Rudolph A. Rosen - Money for the Cause: A Complete Guide to Event Fundraising

Money for the Cause

CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP SERIES
Sponsored by the
river institute at texas state University
General editor, andrew sansom

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO EVENT FUNDRAISING

Rudolph A. Rosen

Fundraising art and illustrations by Katie Dobson Cundiff

Foreword by Andrew Sansom

TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY PRESS
College Station

COPYRIGHT 2012 BY RUDOLPH A. ROSEN

Manufactured in the United States of America

All rights reserved

First edition

This paper meets the requirements of ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992

(Permanence of Paper).

Binding materials have been chosen for durability.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Rosen, Rudolph A. (Rudolph Albert), 1952Money for the cause : a complete guide to event fundraising / Rudolph A. Rosen ; fundraising art and illustrations by Katie Dobson Cundiff ; foreword by Andrew Sansom.1st ed.
p. cm.(Conservation leadership series)
Includes index.
ISBN13: 978-1-60344-693-8 (book/hardcover (printed case) : alk. paper)
ISBN10: 1-60344-693-1 (book/hardcover (printed case) : alk. paper)
ISBN13: 978-1-60344-752-2 (ebook)
ISBN10: 1-60344-752-0 (ebook)
1. Fund raisingUnited StatesManagement. 2. CharitiesUnited StatesFinanceManagement. 3. Nonprofit organizationsUnited StatesFinanceManagement.
I. Title. II. Series: Conservation leadership series.
HV41.9.U5R674 2012
658.15224dc23
2012016411

I FIRST MET RUDY ROSEN when he was working in Georgia as a senior official of Americas largest conservation organization, the National Wildlife Federation. I convinced him to come to Texas and direct all fisheries and wildlife management programs for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. To this day, I believe it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

At that time, now more than twenty years ago, the department, generally beloved in Texas, was embroiled in scandal involving the transfer of wild animals to the ranches of politicians and other influential folks. Despite the growing realization that more than 95 percent of the wildlife habitat in Texas is located on lands owned by private citizens, the department had not created an aggressive program to help them protect it. There were other pressing problems in the department that also demanded attention. Into this milieu stepped Dr. Rosen, who immediately engaged his colleagues and the constituencies they served with a professional, science-based, and modern approach that fundamentally changed the departments fish and wildlife programs for the better and set the agency on a course that has persisted to this day.

Inevitably, and bolstered by his success in Texas, Rudy went on to become the director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife in Oregon, where he served in the cabinets of two successive governors. He later was named executive director of Safari Club International and served as director of operations of Ducks Unlimited. In these capacities, he has emerged as one of the most successful fundraisers in the American conservation movement.

And fundraising is a principal challenge of our movement. Today, thousands of non-profit organizations across the nation indicate that environmental and conservation issues are all or part of their mission and each is dependent on the generosity of the rest of us in order to support their efforts. So it is fitting that in the inaugural volume of a new and exciting series in conservation leadership we focus on Money for the Cause. As the global population continues to exponentially grow and the oceans, atmosphere, and habitat of our planet become more imperiled, the non-governmental sector must be prepared to take an increasingly active role in defense of the earth and its resources. These pages provide one pathway to an ever more essential ingredient in the fight: financing.

Today, Rudy is back in Texas, helping to fund vital efforts to understand, preserve, and interpret our water resources for the benefit of future generations while sharing his wisdom and experience with so many who are struggling each day to pay the way.

ANDREW SANSOM
General Editor,
Conservation Leadership Series

A THIRD OF THIS BOOK was written almost ten years before the last two-thirds, giving me plenty of time to accumulate people to acknowledge. Time also blurs details of eventsfundraising and otherwise. Thus it is no accident I now thank Steve Comus and Travis Cundiff. They were present at many of the events serving as stories in the book and made sure I had my facts straight. I apologize for any slight nuances between my memory and what others may recall. Steve also reviewed the text and that is particularly meaningful because he has probably written and published more about high-dollar fundraising events than anyone else in history. I also thank Alan Wentz, a mentor and thorough reviewer of this book who has spent more years observing fundraising events than I ever will. Many others have mentored or helped me along the way in fundraising, including Andy Sansom, who so graciously wrote the foreword to this book, Larry Schweiger, Charlie Shaw, John Jensen, Peter Hunter, Pat Johnson, and Rebecca OConnor. Special thanks go to Charles Leigon, a dear friend and colleague whose patient encouragement to write helped renew my interest in finishing this book.

I also am grateful for the partnership with Shannon Davies, Louise Lindsey Merrick Editor for the Natural Environment of the Texas A&M University Press. Considerable work goes into birthing a book. Shannons friendship, help, and encouragement made the work go smoothly.

Special thanks go to Katie Cundiff, a phenomenally talented artist whose work has made this book a visual feast of fundraising art. But even more significant, many of the works displayed on the pages that follow have been used to raise funds by many organizations serving many causes.

Finally I thank my in-house reviewers. My wife, Jackie, dutifully read every word, several times, and helped edit. She also provided substantive content in areas of event arrangements, such as food service, site selection, accommodations, and negotiations which are her areas of expertise. My lucky daughter Julie, now an attorney doing some nonprofit practice, helped review and contributed to sections of the book covering legal matters. Julie is a dedicated advocate of greening fundraising events, and along with my other daughters, Laura and Shelly, regularly volunteers to help raise funds for worthy causes.

Money for the Cause

Standing near the former president of the United States was a tall, handsome African dressed in a blaze of traditional Maasai red. Barely 20 years old, the young man was the son of a chief and in time would become a chief in his African homeland. But he was not with the former president because of politics or tribal status. He was a student whose education was being funded at a leading university in South Africa by members of the audience. He was among the motivational elements assembled at this international nonprofit organizations premier fundraising event where more than 15,000 members had assembled for four days of fun and fundraising.