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EYE-CARE CHARITY GETS FREE FUND-RAISING INSIGHTS
By Holly Hall
Chronicle of Philanthropy
http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/eye-care-charity-gets-free-fund-raising-insights/31576
Nov 11 2011
The Armenian EyeCare Project, in Newport Beach, Calif., sends
ophthalmologists to Armenia to provide exams, eyeglasses, surgery,
and other treatments that help people with visual impairments.
But like so many charities, the EyeCare Project has struggled during
the recession.
Roger Ohanesian, a second-generation Armenian American who founded the
charity, knew he needed fund-raising help. Then he heard about the
Gerson Lehrman Group, The 12-year-old company has built a global
business by offering to arrange consultations with experts on
whatever a client needs. Companies pay a flat fee for the service;
Gerson Lehrman pays the experts an hourly fee.
Gerson Lehrman was looking to expand its pro bono services to nonprofit
groups, and at an employee's recommendation, it has been providing the
Armenian EyeCare Project with free phone consultations since June. The
charity has benefited by talking with several experts recruited by
the company, and all have waived their fees.
For example, phone consultations with a direct-marketing expert are
helping the EyeCare Project reduce its fund-raising costs.
The charity has learned how to clean up its donor database by getting
rid of wrong addresses and duplicates. The expert has also helped
increase the number of Armenian business executives on its list of
potential donors.
When its largest direct-mail appeal goes out next month, the charity
is expecting a bigger share of people to respond than in the past,
and it doesn't plan to spend as much on the appeals.
In addition, Dr. Ohanesian is seeking a better understanding of
issues faced by another important group of potential donors: medical
manufacturers that could contribute eye-exam and treatment equipment.
John Donoghue, managing director of Gerson Lehrman, says his company
has pro bono arrangements with about a dozen charities like the
Armenian Eye Care Project and it's looking for other worthy charities
to help.
"We will not have the capacity to serve all nonprofits," he says,
"but we would love nothing more than for terrific nonprofits to
approach us."
From: Baghdasarian
By Holly Hall
Chronicle of Philanthropy
http://philanthropy.com/blogs/prospecting/eye-care-charity-gets-free-fund-raising-insights/31576
Nov 11 2011
The Armenian EyeCare Project, in Newport Beach, Calif., sends
ophthalmologists to Armenia to provide exams, eyeglasses, surgery,
and other treatments that help people with visual impairments.
But like so many charities, the EyeCare Project has struggled during
the recession.
Roger Ohanesian, a second-generation Armenian American who founded the
charity, knew he needed fund-raising help. Then he heard about the
Gerson Lehrman Group, The 12-year-old company has built a global
business by offering to arrange consultations with experts on
whatever a client needs. Companies pay a flat fee for the service;
Gerson Lehrman pays the experts an hourly fee.
Gerson Lehrman was looking to expand its pro bono services to nonprofit
groups, and at an employee's recommendation, it has been providing the
Armenian EyeCare Project with free phone consultations since June. The
charity has benefited by talking with several experts recruited by
the company, and all have waived their fees.
For example, phone consultations with a direct-marketing expert are
helping the EyeCare Project reduce its fund-raising costs.
The charity has learned how to clean up its donor database by getting
rid of wrong addresses and duplicates. The expert has also helped
increase the number of Armenian business executives on its list of
potential donors.
When its largest direct-mail appeal goes out next month, the charity
is expecting a bigger share of people to respond than in the past,
and it doesn't plan to spend as much on the appeals.
In addition, Dr. Ohanesian is seeking a better understanding of
issues faced by another important group of potential donors: medical
manufacturers that could contribute eye-exam and treatment equipment.
John Donoghue, managing director of Gerson Lehrman, says his company
has pro bono arrangements with about a dozen charities like the
Armenian Eye Care Project and it's looking for other worthy charities
to help.
"We will not have the capacity to serve all nonprofits," he says,
"but we would love nothing more than for terrific nonprofits to
approach us."
From: Baghdasarian