Creative Fundraising in a Challenging Economy

Stacie E.S. AmanDirector, AHCA PAC

BackgroundBackground

AHCA PAC RECEIPTSAHCA PAC RECEIPTS

•2008 Cycle: $1.36 million2008 Cycle: $1.36 million

•2009: $830,0002009: $830,000

•Over 300 new donors in 2009Over 300 new donors in 2009

•Tough legislative climateTough legislative climate

2009 Specifics2009 Specifics

•Grassroots efforts to expand donor baseGrassroots efforts to expand donor base

•““101” Club 101” Club

•Find champions and use them as much as Find champions and use them as much as

possiblepossible

NEW LOOK AND FEEL

Communicating ValueCommunicating Value

•Quarterly or monthly legislative updatesQuarterly or monthly legislative updates

•Fly-insFly-ins

•Committee participationCommittee participation

•Make use of large meetingsMake use of large meetings

•Special briefings and/or eventsSpecial briefings and/or events

•NewslettersNewsletters

Get in Front of Your Donors

• Legislative Updates– Quarterly or monthly– Informal– Welcome questions– Use it as a PAC “benefit”– Record members

Strategic CommunicationsStrategic Communications

•Tailor your message to specific groupsTailor your message to specific groups

•Find out what makes them “tick”Find out what makes them “tick”

•Legislation?Legislation?

•Benefits?Benefits?

•Improving the industry?Improving the industry?

Make the ConnectionMake the Connection

• Use fly-ins as the premiere opportunity to Use fly-ins as the premiere opportunity to highlight your effortshighlight your efforts

•Hill meetingsHill meetings

•FundraisersFundraisers

•Schedule “special” briefingsSchedule “special” briefings

PAC Specific CommunicationsPAC Specific Communications

•Highlight your donors as much as Highlight your donors as much as

possiblepossible

•Highlight access that was created Highlight access that was created

through the PACthrough the PAC

•Highlight education opportunitiesHighlight education opportunities

•Keep your donors informedKeep your donors informed

MeetingsMeetings

•Attend as many as possible Attend as many as possible

•Use meetings as an opportunity for Use meetings as an opportunity for

leadership to express supportleadership to express support

•Peer pressure and “buzz”Peer pressure and “buzz”

•Always have a special event or benefitAlways have a special event or benefit

Add ValueAdd Value

Find ways to add value – many people Find ways to add value – many people contribute because they feel they “have to”contribute because they feel they “have to”

• Velvet rope – make them feel like Velvet rope – make them feel like Washington “insiders”Washington “insiders”

•Photo opportunities ALWAYS appreciatedPhoto opportunities ALWAYS appreciated

•Use retreats as special benefitUse retreats as special benefit

•Solicit input on improving the Solicit input on improving the program/benefitsprogram/benefits

Make the Connection Through Make the Connection Through GrassrootsGrassroots

•Great example of push vs. pullGreat example of push vs. pull

•Merge your messagesMerge your messages

•Make the connectionMake the connection

•Focus on the districtFocus on the district

•PAC is never as powerful on its ownPAC is never as powerful on its own

Questions?Questions?