DeKalb Medical employees have collectively donated over $2.2 million back to their organization. This impressive number represents 10% of the Foundation’s raised monies.
Several thousand employees on multiple campuses in a major metropolitan area with widely diverse interests are continually motivated and mobilized for success. Each membership drive is better than the last. What does DeKalb know that others wish they knew?
Elisabeth Rubino, Senior Development Specialist at DeKalb Medical Foundation, shared her suggestions in a recent Pride Philanthropy online training session:
- It’s not just about helping your own organization, but more about helping the communities and constituencies you serve
- Doing it “right” takes a lot of time and effort from development staff and the employee committee, but it’s worthwhile as the program grows each time
- Involve your top leadership in recruiting the committee chairs
- The caliber of the employee committee defines the image of your program so recruit carefully from all departments, shifts, campuses and off-site locations
- Select projects of interest to your employees and offer an option to designate to their “own” campus
- Organize your promotional meetings around the clock and in conjunction with shift changes and break times
- Ensure confidentiality of specific giving amounts but recognize in multiple ways using giving clubs and having “good” recognition items that tie in with the different levels
- Feed them and make the meetings entertaining and fun so they will want to come to hear your message
- After the drive, buy your equipment or build your building, and have a major celebration for employee donors
- Keep the visibility and activity going year round with lots of ”on the spot” recognition, employee donor newsletters and website updates
- Recruit at new employee orientation sessions as soon as they come on board and recognize those new donors immediately
