Cole Reese Annual Giving and Donor Relations Plan

8/14/2019 Cole Reese Annual Giving and Donor Relations Plan

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Annual Giving and Donor Relations Plan for

Zero Waste Washington

Cole Reese

19 August 2013


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Case statement

What do climate change, deforestation, fracking, mountain top removal and mining all have in

common? They are all externalities of resource consumption on overdrive. The throwaway culture

that we have developed in the United States is having a serious impact on our environment. As

resources become scarcer, mining and extraction techniques become more and more destructive.

Unlike a used pair of shoes, we cannot simply throw our planet away and buy a new one when we

have exhausted it. As a society, we need to start consuming less, reusing more, and

repurposing/recycling what is left over.

There is no question that this is a complex problem, but Zero Waste Washington has commonsense

solutions:

Make recycling intuitive, user-friendly and convenient for people Educate the population on ways to reduce their own personal waste Work with producers and manufacturers to take back products and develop goods using

fewer virgin resources and more repurposed or upcycled resources

By working on legislation that implements many of these programs at the state level, we help to

insure that a Washingtonians ability to be zero waste is not dependent upon what part of the state

they live in.

For over 30 years, Zero Waste Washington has served as the publics voice for zero waste in city

halls around the state, at county council meetings, and down in Olympia. We work to protect our

natural world by advocating for products designed and produced to be healthy, safe, and continually

recycled and reused.


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In addition to have a clear vision, Zero Waste Washington has a strong history of demonstrating

success down in Olympia, and all across the state. We were instrumental in establishing Seattles first

city-wide curb side recycling program in the 1980s. More recently, in 2008, we played a major role in

working with local electronics retailers to establish the first producer funded e-cycling system in the

country. We have shown strength in all levels of government and citizen organizing. We dedicated to

achieving a just and sustainable world where society responsibly produces, consumes and recycles.

Financial goals

For annual budget, please see additional document

The ultimate financial goal of Zero Waste Washington is to achieve financial sustainability.

Historically, Zero Waste Washington has been supported primarily by grants. After last yearsbudget

crisis in Olympia, when the Public Participation Grants that have been a large portion of our

operating budget were threatened to be suspended, the board realized that we as an organization

need to focus on increasing our support from individual donors.

Currently, Zero Waste Washington receives 29% of its annual budget from individual donors, and

29% from grants (see Figure 1). Because grants and foundations can be unpredictable, the board

made the decision that it would be in the organizations best interest to achieve financial

sustainability through expanding the percentage of our budget that is supported by membership

dollars. As a grassroots based nonprofit that speaks on behalf of the citizens of Washington, it

makes sense that we should emphasis getting a larger part of our budget from individual donors.

In order to grow the annual fund of the organization, the board has authorized the hiring of a part

time fundraising manager. By having an individual on staff that is dedicated to the organizations

fundraising efforts, ZWW will primed to grow its annual fund by 15% over the next three years. The


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29%

5%

3%

15%

29%

18%

1%

Zero Waste Washington Projected 2013 Income

Membership $32,500

EarthShare Washington$6,000

Event: House Party &Others $3,000

Contracts $17,000

Grants $32,300

Individual Fund Donations$20,000

Miscellaneous Income $500

key metrics in doing this will be increasing our renewal and retention rates, as well as reengaging

donors whose membership has lapsed. Once these three metrics are improved, then the fundraisers

attention can turn to improving the organizations new donor recruitment strategy.

Figure 1

Program objectives

Producer Responsibility- Producer responsibility means that manufacturersnot government or

taxpayerstake responsibility for their products from cradle to cradle. This includes providing

and paying for the collection and recycling of the products they make when those products are

discarded.

The goal of producer responsibilityalso called extended producer responsibility or product

stewardship is to minimize environmental and health impacts throughout all stages of the

products lifecycle. Producers design greener products and take them back for responsible recycling

when they are discarded.


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Producer responsibility is a private sector solution. Manufacturers pay for recycling the products

they make as a cost of doing business. The product price already reflects many costs in addition to

production, such as costs for marketing, worker protections, and environmental requirements. With

producer responsibility, the cost of recycling is included too.

Florescent Lights Campaign Update- Washington State has passed a landmark law to recycle

fluorescent lights. This law will create a convenient statewide recycling program for fluorescent

bulbs and tubes for residents throughout Washington. The program will be financed by the

producers of mercury-containing lights and will start January 2013. Washington is the second state in

the nation to pass this type of law, and Zero Waste Washington was instrumental in developing and

passing this critical piece of legislation.

More about the law:

Recycling for fluorescent lights must be provided for residents. Other entities (such as verysmall businesses) delivering fifteen or fewer lights per 90-day period may also use the program.

Residents will not be charged a fee when lights are dropped off for recycling at participatingcollection sites.

Collection options must be provided in each county and, at a minimum, in every city of morethan 10,000 people. Collection options may include drop-off sites, curbside collection, or mail-

back.

The recycling program is financed by lighting producers.

The recycling program is budget-neutral to the State and doesnt burden local governmentswith unfunded mandates.


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Mercury-containing lights must be recycled by all residents and by all government, industrial,and commercial facilities. Disposal of mercury-containing lights in the garbage or landfills is

prohibited.

The bulk sale of mercury via the internet and private parties is banned to stop dangerouspractices.

Medicine- Voluntary take-back programs are collecting unwanted household medicines at some

police stations and some pharmacies in Washington. Without long-term funding, they are stop-gap

measures and they only serve a small percentage of the state population., Drug producers have

been financing and operating medicine return programs at pharmacies in British Columbia for

more than thirteen years, and are operating similar programs in other countries such as Italy, Spain,

and France. Why not in Washington?

For the past few years, Zero Waste Washington has advocated for passage of a Secure Medicine

Return bill. We want to see convenient collection and disposal of household medicines in

Washington funded by the drug producers. This take back program would help to keep harmful

drugs out of reach of children and out of our waterways.


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Giving chart

Figure 2

DonationLevel

Number ofgifts

Totalamount

$10,000 1 $10,000

$5,000 1 $5,000

$2,000 1 $2,000

$1,000 3 $3,000

$750 2 $1,500

$500 3 $1,500

$100 15 $1,500

$50 70 $3,500$25 150 $3,750

$10 100+ $1,000

Total 346 $32,750

As can be seen in the above giving chart, Zero Waste Washington is projected to come in slightly

above its fundraising goal of $32,500 this year. However, this does not mean that the work of the

organization is done. The board has a goal of growing the membership section of the budget by

15%, that calculates out to an additional $4,875. As previously stated, the board has decided to

approach this by increasing the giving levels of our current donors, and reacquiring lapsed donors.

In Figure 2, we see the breakdown of gifts as they currently stand with the organization. In Figure 3,

if the fundraising committee and board members focused on upgrading a small handful of our best

donors, we could achieve more than our 15% goal without adding any additional donors. Even

though this strategy would require an increase in stewardship of major donors, it would be less

effort overall than having to acquire a large number of smaller donors to reach the same financial

goal. In addition, the increased attention would help donors feel a stronger connection to the


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organization. The increase in funding would also offer the organization a greater capacity to tackle a

larger project like new donor recruitment.

Figure 3

Adjusted Zero Waste Washington Giving Chart

DonationLevel

Numberof gifts

Totalamount

$10,000 1 $10,000

$5,000 2 $10,000

$2,000 1 $2,000

$1,000 5 $5,000

$750 2 $1,500

$500 5 $2,500

$100 10 $1,000

$50 70 $3,500

$25 151 $3,775

$10 99 $990

Total 346 $40,265

Calendar of activities (Stewardship)

Januaryo Annual Meeting- All members are invited to attend this meeting, often held at a

board members house or local coffee shop. The board president and the program

director give an overview of program accomplishments and benchmarks from the

previous year, as well as talk about the priorities for the upcoming year. Members

have a change to meet and mingle with staff and board members.

Februaryo Environmental Lobby Day- All members invited to join members of other

organizations in the Environmental Priorities Coalition to go to Olympia and meet


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with their legislators about the years environmental priorities. All meetings are set up

for citizens in each legislative district. All staff and some board are in attendance and

host a meet and greet with Legislator of the Year from the previous legislative

session exclusively for ZWW members

Marcho Green Drinks- March is ZWWs turn to host Seattle Green Drinks, a city wide event

where environmental advocates can get together to network and socialize over free

pints of locally crafted beers and wine.

Aprilo Drinks with the Board- Major donors are invited to a cocktail and canaps reception

hosted by a board member (normally the board treasurer). Here, major donors have

the opportunity to talk with board and staff members about the organizations

programs and progress throughout the year. This is in conjecture with the spring

appeal.

Mayo Spring Open House- Hosted towards the end of the month, all current members are

invited to the ZWW office to socialize and hear a recap of the legislative session. If it

looks like the Governor is going to call a special session, this is postponed until June

Juneo Annual report for previous year released. Hard copy mailed to foundations and

major donors, email copy sent to all other members.

Julyo No events outside of lunches and coffee dates

August


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o No events outside of lunches and coffee dates September

o Fall major donor reception- This is the closest ZWW has to a gala. The SeattleAquarium donates their venue for the evening and discounts catering. Major donors

invited to socialize with board, staff and local pro-environment politicians. Cocktails

and a light meal are served. Major donors are asked to make a donation for the

evening. This is done previous to drop date of fall appeal

Octobero No events outside of lunches and coffee dates

Novembero Upcycle fair- ZWW office is open the Saturday after Thanksgiving as a craft fair

where all items are made from upcycled or repurposed items. The goal is for

members to get holiday gifts that have a minimal impact on the environment. The

ZWWwebsite hosts links to the artisans pages after the events

Decembero Holiday card to all donorso Day after Xmas recycling drive. The day after Christmas, all citizens can bring hard

to recycle items like polystyrene foam or other packaging materials to the Zero

Waste Washington office for recycling. Members are giving a reusable mug or

reusable shopping bag as a thank you. (Items donated by King County)

Throughout the yearo Birthday ecards sent to major donorso All Board members are asked to have lunch or coffee with at least 5 major donors or

major donor prospects throughout the year


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Production Calendar (Solicitation)

Januaryo Donations jars out at annual meeting

Februaryo Lobby Day reception- The bar operates as a fundraiser. All beer and wine are

donated to the event, so all drinks are pay-what-you-can with money going to Zero

Waste Washington.

Marcho Spring Appeal for all donors

Aprilo Spring appeal follow up and major donor reception

Mayo GiveBIG through the Seattle Foundation- a one-day fundraising drive where all

donations made through the Seattle Foundation website are matched up to a certain

dollar amount. This is a social media driven campaign

o Spring open house- donations jars are out, but no ask is made June

o Tabling at summer street fairs July

o Tabling at summer street fairs August

o Tabling at summer street fairs September


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o Fall Appeal- all donors and Major donor reception with silent wine auction October

o Fall appeal follow up mailing November December

o End of the year wishlist postcard mailed out with donations website URL Throughout the year

o Meetings and asks of major donorso

Grant applications

o Government contractso EarthSHARE (think environmental version of United Way) money comes in on a bi-

annual basis.

Documents

Cole Reese Annual Giving and Donor Relations Plan