BY
GEORGE
Written
by George C. Ruotolo, Jr., CFRE
Chairman and CEO
“Is
this a good time?”
In our industry as in any business, telephone communication
can be a pivotal tool in addressing issues, solving problems,
affirming one’s work, or just checking in. Properly framing
an important telephone conversation is an approach that I have
seen used very effectively. This can and should be done by merely
asking, “Is this a good time?” If you receive an affirmative
response, you can then follow up that question with a statement
requesting five or ten minutes of the person’s time to
discuss issues of importance.
Too often and too late, we consultants can find ourselves in
conversation with colleagues or clients before we realize that
it is not the best time to discuss somewhat weighty issues.
It is important that we remain sensitive to the daily demands
on our clients. One final tip, when dealing with your employer/supervisor,
I strongly suggest that you ask this question before moving
forward with a series of questions, challenges, problems, etc.
Most supervisors will appreciate this sensitivity.
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STAFF
HIGHLIGHTS
Pamela
DeLuca Named Senior Associate
We
are pleased to announce that Pam DeLuca has recently been promoted
to Senior Associate. Since joining Ruotolo Associates in 2001,
her growth with the firm has been impressive, and her many accomplishments
make her a valued member of RA's leadership team.
With a background
on Wall Street as vice president of a bank, Pam managed an operations
team developing control procedures. Her dedication to children's
causes and volunteer work with organizations such as The Community
FoodBank of New Jersey, as well as her church, led her to the
field of development.
Pam has
served as campaign and development counsel for a variety of
RA's clients, including Nazareth Regional High School in Brooklyn,
NY; Aljira-a Contemporary Arts Center in Newark, NJ; Grace Episcopal
Church in New York City; Shepherds of Youth in Florham Park,
NJ; St. Paul's Memorial Church in Staten Island, NY; and St.
Ann's Church in Lawrenceville, NJ.
Pam, her
husband Steve, and their two sons Charlie and Joseph, live in
Essex County, New Jersey.
We congratulate
Pam and look forward to her continued success with the firm.
Introducing
John Garesché
We
would like to welcome our newest associate in the New York Metropolitan
area, John Garesché, who comes to us with many years
of consulting and management experience. Before joining Ruotolo
Associates, John spent nine years building his own management
and technology consulting firm in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. With
a client base of small businesses and nonprofits, he quickly
acquired passion for the development of community organizations
from children’s and health services to art groups.
John has
also been an active volunteer for social service causes; he
has served as a volunteer EMT, chaired special fundraising events
and is a member of Rotary International. John also began a local
recycling program in Teton County, Idaho, for which he served
as Chairman of the Board for three years.
John's responsibility
at Ruotolo Associates is to work in the Mid-Atlantic Region
with an emphasis on marketing the firm in the five boroughs
of New York.
John and
his wife Michelle, live in New York City, and we are pleased
to have them as a part of the RA "family."
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ENCOURAGING
GIFTS OF CASH
As colder
weather and the “season of giving” approaches, public
sentiment turns more frequently toward those in need, and many
charities promote the collection of food, clothing and household
items. Schools, churches, scouting groups and even businesses
often run food and clothing drives to benefit local shelters
and food pantries.
These items are indeed needed and appreciated, but the overhead
required for sorting, trucking, refrigeration and disposal of
items is often lacking. When soliciting constituents for food,
clothing and household items, simply remind donors that gifts
of money are also appreciated, and give them a means by which
to make a cash donation.
Food programs can buy items in bulk at a fraction of what well-meaning
donors pay at the grocery store. A money donation is more flexible,
ideally less wasteful, and its shelf life indefinite.
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MARK
YOUR CALENDAR
October
21, 2003
Association
of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
2003
Conference on Philanthropy – Massachusetts Chapter
Marriott Copley Place, Boston
Keynote Speaker: Carol B. Kellermann, The September 11th Fund
RA is a proud
sponsor of this event.
October
30, 2003
Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)
2003 Conference on Philanthropy – New Jersey Chapter
Hanover Marriott, Whippany, NJ
RA is a proud sponsor of this event.
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CONGRATULATIONS
TO OUR CLIENTS!
The following
highlights are representative of some of our clients’ recent
accomplishments.
Blessed
John XXIII University Center, Fort Collins, CO
– Rev. Don Willette, Pastor: Serving Colorado State University,
this parish plans to build a new facility that would house classrooms
and meeting spaces, as well as renovate the sanctuary, parish
offices and rectory. The parish has raised more than $1 million
in advanced gifts toward its goal of $1.3 million.
Brooklyn
Friends School, Brooklyn, NY, an independent Quaker institution,
is completing a mid-campaign evaluation to determine interest
in further renovations and a possible vertical expansion of
the existing facility. The school is preparing to launch the
final phase of its capital campaign under the leadership of
Michael Nill, Head of School.
Cathedral
Preparatory Seminary, Elmhurst, Queens, NY, will be celebrating
its 90th Anniversary in 2004 and is conducting a planning study
for a capital campaign that will increase endowment and scholarship
funds, and allow for capital improvements. The planning study
is under the leadership of Father Joseph Calise ’72, Rector/Principal;
Louis D’Amico ’82, Business Manager; Jim Dilg, Alumni
Director; and Sister Mary Ann Tirelli, Director of Development.
The Diocese
of Camden, NJ for which RA is conducting a Diocesan Stewardship
Initiative, has received the International Catholic Stewardship
Council first place award for Excellence in Materials in the
category of Total Diocesan Stewardship Effort. The award was
presented at the recent ICSC Conference in Chicago. Congratulations
to His Excellency, Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, former Bishop
of Camden, on his installation as Bishop of Brooklyn, NY.
Glastonbury
Abbey, Hingham, MA, is about to embark on a $1.5 million
capital campaign to cover the building costs of the new conference
center that was completed in 2001. Robert and Denise DiCenso
have graciously agreed to serve as Campaign Co-Chairs and will
be working closely with Fr. Nick Morcone, Abbott; Mr. Chris
Nagle, Business Manager; and Ms. Carol Stanton, Development
Director.
Greater
Lawrence Family Health Center (GLFHC), Lawerence, MA: RA
has completed a planning study for the relocation and expansion
of its South Clinic and to establish an endowment fund to meet
GLFHC’s long-term needs. The GLFHC is an innovative multi-site
health organization with more than 400 employees who serve 35,000
enrolled patients -- nearly half the total population of the
City of Lawrence. Mr. Bob Ingala serves as CEO.
Greater
Trenton Area YMCA, Trenton, NJ, is continuing on a campaign
initiative to raise support for the building of a new full-service,
70,000 square foot, $10 million facility for which half of the
funds they seek to raise philanthropically. Campaign Co-Chairs
recruited for the effort are Doug Palmer, Trenton's Mayor, and
Mercer County Executive Bob Prunetti. Mel Hill serves as Executive
Director.
New Jersey
Center for Visual Arts (NJCVA), Summit, NJ:
A local philanthropist and family members have issued two $250,000
challenge grants to encourage fundraising support during the
quiet phase of a $5 million capital campaign to raise funds
for building expansion and renovations, endowment to develop
and support educational programs, and professional development.
Eric Pryor serves as President and Betsy Smith is the Director
of Development.
South
Church in Andover, MA (United Church of Christ--Congregational)
has raised an additional $500,000 in the past four weeks to
reach their minimum goal of $1.5 million and are well on their
way to their aggressive goal of $2 million to build an addition
to the parish center and upgrade existing church facilities.
The three Co-Chairs are Dave Floreen, Jay Trageser and Linda
Mesler, along with Major Gifts Chair, Hooks Johnston and Rev.
Cal Mutti, Senior Pastor.
Springfield
Catholic Schools, Springfield, MO, is conducting listening
sessions for key prospects and is recruiting leadership for
their $1.6 million endowment campaign.
St. Joseph
High School in Hammonton, NJ,
celebrated the opening of its newly renovated building in September.
Formerly a public middle school, the building was purchased
and renovated through a capital campaign that has now raised
$1.2 million toward its $3.26 million goal. Paul Ordille and
James Rodio are co-chairing the campaign.
St. Joseph
Parish, Millstone, NJ, has just completed a year-long pastoral
strategic planning process. We congratulate Rev. Ray Cole, Pastor,
and the Strategic Planning Committee for their leadership and
hard work during the process.
St. Paul’s
Memorial Church, Staten Island, NY,
an Episcopal church located in the Greenville Section of Staten
Island, is beginning a feasibility study for a capital campaign
that will be directed towards renovations, repairs and historic
preservation for the church and rectory. Father William A.F.
Blasingame is the Rector.
St. Peter
the Fisherman Parish, Mountain Home, AR, has now raised
$1.35 million toward its $2 million capital campaign to build
a new parish hall/educational building. The parish has received
generous donations from the Knights of Columbus in Mountain
Home. Rev. Jim Fanrak is Pastor.
St. Vincent
Pallotti Parish, Haddon Township, NJ
- Monsignor Louis Marucci, Pastor: The parish is in the final
stages of a capital campaign that has achieved its goal. We
congratulate Msgr. Marucci for his leadership and the people
of the parish for their generosity.
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During
the past year, North Shore Community College
in Danvers, MA, a 38-year-old institution offering approximately
100 Associate Degree and certificate programs with an enrollment
of 7,500-8,000 students each semester, has embarked on a Major
Gifts Initiative to meet a variety of needs ranging from technology
equipment for a new, 3-story, state-of-the-art building to a fund
for innovation and student scholarships. To date, this Major Gifts
Initiative has realized more than $856,000. This represents the
most philanthropic investment in a single year in the history
of the college.
Ruotolo
Associates, led by Jay Caporale, President and COO, began working
with NSCC in the spring of 1999 to conduct an Image Study which
resulted in an Institutional Advancement Office Assessment in
2000. A Feasibility Study was conducted in the spring of 2002
when RA recommended a three-pronged Plan of Action that included
repositioning the college as a viable recipient of philanthropic
investment, the introduction of a Major Gifts Initiative, and
the restructuring of the Foundation Board. As a result of the
partnership between NSCC and Ruotolo Associates, the college has
realized success in all three areas of the plan. “It’s
like having a colleague working with us in the office,” reports
Edwards. “Jay sees the whole picture and understands the
nuances and methodology of institutional advancement as it relates
to the mission of a community college.”
North
Shore residents have come to recognize the college as a valuable
resource and see it as an asset to the community— they are
understanding it, appreciating it and now investing in it. In
President Wayne Burton’s own words, “Working on the
Major Gifts Initiative over the past year reinforced to me how
important the college is to this community and made me realize
the importance of asking for support.”
On
Thursday, September 26, over 125 people gathered in Wheaton, Maryland
to hear the leadership of Our Lady of Good Counsel High School
formally announce a capital campaign to raise $6 Million to move
the school from a crowded 14 acre plot in Wheaton to a spacious
52 acre campus in Olney. Arthur Raimo, President of Our Lady of
Good Counsel High School, served as principal spokesperson for
the occasion. In his remarks, Mr. Raimo articulated the vision
to the assemblage of the specific plans for the new campus, buildings
and athletic fields describing a comprehensive facility to meet
the academic, spiritual, social and athletic needs for generations
to come. Immediately following Mr. Raimo, a number of school,
diocesan and campaign leaders enthusiastically endorsed the plan
for the campaign, including Dr. Dave Higgins, class of 1975, an
orthopedic surgeon in Rockville, Maryland; Mr. Albert Checchi,
class of 1966, former Chairman of Northwest Airlines; and Charles
J. Morton, class of 1983, and partner at Venable LLP. In addition,
giving their perspectives were Bob and Kathy Hass, Good Counsel
parents, and Ashley Thomas, the senior class president of the
class of 2004, all of whom enthusiastically endorsed the plan
for the campaign.