NFFN Launches Fundraising Training Institute

The National Fuel Funds Network (NFFN) has a new program called the Victorine Q. Adams Institute which provides fundraising training to NFFN members and other energy assistance professionals.

The first fundraising training institute will be September 16-17 in Baltimore and will feature sessions on building relationships with donors, developing major gift and planned giving programs, using the Internet for fundraising, approaching faith-based groups, soliciting utility company and other energy vendor contributions, improving donor relations and stewardship, effectively using bill-insert solicitations, creating partnerships with homebuilders, banks, and mortgage brokers that link energy assistance with energy efficiency; increasing cause-related marketing opportunities, point of purchase donations, and percent of sale arrangements; renegotiating franchise agreements between utilities and municipalities and how to use excess severance tax funds or royalty payments for energy assistance.

Presenters include staff from large and small fuel funds around the country and utility and non-utility donors. Following the Institute, NFFN will devote a special section of its website to report upon and update the Institute's content and strategic discussions.

Victorine Adams, who died in 2006, was a Baltimore civic leader and the first black woman on its city council. Among her many accomplishments, she worked with the Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. in 1979 to establish the Baltimore Fuel Fund, which has helped thousands with winter heating bills and is now the Victorine Q. Adams Fuel Fund. It became a model for other fuel funds in Maryland and nationwide.

Source: NFFN

Page Last Updated: May 21, 2008