Client Discovery - Tides Cohort
Instructions: Please spend no more than 60 minutes completing this document and
gathering materials. It’s not intended to create work. Send all materials to
nicole@forimpact.org .
Please gather and send the following (if/as applicable):
Annual report(s) - NONE
Marketing/fundraising materials - WILL ATTACH RECENT LETTERS TO
SUPPORTERS
Power Points - NONE
Any grant applications from past two years that tell the complete story of your
organization. - LAST MAJOR APLICATION 2014, FINAL DRAFT ATTACHED
NUMBERS: annual budgets, campaign plans, etc. (We love spreadsheets - they tell a
story!) - DO NOT HAVE ANNUAL PRINTED BUDGETS, ETC. Will attach some
financial records that will give you an idea of what we do and will attach donation
records for those contributing $100+ for years ’14,’15 and ‘16
Strategic Plan, if you have one - THE LAST ONE EXPIRED. NO CURRENT STRATEGIC
PLAN.
I. About Your Impact
In your words, why does your organization exist or what is your purpose?
Mission: To abolish the death penalty in Kentucky
Vision :To assemble a broad-based coalition of individuals and organizations
committed to ending the death penalty in Kentucky by educating residents of the
commonwealth about why it is in their best interest to abolish the death penalty
organizing and mobilizing throughout the commonwealth engaging in advocacy
efforts that move constituents to persuade the governor and the General
Assembly to abolish the death penalty
Guiding principles:
e Perseverance—We are dedicated to the ongoing work necessary to
abolish the death penalty; until that goal is possible, we are willing to
bring about small changes that eventually will lead to the abolition of the
death penalty.
¢ Broad tent—We recognize that ending the death penalty in Kentucky
requires the shared knowledge, resources, and efforts of many; we strive
to establish alliances with diverse individuals and organizations with
related missions to advance our cause.
¢ Credibility—We conduct ourselves with uncompromising integrity and
honesty, striving to earn enduring credibility with others, which is
essential to long-term success.
+ Describe your current (and ongoing) programs. Not sure what you mean by
programs. We have no paid staff. We contracted with a former Republican lawmaker
to gain us outreach in the conservative community and will be contracting with
another person to do similar work in the evangelical community. We bring former
death row inmates to Kentucky who were innocent to speak on college campuses, to
Rotary clubs and at other places like churches. If the General Assembly is in session
we bring them to Frankfort to meet lawmakers. We participate in forums when
possible that have the death penalty as a policy discussion. Upcoming in November
is both a forum event featuring a former prosecutor, a victim family member, a
wrongfully convicted Kentuckian, the Ky. Public Advocate, and a member of the ABA
Kentucky Assessment Team that issued its report in 2011. This report has yet to be
addressed by any branch of government in response to the nearly 100
recommendations made to improve the system in its administration of the death
penalty. And then a Witness to Innocence Tour will follow in eastern Ky the
following week. After the election we should have a clear idea of where we are in the
General Assembly and know who will sponsor our legislation.
+ Describe any strategic alliances or partnerships. Our strongest allies are the
Kentucky ACLU, which coordinates the Witness to Innocence Tours cited above; the
Catholic Conference of Kentucky; the Kentucky Council of Churches. We get some
support from Kentuckians For The Commonwealth, the state's largest grassroots
organization, and the NAACP.
+ Describe any unique selling points or distinguishing characteristics We are the only
organization focused on the death penalty.
II. About Your Expectations
+ Why did you decide to partner with For Impact | The Suddes Group? I've been to the
boot camp with Aaron Bentley and we learned a lot; liked what we heard; reported
it to the Board; and set up three visits with folks, 2 for money; 1 for leads. Except for
the latter, the other two did not go well. Both people whom we were told had money
and gave it away seemed puzzled we would ask them and said no. Aaron is full time
attorney so scheduling can be problematic, but he is very willing and after talking
with him about this opportunity he said grab the chance.
+ What do you hope to get out of this process/relationship? Money, just being honest.
Hoping with Suddes help we have more success.
II. About Your Math
+ Your Annual Operating Budget: It's been in the neighborhood of $60,000; but
without staff right now it is lower, so the Board agreed that using what we have to
contract with the right people to get some things done made sense. And I think we
will continue to move in that direction. Ultimately, I would want us to have about
$100,000 a year to spend contracting with additional individual to grow our
numbers in targeted populations; to do more events where we can be visible to
Kentuckians in key parts of the state; to maintain our media presence, our web
presence. Income source must include money not restricted to non-advocacy
purposes, like certain grants.
+ Help us understand your business model:
+ Expenses (Current or Last Year): 1 am attaching bank statements to help you
see where we spend the money.
+ Revenue and where it comes from (ie. Fee for Service, Medicare/caid
Reimbursement, etc.)(Current or Last Year): Individual donations and one
$7,500 capacity grant from Tides Foundation. That grant is ended. I am
attaching a pdf file showing the individual donations over $100 for the past
three years.
+ Do you have an endowment? Size? No
+ Total number of People Impacted by Your Organization: I don't know. Certainly the
33 on death row. But how many see our FB posts, or tweets is unknown. We have
increased the number who like the FB page by over 1,000 persons this year.
+ Total number of Staff: 0 full-time as employees; 2 persons under contract; one
contract ends October 31.
+ What’s on the horizon for your organization? Our emphasis is legislative advocacy
and the next session is Jan - April 2017, but only for 30 days during that period.
+ Special projects? We are working to increase the number of conservative and
evangelical voices we have since this is where most membes of the General
Assembly get their support.
+ Program/Impact growth? We increased the number of people who like our
FB page by 1,000 since January. We sign people up at events, but without
staff since June there really have been no events where we could table. The
annual event at the state fair this year fell through.
* Capital needs? I don't know what this is. Office space? Equipment? The
Coalition owns a computer and a phone which was being used by the staff
organizer. We also own the computer used by the treasurer to keep our
financial records.
IV. Current Fundraising Stats
+ Your Funding Need/Goal for this year and/or next 3 years: We have raised about
$22,000 in small donations so far; I know of another $5000 that will come in soon.
So that gives us about $60,000 in the bank now and we will not have more than
$10,000 expenses between now and end of year.
Over the next three years I would like to see us raise about $300,000.
+ Your biggest funding priorities for this year and/or the next 3 years: contract with
individuals to grow capacity among conservative and evangelical Kentuckians;
money for FB post boosts which is how we’ve increased the page likes by over 1,000
persons since January; money to raise money, mostly travel costs I suspect or
picking up the tab for meals; having media consultants is important to us and needs
to continue; polling is helpful but expensive. Money to keep bringing Witness To
Innocence Tours to Kentucky may be needed if ACLU becomes unable to pay for
these. These attract attention in local communities; with the press; and legislators
notice.
+ What were your total donations / total revenues for the past fiscal year? If
necessary, breakdown by source (e.g., membership, grants, etc). See attached excel
files for 2014, 2015, 2016.
+ How many times each year do you do a direct mail appeal? What are the results?
Three. The past few times the results were not enough to cover the cost. I think
those who were going to give did so with the first letter which was successful. Then
the next two letters did not result in a really significant increase of actual money
over cost of mailing.
+ Has your organization attempted a special campaign initiative within the last seven
years? If so, what was the result? I don't recall the exact year, but we had a very
successful campaign that included pledges to be paid over 3 years and nearly every
person, except where it became impossible, carried out the pledge. It was one of our
better efforts.
+ How many times each month does your organization sit down with somebody one-
on-one and ask for an investment? Seldom to never.
+ Have there ever been any “transformational” gifts to the organization? Not recently.
+ How many investors (including foundations) currently invest $10,000 or more
annually? none
+ How many investors currently invest $1,000 or more annually? See attached excel
file. For 2016 one donation of $5000 will come later this year.
+ How many commitments are currently pending? 1
+ Is there an organized Leadership or President’s Circle? No
+ Is there an organized Legacy Society? No
V. Sales Team & Leadership Involvement
+ Please describe those that you foresee being involved with the sales team (key
people / positions / time to dedicate). Just Aaron Bentley and Kate Miller. Kate, less
than Aaron.
+ ‘Champions’ are individuals who we can mobilize to open doors and present
opportunities to others. Without any further explanation or strategy, how many
champions do you believe we have ‘on board’ to lead the project? None
VI. Self-Assessment
« What is your greatest perceived strength or opportunity as it relates to funding?
We can demonstrate the Coalition is having an impact at the General Assembly.
+ What is your greatest perceived obstacle as it relates to funding? No one is getting
executed and the abolition of the death penalty is not seen as that important in the
life of Kentucky.
Rate the following training deliverables: 5 = most help needed; 1 = least help needed.
Put N/A if not applicable.
Training Deliverables Rating
Developing a funding timeline 4
B
Determining funding goals
NS
Clarifying the funding message (or, why someone should invest in your
org)
Developing materials / engagement tools
Putting together a funding plan
Training: Learning how to make a visit or ask
Knowing WHAT to say
Overcoming objections
Building consensus within team around funding priorities
Motivating champions, potential investors and board members
Knowing how to leverage board, staff and development team members
Identifying prospects
Prioritizing prospects
Strategizing prospects
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Getting the visit
Follow-up strategies 5
Comments about your self-assessment - Is there anything you want to expand upon?
Anything else we should know?
