December 2018

A Scout is Reverent

Reverent: Showing deep and solemn respect. To treat with high regard and veneration. Scouts know how to have fun; they know how to enjoy the beauty of the world around them, and they also recognize there are times when sober reflection, solemnity and respect are most appropriate. Showing deep and solemn respect is a timeless characteristic of Scouting.

Congratulations, 2018 Eagle Scouts!

Only six percent of Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout. The final leadership project can take years to complete. From 1912 to 2017, only 2.5 million Scouts have earned this highest rank. Here are just a few exceptional stories from 2018:

• Garett O’Brien, Three Fires Council in Illinois, has followed his two older brothers in earning the rank of Eagle Scout. Having three sons achieve this honor demonstrates individual commitment as well as the dedication of the entire family.
• Benjamin Waggoner, Troop 890 of Dallas, Texas faced unique challenges in earning his Eagle. Much of his time is spent working from his wheel chair due to being born with spina bifida. His accomplishment is not only exceptional, but extraordinary.
• Nathan Fain, Troop 326 of LaGrange, Georgia won the 2018 Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service project of the Year Award. He created a musical playground that is fully accessible to students with physical or mental challenges. The Layfette Christian School Joyful Noise project was inspired by Psalm 98:4 “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” The musical playground benefits the school’s Discovery Cottage, a brain-based program dedicated to helping students with learning differences discover their God-given gifts and abilities by facilitating growth in the sensory-cognitive, academic and social needs areas of each child.

Congratulations to all of 2018’s new Eagle Scouts! Your diligence and hard work not only has helped you achieve what few ever accomplish, but you have made positive and lasting differences in your communities. Keep up the good work!

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: How can we identify and cultivate donor prospects better next year? Start with your staff, board and existing supporters. Find out who they know who may have the capacity to give gifts of significant and who may have an interest in your mission. Then find out what you can about them in order to develop a genuine relationship based on shared values. Develop individual strategies for each prospective major donor—one that is based on and tailored to their interests and values. Potential donors want to see—not just hear about—the impact their gifts will make, so be creative. Send them success stories that include pictures of people and projects. Invite them to tour your facility. Make the connection and build on it throughout the year.

Book Deal of the Month

Kinetic President and CEO Matthew J. Beem’s book Performance-Driven Fundraising: Taking Control of Your Success shares decades of fundraising insights and features campaign success stories. Performance-Driven Fundraising will help accelerate anyone’s learning curve and serve as a valuable reference tool for new and seasoned fundraisers. Go here for a special price of $10 (plus shipping and handling).

Get to Know the Kinetic Team

Executive Vice President Stephen Jones provides support for nonprofits in development functions such as leadership recruitment and training; capital campaigns; annual giving; legacy giving; and staff training. Prior to joining Kinetic, Steve served as the Presiding Bishop/Chief Financial Officer for the Community of Christ where he oversaw development and implementation of a five-year strategic financial plan and was responsible for overseeing $1 billion of insured assets worldwide. He has also served as the Chief Operations Officer for North Iowa Mercy Hospital Center and was Senior Vice President for Regional Health Network for ten hospitals and shared services. His volunteer experience includes serving on the Capital Campaign Committee and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for Children’s Mercy Hospital; as a board member and executive committee member for Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care; and as inaugural board member for the Health Care Foundation of Kansas City. He has a Master of Arts/Religion, Park University; Master of Health Administration, St. Louis University; and a Bachelor of Science, Augustana College.

Strategies for Success: Accentuate the Positive

A popular song from 1944 shared this timeless advice: “Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don’t mess with mister in-between!” For nonprofits, this means starting with a list of your organization’s positives and negatives. Go here to read more.

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.