Mark Getting Suit

Mark getting suit, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.
Hong Kong tailoring shop

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

White Dove Society, Normal University, Beijing

Students doing good!

This student society gives over their weekends after classes and studying to volunteer to meet human service needs, ecological support and other civic projects such as the Olympics. Annually, about 800 students participate in White Dove.

They're doing things right:

Have their first cause marketing agreement with a chewing gum company.

They understand about research, making the match and contacting prospective donors.

They recruit and recognize.

Challenges:

The ability to keep track of Dove alumni is a challenge that requires an online database to show what volunteer projects they are currently involved.

Thoughts:

Only thing I can recommend is that Dove focus on one strategic impact project annually. This past year was the Olympics. Perhaps by targeting one short-term project, the impact of Dove will be less diffused and more likely to attract increased resources.


Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

China Youth Development Foundation - Beijing

China Youth Development Foundation (CYDF) focuses on helping to advance youth in rural areas. This NGO is on a healthy trajectory in both programmatic and fundraising endeavors.

Example:

Programatically responsive, CYDF responded to the earthquake's destruction of hundreds of schools by turning rubble into a school in ten days. One thousand students were able to continue their studies and return to a semblance of order.

Fundraising success is evident in its corporate campaigns. More than 50 well known entities such as Tiger Wood's foundation and Coca Cola support CYDF. CYDF receives more than 82% if its funding from the business sector.

Although there is encouragement for CYDF to beef up its annual individual campaign, the organization is reliably solvent today and strives top spend resources the proper way.

Some thoughts:

A plus:

To have the founder and president at work at CYDF for 19 years.

A minus:

To have the founder and president at work at CYDF for 19 years.

Having worked with founder NGO entrepreneurs who continue to manage organizations, Campaign Consultation is interested to see if CYDF has developed leadership transition strategies in preparation for when the president leaves.

Our experience reflects the fact that few NGO founder/managers proactively share organization steering reins with staff or Board in raising resources, managing and developing policy.

The NGO entrepreneurs charisma and risk taking approach to opportunity makes it difficult for groups to think past their leaving. We would encourage CYDF to put in place a leadership strategic action initiative -- we expect that they already have.


Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Chen Yet-Sen Family Foundation - Hong Kong

Founded by Robert Chen, James Chen's father, the family foundation resulted from their successful work in ceramics, building materials, packaging, etc.

Robert Chen grew up very poor, having experienced starvation where he and his family ate bark off trees, in a village outside Shanghai. Upon accumulating wealth, Mr. Chen was successful at engaging local, provincial officials of his boyhood village to help him apply his donations to build infrastructure for his village. that lacked drainage, clean water, etc. As a result of local officials support and Mr. Chen's visits to ensure installation of clean water, sanitation, etc. projects, the town began to prosper.

James Chen discussed how his father gave intuitively and funded projects that were less related to strategy, but based more on emotion. When James' generation was asked to assume giving responsibility, they were surprised at the number of inappropriate requests his father had endured for years.

As a result, the family established the foundation to give the process some structure. Because the family could not by themselves agree to one mission focus by which to give strategically to related purposes, they invited outside Board members, which elevated decision-making to another level.

As a Board, they decided to move from the "hardware" support accomplished by their father, to more "software" focus related to children's education -- specifically, school libraries in their father's home village, Hong Kong and communities in some West African countries..

The Foundation's mission today is to provide help develop and attract qualified, inspired librarians, the right number and type of educational and reading books that children will find interesting, etc. They continue to follow Robert Chen's example with frequent visits to funded project sites to entrust the appropriate expenditure of their support.

At this point of the presentation, James stepped back and described his perspective on philanthropy in China.

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) in China typically "chase the dollar" for any purpose rather than for their mission's purpose. Due to a limited number of responsible NGOs, the Chen Family Foundation has been unable to give away its designated annual one million in resources. The Foundation disciplines giving to the responsible NGO that is able to effectively manage the gift versus just pushing money out the door. The challenge is finding enough NGOs that meet their funding criteria.

Mr. Chen's perspective is that most NGOs from whom the Foundation receives solicitations do not have the basic platforms of transparent management. Today's typical NGO is unable to demonstrate a succinct mission plan, shows limited acumen in management of fiscal resources, staffing, provision of services, etc.

Mr. Chen says funders can, but often don't, nurture responsibility. He was very honest in saying that people of wealth in Hong Kong give primarily "for face" and status (same is true in U.S.) and throw money to groups often without any further contact as to what happened to the money.

The same principle of "for face" also holds for serving on most NGO volunteer boards. People are there for status and socializing purposes without any focus on setting policy and helpful NGO direction.

James Chen also stated that there is a lack of "information sharing" between private funders of major gifts. The Chen Foundation is developing a website that lays out why some funded projects succeeded and others failed.

He then returned to outlining future strategies for the Chen Family Foundation:

• Meet the problem in which a study listed Hong Kong as the second worst in the number of parents reading to their kids. As a result, they wish to build out their venture philanthropic project called "Bring Me A Book". This project enlightens parents to the knowledge that they are their children's "first teacher" and the necessity of reading to them often.

• Develop publisher awards that recognize publishers who print children's books in Chinese first.

• Mentor NGOs to build infrastructure capacity, much like Robert Chen did for his village many years ago.

Further thoughts:

I'm beginning to think that Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) in concert with future People to People delegation trips could partner with foundations to grow the number of fundable - NGOs by reviewing some basics.

As in the U.S. and other countries, many fringe NGOs are unable to adequately communicate the root problem facing their communities, the needed responses to resolve and what role their NGOs have in resolving the problem. Discussing the benefits of communicating an effective case for support, stewardship of resources, maximizing volunteer leadership, etc. may prove most useful.


Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Beijing Red Cross Foundation

Beijing Red Cross effectively communicates three primary focuses:

1. Rebuild after May earthquake

In addition to multitudes of responses in first aid and medical care during the earthquake, volunteers did unique services such as helping family farms continue to produce income by transporting their crops to market.

There remain 1,000 volunteers working in the area. On weekends, volunteers use their free time to search for victims' still missing.

Dynamic rebuilding continues in liaison with U.S. and other construction companies to build ecologically-based structures in the earthquake area.

2. Safety Education and Rescue

A lesson learned from the catastrophic earthquake is the lack of systemic standards among rescue teams in China. As a result, a national rescue alliance is being formed. The goal is to have every team throughout China begin to determine and implement created standards by the end of 2009.

To assist in training in crisis and disaster response, safety education and rescue, a camp is being developed with Quinghua University. The University will be most helpful in its research to determine most effective practices..

Red Cross also provides safety education and rescue services for members and the public climbing the mountains surrounding Beijing. Red Cross provides free instruction for mountain climbing. People also benefit from GPS tracking, a hotline whose last six digits translate to "Help Me", guidebook, trail signage, etc.

In addition to the general public, Beijing Red Cross also trains unique groups such as firemen in mountain rescue and first aid.

3. Medical Care

In addition to training people in first aid, Beijing has the uniquely placed Academy of China Cancer Center. The Academy works in concert with the pharmaceutical industry -- i.e., Pfizer, etc.

There was considerable interest in meeting with other human service entities for knowledge transfer. In addition to 2 free memberships to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) there was agreement that looking at getting leaders of the Beijing Red Cross to AFP's International Conference. Would be of real benefit to US members.

Some thoughts:

Those of us who work within definites -- i.e., did we or did we not reach the campaign goal, etc. -- must accept that at this time in China's NGO community, there are limited definites in organization leadership hierarchy and autonomy. It is admirable how China NGOs continue to raise resources and serve.


Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

China Youth Development Foundation

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Meeting with Beijing Red Cross

Meeting with Beijing Red Cross, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Travel / PM off

Travel / PM off, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.
Beiijing pearls ...

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Travel / PM off

Travel / PM off, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Hong Kong Council on Social Services

Great meeting held after AFP Hong Kong hosted luncheon.

Here are some key points discussed:

• Council on Social Services operates much like a Chamber for
  Social Services.
• 340 member agencies.
• Funded through member fees, rental income and government to build middle to small NGO fund capacity building platforms.

Provides:

• IT support services -- i.e., no cost server support, discounted group software costs, customer service, etc.
• Research
• Advocacy
• Social Workers
• Exchange program between government officials and NGOs
• Raising Charity Accountability
• Promoting Corporate Citizenship
• Social welfare sector of excellence activity

Raising Charity Accountability:

• Wise Giving Program
  
  NGOs fill out forms delivering information regarding financial statements, percentage administrative costs, etc. to promote wise giving throughout corporate giving community in support of feasible charities.

• Directory of Funding Bodies
  
  Listing of contact information of all foundation, corporate, etc. funding bodies in Hong Kong

• Caring Company Directory
  
  3 inch thick catalog listing companies nominated by NGOs that fulfill at least two of six criteria related to green, hiring people with disabilities, NGO mentoring, employee volunteering, families, donating, etc.

• Choose positive approach versus confrontational.
  
  What are companies doing right versus focusing on what they're doing wrong. Purposefully chose lower threshold to reward any good corporate citizenship action. Different from Community Chest that exhorts vs. rewards.

Last year, more than 1,500 companies were nominated and listed as a Caring Company. Each nominated company receives an annual decal as the "good charitable partner" seal of approval. In addition, an annual Wise Giving and Caring Funder receives an annual plaque gift photo of NGO partner.

Great example of business partnering:

One of presenters at AFP luncheon distributes mobile alarms to the elderly. Council on Social Services linked the NGO with the gas company.

The gas company always experienced difficulty gaining access to seniors homes to check on meters annually. One, there was distrust of the gas company and secondly, staff was unskilled at elder communication.

The NPO concerned with seniors welfare wanted their mobile alarms to be serviced annually. In addition, the NGO was always looking for ways to generate companionship moments for elders.

A natural linkage was established in which the NGO helped gas company workers build skills to improve elder communication. As a result of gas company workers being seen as friends to improve personal safety, elders more readily allowed access to heating equipment.

For an extra two minutes, gas company workers checked elders' mobile alarms. In addition, workers spent another 4 minutes to linger in conversation (skills they learned from the NGO) with seniors to promote connection and limit loneliness.

A win-win-win all around.

The delegation expressed profound appreciation of what the Council on Social Services accomplished in 7 short years. Their entrepreneurial approach to "do it without talking" is greatly admired and even envied.

There was particular interest in the Council's not generating a level of giving donor list. The reasoning is that starting out this "charitable encouragement campaign", they wanted to include the "little guy" business on equal footing as the behemoth business as to their corporate social responsibility.

The Council will however, probably increase the fulfillment of two criteria to minimum of three criteria to be listed as a Caring Company and to use the dec al/bug insignia. In the meantime the Council is working hard to increase their
NGO members' fund development cap city.

Attention then turned to the global recession and the tactics to address.

Two overarching thoughts came out of the discussion:

• Keep Donors close -- beyond giving -- so that when recession lifts, they remain with your mission.
• Mobilize NGO services to serve the business sectors -- i.e., provide counseling services and resources for recently laid off workers, give the basic support in food, health, etc services to care for workers w/o work, etc.
  

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Council on Social Services

Council on Social Services, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Christine and Tim

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

AFP Wan Chai Luncheon

AFP Wan Chai Luncheon, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Enjoying colleague

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

AFP Wan Chai Luncheon

AFP Wan Chai Luncheon, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Enjoying more colleagues

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

AFP Luncheon in Wan Chai

AFP Luncheon in Wan Chai, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Enjoying colleagues!

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Philanthropy in Asia, a Chen Perspective

"What a pleasure it is to have friends from afar"
- Confucius, ancient Chinese philosopher

Darwin Chen, philanthropy guru and quintessential fundraiser in Hong Kong opened his talk with the greeting above. He predicated his views on philanthropy to Confucius and taking care of the less fortunate in order to have a harmonious society.

I would have loved to have had more time with this gentleman who just received the National Award for Philanthropy from the President of China this past week. In addition to managing Hong Kong's City Hall, directing cultural services, drafting the Basic Law in Constitutional Affairs, Mr. Chen volunteers to lead such global philanthropic initiatives such as United Way International, Asia Pacific Philanthropy Consortium, Community Chest and Habitat for Humanity International.

In addition to his years of experience, his remarks reflect a preliminary review of a survey that one of his groups commissioned to serve as a baseline of information for a massive global fundraising campaign. The survey, commissioned for the Philippines, Korea, Singapore and Hong Kong, was designed to help answer how the recession is impacting SE Asia and the impact the impact on philanthropy.

Philippines

Despite the recent deposing of a dictator and the tsunami, they are back on the growth path. Both Deutch and the World banks see no impact on current levels of giving as of yet.

Mr. Chen highlighted how political conditions impact how people give. People tend to save more for their families in anticipation of hard times under dictatorial political conditions than when there is more freedom economically and politically. People give away more when they trust and believe in the NGO mission and when political conditions support philanthropic growth -- i.e., China bestowing awards for philanthropy.

Korea

They are in recession. Korea's hard work to improve it's private philanthropic sector has been undermined by corruption. A well-established infrastructure can weather such upheavals, but a burgeoning initiative such as Korea's can easily shatters.

Although the Korean government grew the Community Chest coffers by requiring major conglomerates to support the needy and make gifts to NGO's, they still pulled the strings and raised conflict of interest and public distrust. As a result, in Korea today, private philanthropy is slowing down.

Darwin Chen emphasized that governments play a big role in endorsing or demoralizing philanthropy.

Singapore

Mr. Chen report the survey as stating that although the economic growth rate is down 20% lower that the 1998 recession, 91% of people give triple the amount given before annually.

He wants to study the statistical analysis more. He did share that giving to religion-based social services plays a large role in Southeast Asia especially which could account for the outstanding philanthropic response.

Mr. Chen also shared how he is waiting for the moment when the best of the religious faithful can balance the worst in religious fundamentalism and fanaticism and the destructive tendencies.

There was a palpable moment of silent reflection in the room after his hopeful statement.

Hong Kong

Individual giving in Hong Kong is up 2-3%. He was careful to point out that this is based on first half of year reports. Half of all giving in Hong Kong is corporately based.

Mr. Chen shared the giving patterns differences between the first and second generations of wealth in China and Hong Kong.

In China, the past 30 years have produced the first generation of extremely wealthy individuals. People with little to no education and no networks of support forged successful businesses. These self-made people are emotionally grateful and generous in their giving back perspectives. They give from their profits. NGOs have a challenging time reaching out to them because few people know them.

In Hong Kong, wealth has permeated down to the second, even third generations. These individuals are educated, many with tertiary degrees. They are well known and well-connected with incredible support networks. They give from their investment returns in a more methodological, logical, emotionally detached manner. And NGO's in Hong Kong can easily find someone of influence who knows them.

Darwin Chen summed up the general temperament toward giving in the current economic environment ... People in Hong Kong "aren't in the mood" to give.

Growing Philanthropy Ideas for SE Asia:

Governments need to provide politically healthy environments for philanthropy to grow.

Workplace giving is a key component to growing support toward reaching NGO mission objectives.

Using the internet as a successful channel especially for upcoming generations who are even more interested in well-managed, accountable mission achievement.

Pass on your observations ...

What's your opinion about Mr. Chen's SE Asian observations?

How would you relate these to U.S. generational philanthropy?

What's a cutting-edge use of the internet to reach more people for increased support at reduced costs?


Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Hong Kong Mover & Shaker

Hong Kong Mover & Shaker, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Darwin Chen with Tim Burcham, delegation leader.

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Good morning!

It's Sat., 7:00am - heading to Taipei Airport ... Bound for HK ...

Recap on Producing Proposals That Work presentation in Taiwan ... Very honored that NTHU Secretary Wang and President Chang and other leaders, professors and students attended this session, especially on a Friday afternoon at 3:00pm. About 100 business cards with the traditional translation were clipped to invitations urging attendees to visit Campaign Consultation in Baltimore and seemed to be appreciated.

The presentation generated good follow-up discussion about a NTHU alumni mailing producing less than stellar response to gymnasium campaign. We did some idea sharing about ...

Segmenting donor/alumni base into giving levels

Establishing giving level volunteer teams
to Identify and solicit likely prospects

Tailoring and implementing appropriate approach methodologies

We continued a more specific discussion at dinner that night where I learned about NTHU's muti-million corporate partnering. This company funded a building for students' knowledge-expansion and also shares the space for some teaching/research purposes. NTHU is wonderfully positioned in the heart of a "Silicon Valley" location to attract the imagination of many such successful entrepreneurs.

Conversation turned to their next campaign for a state-of-the-art Gymnasium. Here's a smattering of what we discussed:

Get started -- some fundraising techniques may not produce desired results, but one has to begin somewhere!

Seek advice and thereby "buy-in" from past major gift supporters to provide their ideas and assistance for design and development undertakings in program, capital and philanthropic initiatives

Link respected celebrities to a major campaign who have a vested interest

Develop a Campaign brand for use on stationery, signage, note pads, etc.

Develop a gift range chart to compartmentalize a fundraising campaign into discreet categories which makes any undertaking more digestible

Speaking of digestion, every bite from this delectable dinner of at least 2 dozen dishes was delectable. I only wished I was Orson Welles so I could keep eating. Ha!

Next - Hong Kong!

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

National Tsing Hua University presentation

National Tsing Hua University presentation, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Fuzzy but true photo of Linda with NTHU Leadership talking fundraising over dinner.

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

Taiwan Bound ...

Taiwan Bound ..., originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Linda sneak peak ...

What a wild strange trip it's been ...

It feels a long time ago since our staff holiday gathering of good cheer, gratitude and the sharing of blessings through our annual Give 5 initiative. We did a good job in four hours making the case for giving away 5% of pre-tax earnings from Campaign Consultation and Eye Byte Solutions to charitable social causes.

For the first time, one of our favorite vendors added his support to Give 5 by adding in-kind product support. Way cool.

Back to China bound, it's been a long strange trip since finding out my flight reservations were incorrectly tagged. . But by the chin of my chinny, chin-chin, I was squeezed on the same flight a day later.

I'll be landing in Hong Kong and Tapei 24 hours later than expected which means I have 2 hours after landing to give my presentation on Producing Proposals That Work at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan.

Then, in another strange twist, we will really be cutting it close due also to volcano activity in Russia which has interrupted fuel production -- which demands a refuel stop before proceeding to Hong Kong.

At some point, you take a peek around and if there's nothing to be done ... Get some shut-eye. Catch ya later on this wild, wonderful experiment in cultural communication. LBR

Linda Brown Rivelis, CFRE
President
CAMPAIGN CONSULTATION, Inc.

This Giving Afternoon

I need to share, w/o too much schmaltz, the Eye Byte and Campaign Consultation teams just gave away more than $15,000 in support of causes that seek to improve the state of people's lives. It is our delight and pleasure.

Michelle, Shelley and Steph

Michelle,%20Shelley,%20Steph.jpg, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Taking a break at the Holiday party.

Steven and Susan

Steven%20and%20Susan.jpg, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Cheers!

Suzanne and Rob

Suzanne%20and%20Rob.jpg, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Let the sun shine in.

Oysters!

Oysters!.jpg, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

Abby and Ross

Rivelis

Rivelis, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

This would be Steven.

Conference Room

Conference Room, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

This is where we hold our meetings.

Headquarters

Outside View, originally uploaded by LBRivelis.

This is our main office in Baltimore, Maryland.

Fundraising in China

My name is Linda Brown Rivelis. I'm the President at Campaign Consultation, Inc.

I am pleased, upon the invitation by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and in cooperation with the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, to join a delegation of fundraising professionals in China from December 11th - 22nd.

Sponsored by President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s People to People International, I’ll be presenting, exchanging information and exploring ideas related to volunteerism and philanthropy in Hong Kong and Beijing.

Just before I join up with the delegation, I’ll be in Taipei where I’ve been asked to deliver a fundraising presentation to faculty and students at National Tsing Hua University (NTHU).

I think that China hosting this fundraising delegation in the same year of the earthquake tragedy where an unprecedented number of Chinese citizens volunteered and “opened their wallets” to survivors is most timely.

Stay tuned to information snippets and tactile points of what I find interesting during this learning adventure.

Best year-end wishes too!

Linda