Development and Communications

History

Late 90’s and early 2000’s: OLAF and board recommendation to do private fundraising

2001: consultant (Susan Golden) retained to engage volunteers in fundraising and develop fundraising campaign

2002: consultant (Dennis Dorgan) retained to perform feasibility study for a private bar campaign

2003: campaign chairs and cabinet created – obvious that staff support was necessary; job posted for development director

2004: development director hired

Development & Communications Department

Purpose: Project a simple and consistent message for The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland that is directed at clients, community members, law firms, attorneys and sources of unrestricted funds.

Activities: Development….

fundraise recruitment of donors and volunteers

Communications… communicate Legal Aid’s message and brand advocacy and education to influence community

opinion

Development

Individuals

Foundations

Law Firms/Corporations

Other Special Projects (government grants, partnerships, cy pres, one-time major gifts)

Development Results…

Individuals Prior to 2004: 50-100 gifts representing $15K-

$20Kannually 2010: 815 gifts representing $160,000 Future: maintain growth of individual donor base so

annual giving is consistently 15-20% of overall active database (currently at 10%); increase focus on major gift solicitation (beginning with $1000+ donors)

Additionally – endowment and planned giving!

Foundations Prior to 2004: very little activity 2010: 62 gifts totaling $503,000 Future: once IOLTA increases and stabilizes, more focus

on foundation grants to expand services and for impact work

Development Results…

Law Firms/Corporations Prior to 2004: very little activity 2010: 78 gifts totaling $140,000 Future: focus on corporate giving more than

law firms; cultivate law firms via combined individual gift/law firm campaign

Additionally… endowment and planned giving

Other Special Projects (government grants, partnerships)

Communications

Clients

General Community / Public Relations

Media Relations

Government Relations

Communications Results… Clients

Prior to 2004: good-quality brochures produced in limited quantity; distribution and coordination of message was not consistent between offices/practice groups; design done internally with desktop publishing programs

2010: public presentations, brochures created with professional designers (translated into Spanish), new website

Future: maintain consistency and increase number of publications so all practice areas are represented

General Community / Public Relations Prior to 2004: minimal attendance at bar association and

other community events; Legal Aid attorneys were not encouraged to be “out and about”

2010: budget created for community tickets (lunches, meetings); attorneys attend one/event annually; Legal Aid “brand” evident

Future: simply continue

Communications Results…

Media Relations Prior to 2004: average of 4-8 media mentions

annually 2010: more than 140 media mentions in a variety

of medium Future: continue, but work closely with new

Advocacy Committee on targeted media campaigns

Government Relations Began in 2010: project to educate legislators

(state and federal) about Legal Aid Future: continue and expand

Ideas for OLAF Support & Statewide Collaboration

Statewide “philanthropy audit” or “fundraising/communications analysis” to give programs meaningful feedback on fundraising and communications work

Collaboration on proposals to national foundations for creative/innovative legal services work (with help of grant writer – so not one program is burdened)

Better coordination of statewide messages regarding legal services (ie, “Save the Dream” program not the example)

“Statehouse Day” and “Capitol Hill Day” for Ohio legal services

Someday: consultant support or wealth research for potential statewide operating/endowment campaign

Perhaps: Statewide workgroupfocused on fundraising/communications