August 2018

A Scout is Cheerful

Research has shown that belonging to a group or community gives individuals a sense of identity. In fact, psychologist James H. Fowler studied 5,000 people over 20 years and found that happiness benefits other people through three degrees of connection. No wonder Scouts are cheerful!

2018 Top Hands Held in Washington, D.C.

We hope you enjoyed this year’s Top Hands! We look forward to attending the National Annual Meeting in May, 2019. Until then, feel free to contact Ross Pfannenstiel, Jason Wood or Tammy Weinman to learn how Kinetic can help grow philanthropy for your council. Until we see you at the National Annual Meeting, we are always available to visit with you and your council by phone or in person.

Honor Medal with Crossed Palms Awarded

This month, Minnesota Scout Tyrrhien “TJ” Ostrem was presented with Boy Scouts of America’s most prestigious heroism award: the Honor Medal with Crossed Palms. This medal is awarded to individuals who have “demonstrated unusual heroism and extraordinary skill or resourcefulness in saving or attempting to save life at extreme risk to self.” TJ was awarded the medal for the rescue of his brother from a house fire three years ago. According to John Bacigalupo of the Hayfield Community Ambulance, who responded to the May 2015 fire: “With intrepid bravery, not withstanding the great risk to his personal safety and well being, Tyrrhien rushed back into the house to find and evacuate his younger brother Avery. The decisive actions Tyrrhien took to reenter a burning structure and rescue Avery undoubtedly resulted in Avery’s life being spared. A few moments or minutes longer passing would have surely resulted in near fatal or fatal injuries to Avery.” Fewer than 300 Honor Medals with Crossed Palms have been awarded since 1938.

Legacy Giving Makes a Lasting Impression

Boy Scouts of America represents one of the greatest opportunities for donors to make a positive and profound difference in the next generation. Does your council have a plan for educating potential donors on the value of legacy gifts? The following are just some options donors may have available:

• Living Trusts
• Family Trusts
• Charitable Remainder Annuity Trusts
• Charitable Remainder Unitrusts
• Pooled Income Funds
• Charitable Lead Trusts
• Life Insurance Gifts
• Charitable Bequests and Beneficiary Designations
• Gifts by Will
• Charitable Gift Annuity

Serving BSA Councils from Coast to Coast and Around the World

Kinetic has assisted Boy Scouts of America councils from coast to coast and in Europe, including the following councils:

Ask Kinetic!

Do you have a tough fundraising question?
Send your questions to askhartsook@kineticfundraising.com and we will respond by email. Your question may be featured in a future eHartsook on Scouting.

QUESTION: Do you have any suggestions on how we can keep our team motivated? We seem to stay busy, but that’s not the same as raising the money we know we need to raise this year.

First: nothing motivates like success. Don’t just stay busy; be intentional about your activities. It sounds like you’re not raising as much as you feel you could or should. Are your goals in writing? Do you have benchmarks for the month, the quarter or the year? It is important to quantify your objectives. Regularly review your plans as a team and assign next steps. If you still can’t get the traction you’re looking for, give Kinetic a call and let us help you achieve your goals and, in turn, motivate your team to accomplish even more in the years to come.

Book of the Month

How to Get Million Dollar Gifts and Have Donors Thank You (ASR Media) recounts 101 strategies surrounding amazing, real life fundraising gifts of one-million dollars or more. Go here to purchase this book.

Get to Know the Kinetic Team

H. Layton (Bud) Cooper, DMin
Executive Vice President

Kinetic Executive Vice President Bud Cooper has assisted a variety of organizations in their fundraising efforts. Bud was a Cub Scout, Boy Scout and Explorer. He was a Boy Scout with Troop 2—one of the oldest troops west of the Mississippi still in active service; it is now part of Quivira Council in Kansas. As an adult, Bud was a Scout Leader. He helped form new troops in three communities. Prior to joining Kinetic, he was the Executive Director of Development for The Salvation Army of Kansas and Western Missouri. He holds a Doctorate from the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Saint Paul School of Theology, a liberal arts degree from Labette Community College and a Bachelor’s degree from Pittsburg State University. Bud was named the 2013 Cardinal Citation Award recipient for lifetime achievement by Labette Community College (LCC) and the LCC Alumni Association.

Strategies for Success: Grow Philanthropy Before It Is Needed

Even if an organization is supported well and all its expenses are covered by regular giving, it is important to keep raising money for long-term sustainability and unexpected, yet inevitable, events such as economic downturns. Go here for strategies for raising money on an ongoing basis.

Kinetic’s Growing Philanthropy Tour

Kinetic speakers are members of the Kinetic team of professional fundraising consultants who have, in their collective careers, raised more than $231 billion in their 300-plus years of experience. Go here to view upcoming Growing Philanthropy Tour presentations. Go here to view a sample of past presentations. To schedule a Kinetic consultant to speak at your conference or organization, email Tammy at info@kineticfundraising.com.