Solving the “funding-ask” disconnect There is a lot of talk these days in the health care sector about fundraising and priorities and why it is so difficult to match up projects with willing donors. Many philanthropists, companies and families are regularly approached with “quality asks.” Indeed, thousands of Canadians put in hours of volunteer time, and arm-twist their contacts and colleagues into buying tickets, donating prizes and/or contributing sponsorship dollars. But it behooves us all to take stock of what we are asking for and why. Are our projects lively, refreshing and compelling enough to stay the course? How impactful is the project’s overall contribution going to be on an ongoing basis? What returns are we promising? When developing a proposal, remember to consider the needs of both the project’s volunteers and its sponsors. Think about whether your plan can capture the enthusiasm of others and how much work is needed. On the funder side, do you or your group show enough appreciation? Could donor representatives have the chance to be part of the process and the project? (A new trend has teams from gifting companies actually participating in the event or the project.) Should we be concentrating most, if not all, of our efforts, on raising money to help find a specific cure for the most devastating medical conditions—or to support more substantial research in the area of prevention? Or would it be better and more heartwarming, to help clinicians and those on the ground, so to speak, so we can make an immediate difference in individuals’ lives? Can we help families and individuals who are living with medical conditions and disabilities find everyday solutions, respite, comfort and relief? After all, it is in the community that we really see and feel the bulk of the daily stress, personal sadness, family dysfunction, health care and occupational costs and overall measurable impact. Let us challenge ourselves and our organizations to recognize the value of supporting practical, highly fundable solutions for rehabilitation, recovery and family caregiving. Let us focus on initiatives that can be clearly explained to others beyond the health care industry so they can see the value of providing support. Let us think of creative, clever approaches that will have a large, faster, difference-making impact. Sitting around the breakfast table with a number of significant funders last week, I sensed the winds of change. Coping seems to be moving higher up on the agenda along with the same old favourites: faster turnaround times; clearer, more helpful advice; and a search for ways to find more practical outcomes to share with larger groups of like-affected individuals and loved ones. One banking official explained the direction her bank was going with its sizeable contributions to the charitable sector. “We are not interested in funding the cure anymore.… Our dollars are too invisible there and I wonder how much impact we really have. Rather, we want to be boldly seen in the community helping families cope. This will not be on an individual basis but virtually and strategically we are interested in making a difference in the lives and results that people can achieve with better support, information, education, coaching and personal mentoring. It is all about using new technology, new tools and new information to help our current and future customers and their families enjoy life and live as comfortably and meaningfully as they can for as long as possible.” Caroline Tapp-McDougall Publisher caroline@bcsgroup.com