To keep our blog fresh and exciting for our readers, Envoy runs a post by a guest blogger each month. This month, we are honored to have Kevin Warneke as our guest blogger. Kevin is the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha. A native of Plainview, Neb., Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and his master’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He has previously worked for the Omaha World-Herald, Boys Town and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities at http://rmhcomaha.org/.
Our extended community is rich with organizations and businesses that want to lend a hand to those in need. At the same time, we have an abundance of nonprofit organizations that do great things to help others. These two groups signify that our community is a caring one that strives to help others and especially those in need.
As the director of a local charity, I am always looking for support so we can better fulfill our mission, and I’m certainly not the only person in Omaha looking for generous supporters of worthwhile causes. Regardless of what city you’re in, your business undoubtedly receives many requests for donations and support every year. Businesses today want to demonstrate their social conscience, and to this end, many are not only giving to nonprofits, but they are also seeking nonprofits they can partner with for effective cause marketing campaigns that benefit both organizations.
Your challenge, no doubt, is deciding which organizations to support. My advice: Before writing that check or partnering up for a cause marketing campaign, do your homework. Here are a few more tips to help you in your charitable support efforts:
• Decide where your interest lies. You can’t support every organization that comes calling, so decide in advance how you want to make a difference. Perhaps your passion is helping the elderly. Maybe it’s aiding animals that have been abused. Or you might be interested in working with organizations like mine, which help families with sick children.
• Look for transparency. Ask questions of organizations that seek support. Ask about their budget, what percentage of their budget covers administrative costs, whether your donation will remain in the local community. Find out if a portion of your donation goes to a national office rather than staying local. An organization that hesitates to talk about its budget may have something to hide.
• Look for passion. Directors of nonprofit organizations should be passionate about their work. You should see this passion in their eyes and hear it in the stories they tell. If they aren’t passionate about their organizations and the work they do, how can they expect you to become passionate about them?
• Don’t be rushed. Organizations sometimes must move quickly to fill a gap in services or to respond to an emergency. They’ll tell you that time is critical. In most cases, however, this is not the case. Take your time. Do your homework. Decide how your support can do the most good. Be wary of organizations that aren’t willing to wait while you decide.
• Feel good about what you’ve done. You should feel good about making a difference through your support. Tell your clients. Encourage them to follow your lead. Everyone wins this way.
-Kevin Warneke
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