising program by:
Ruotolo Associates also provides a confidential report to the non-profits' chief executive officer that shares our evaluation of the attitudes, competency, work ethic, skill set and potential for growth of the development/advancement professionals and volunteers who are raising money for an institution. One of our most common findings is that many organizations need to develop more effective strategies to establish a major gifts program when a capital campaign is not in progress. If you would like to know
more about how an assessment might benefit your organization, please
feel free to e-mail me. PROFILE OF DOUG HELD, ASSOCIATE
“I enjoy being a consultant in the non-profit sector because of the diversity of focus areas and missions that our clients represent. I’ve always been interested in both the wide range of challenges that our society faces and the truly creative responses that non-profit institutions offer,” said Doug. “Each organization has a unique vision, culture and environment, and discovering how I can help clients meet their needs in fundraising, board development, strategic planning and other services is a very rewarding challenge.” Doug’s current projects include working with the Education Office of the Diocese of Brooklyn to implement a new, diocesan-wide governance model for elementary schools; conducting a capital campaign for Archbishop Stepinac High School in White Plains, N.Y.; and creating a comprehensive development program with a major gift initiative at Queen of Peace High School in North Arlington, N.J. He is providing marketing and public relations support for Randolph Township Library to seek a referendum vote for the construction of a new library. He also guided the building fund campaign of Mu Alumni Association at Stevens Institute of Technology, the firm’s first college fraternity client. “Along with his wealth of experience, Doug brings tremendous commitment and enthusiasm to our clients,” said Theresa Shubeck. “He is extremely adept at fostering positive relationships with all constituents to ensure a successful outcome.” Doug began his career with a focus on vocational training within the social service sector. As a program manager and then department director, he wrote successful government grants, created and edited agency newsletters, developed revenue-earning small businesses and achieved a first national accreditation. Doug also implemented quality assurance programs and promoted community outreach through participation in the Rotary and Chamber of Commerce. At Tribeca Performing Arts Center in New York, Doug expanded his grant writing to include corporate and foundation solicitations, initiated an annual campaign, created audience development strategies and assisted in board recruitment and training. Following the tragic events of 9/11, he was responsible for securing economic recovery funding and participated in Tribeca Organization (TO), a newly formed coalition of local businesses and community leaders. Doug graduated from the University of Scranton, where he was a four-year recipient of a Presidential Scholarship for the debate team, which he captained his junior and senior years. Doug has been a volunteer with off-off Broadway theaters, an outings leader for the Sierra Club and a member of the Morris Trails Conservancy. Doug resides in Morris Township,
N.J. PRESENTATIONS BY RUOTOLO ASSOCIATES' STAFF MEMBERS On September 30, Jay Caporale spoke to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners on how to design and implement an annual appeal. Jay also presented at the New England Association of Catholic Development Officers’ Fall Conference on October 12. His topic was “Building a Strong Board, One Step at a Time.” On October 2, George Ruotolo and Gene Aug, Ph.D., CFRE, vice president, gave three separate presentations at the National Catholic Development Conference in Chicago. George spoke on comprehensive development programs and capital campaigns; Gene’s presentation focused on feasibility studies. On October 17 at the Massachusetts Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals’ Annual Conference, Audrey DeLoffi, senior associate, will facilitate a luncheon roundtable discussion about involving board members in fundraising.
Archdiocese
of Newark Stewardship Day Association
of Fundraising Professionals, New Jersey Chapter Episcopal
Diocese of New York Annual Convention
Netlinks
is published quarterly by George C. Ruotolo, Jr., CFRE, chairman and
chief executive officer of Ruotolo Associates Inc. The newsletter is
written and edited by Liz Campbell, associate. Reproduction
of Netlinks is permitted only with attribution to Netlinks,
a publication of Ruotolo Associates Inc. Ruotolo Associates Inc. Headquarters For
more information about our services to religious organizations, For
a complete listing of services to all non-profits, Contact one of our regional offices: |
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Copyright 2006, Ruotolo
Associates Inc. |
This
spring marked the third anniversary of our firm's quarterly electronic
newsletter, Netlinks. We hope you have enjoyed reading this
publication and learning more about RA and the non-profit world in which
we work as much as we enjoy putting together each issue. I view this
publication as an excellent way to open a dialogue with our readers,
and I encourage you to 
Reaching
out to an increasingly computer-savvy alumni group is one reason 
Association
of Fundraising Professionals, Massachusetts Chapter