Mentoring - To serve as a trusted counselor or teacher, especially in occupational settings.

Thanks to all of you who attended the discussion before our last meeting at Rockwood Manor.  It is always good to hear what all of you have to say, and again it is great to share the resources of our collective experience. 

This month's topic ~ Bulk mail and non-profits

March 24, 11 a.m.

before the INDC Luncheon meeting at

the Women & Children's Free Restaurant

This month our discussion topic will be "All you wanted to know but were afraid to ask about Bulk Mail and non-profits."  We will have a speaker, Phyllis Woods, from Business Mail Entry (bulk mail) to share a brief overview of rules and regulations regarding non-profit mailings.  Her presentation will include time for Q & A and additional resources available to non-profits regarding bulk mailings.  Come with your questions and expect to learn!  Join us at 11:00 at the Women's and Children's Free Restaurant prior to the Membership Meeting.

Back to Top

Back to Top

Development is a science and an art, but most of all it is very personal. Research tells us why people give, but I want to illustrate it. Imagine this: you love children and you live in Spokane and you have only so many dollars available to support worthy causes. How do you decide where to give?

           Scenario One: A respected friend asks you to make a contribution to an organization to which you belong. He approaches you personally, asks questions about your interest, and gives you the option to make a gift by transferring appreciated stock. He allows time for you to think about making a gift and he follows up with you when he says he will. Your gift will help build an interactive fountain that children can enjoy for generations. You remember running through the sprinkler as a child, filling up your galvanized garbage can and having to empty it before your dad got home. You are excited about the project. You have the capacity to make the gift, a connection to the organization, and are committed to helping children.

            Scenario Two: A special fund is set up in your name and you receive a compelling letter with a personal hand-written note from a volunteer asking you to renew your support. Your gift helps young women – mostly single, some mothers – who cannot afford the costs of healthcare. You remember when people helped you. The physician running the program recently sent you a hand-written thank you note telling you how much the money helps – and you could even read the writing! You receive another personal note from the development director thanking you for last year’s contribution. They know you and you feel appreciated. This is stewardship at its finest.

In both these instances, your initial annual gift was less than $50, but a relationship was built over the years, information was free-flowing, and you never felt like a cash machine. Now you plan what you will give before you are even asked.

Scenario Three: The mail arrives with a newsletter and a remittance envelope. A request from your favorite priest asks you to support a local boys’ home. You remember waking up and reading in

The Spokesman Review that local meth labs are being busted every day. Children are left sick and homeless. Could this be where they go? You decide to build this into your charitable giving budget.

Giving is very personal but research has identified common reasons why people give.

1.      You believe in the organization, its mission and leadership, how it uses resources, and its case for giving is strong.

2.      You were acknowledged for your previous gifts and know they were appreciated.

3.      Someone asked you. It was the right person — someone you respect, someone who gave at the level you were being asked to give.

4.      The asker knows you — they did their homework about what you give and to whom, and asked for the right amount for the right purpose.

5.      A specific amount or range was suggested including alternative ways to give, and the timing was right.

INDC provides great opportunities for sharing information and experiences about why people give in our community. When you participate, our organizations, our donors, and our community all learn and we all win. Thank you for taking advantage of this professional networking resource by using our Web site, attending our meetings, or participating in our mentorship program.

PJ Watters, President, Inland Northwest Development Council

Back to Top

Back to Top

The INDC website does belong to the members! It is interactive, and there are many ways for you to use it as a tool to make your job easier.

1. Advertise your job openings to prospective employees with experience, and possibly even a love for, working in the non-profit world. The Employment site lets you list any openings your organization may have. There is no charge, and many of our "At Large" members use this site daily to check for job openings. Simply go to the Members section and click on Job Openings. Fill out the form with all the pertinent information and submit. Please be sure to put an opening and closing date so you won't be receiving calls long after the job is filled. Or be sure to go back to the Web site and delete your job position.

2. Planning an event so that it doesn't conflict with other non-profit events can be a challenge. Use the Calendar page. It only takes a few minutes to fill in the information. This page will show others when your events are, and help you decide when to plan yours. Much like the Job Positions page, you can click on Calendar and fill out the form.

3. Got a question about something, and the meeting and mentorship mixers are weeks away? List your question on the Message Board. Spend a few moments checking out others questions. Maybe you can help them by sharing your experiences.

4. Need to contact another non-profit? Go  to the Membership Directory and look them up. All members are listed, with their phone numbers and email addresses. They may even have a link to their Web site. Don't forget to make sure your organization's information is correct. Someone may be looking for you!

Back to Top