Tides Foundation
Death Penalty Abolition Capacity Building Grant
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Funding Request for $5,000
February 10, 2017
1. How do you plan to utilize this grant to expand your fundraising efforts?
VADP participated in the first Fundraising Coaching Cohort Program of The Suddes Group
that was supported by the Tides Foundation.
With the assistance of Traci Bruckner, VADP developed a prospect list (see attachment), a
predisposition message for those prospects, and an engagement tool for use in individual
meetings with prospective major donors.
Together we developed a plan to reach out to the identified prospects. The first step is to
engage prospects in predisposition events - a series of “engagement experiences” across
Virginia. Earlier this week we had 15 participants attend an event in Norfolk. Next week
we anticipate 25-30 people will attend a VADP engagement event in Washington, DC
(where many of our northern Virginia supporters work).
The second step is to schedule individual follow-up meetings with those prospects who
attend one of our predisposition events. At these meetings the VADP Executive Director
will share the engagement tool developed by The Suddes Group and ask prospects to
commit to one of the donor levels specified in the engagement tool (also attached).
In addition, VADP is requesting funds for social media advertising to identify new
supporters, grow our activist network, and convert identified activists into donors.
2. How do you measure success? Please be specific about what financial/fundraising
outcomes you are aiming to achieve.
The first outcome is hosting five VADP predisposition “engagement” events during 2017.
The targeted locations for these events are Norfolk, Washington, Richmond,
Charlottesville, and Lynchburg.
The second outcome is getting at least 100 prospects to attend these predisposition events.
The third outcome is scheduling at least 20 individual meetings with high-value prospects
during the 2017 calendar year.
The fourth outcome is raising at least $15,000 from new prospects and an additional $15,000
from existing major donors.
3. Please provide a simple budget for your request.
VADP is seeking funds to carry out this fundraising plan:
Travel (2,600 miles at 53.5 cents per mile) $1,391
Lodging & meals (14 nights at cost of $150 per night) 2,100
Event expenses (food, drink, rental) 509
Social media promotion 1,000
TOTAL: $5,000
