A Community Based Care Agency s1

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Brevard Family Partnership A Community Based Care Agency

Board Report ......

January 22, 2015

Patricia Nellius-Guthrie, CEO Narrative Report The end of the calendar year is a busy time at BFP and this year was no exception. Several special events for the children and families including the holiday gift drive occurred throughout the month. A special thanks to the IMPOWER team for their hard work and success in securing gifts for the children in care. Much appreciation to our staff who did a great job in securing gifts from our community partners for the Cares children. A special thanks to our many community partners from Abacus Technology, Air Force Sergeants Association, Ascension Catholic Church, Center for the Advancement of Science in Space, DAVA, Gemini Elementary Rota Kids, Indyne, InterActive Legal, International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers -- Local Lodge 2061, Melbourne SDA Church, Patrick AFB First Sergeants Council, Sea Ray Boats, Team ISC, Upper Cervical, Dr. Renee Hahn agencies for donating gifts to ensure the children entrusted to our care were able to receive a gift for the holiday to brighten their day.

December ended Judge Mahl’s term as Dependency Court Judge. We wish him well and are grateful for his dedication and commitment to Brevard’s vulnerable children. Judge McKibben assumed the Dependency Court docket on January 6, 2015. We look forward to working with Judge McKibben on several special initiatives throughout her tenure.

DCF has released their Legislative Budget Request. Included in it is a request for: Maintenance Adoption Subsidies at $7,860,285, the CBC Risk Pool at $5,000,000 and Case Management funding for $15,749,587. If it passes, BFP’s share is approximately 2.8%. The CBC’s have finally reached consensus on a newly proposed Equity Allocation Formula. The new formula places BFP 1.4 m under equity. If the model is implemented as designed, 80 % of all new funds will be allocated to the CBC’s under equity and the remaining 20% will be spread across all agencies with the exception for designated funding. Designated funds at allocated to BFP at 2.8%.

Dixie Sansom and I met with our Legislative delegates throughout the month of December with a few visits remaining for the month of January. On December 18th, BFP presented our Legislative priorities at the Brevard delegation meeting. Our priorities focus on the Equity Allocation Formula, risk pool and IL glitch bill.

A search is currently underway for Geo’s replacement.

This month is the launch of our 10th Anniversary, “A Decade of Difference” year of special events. Many of our community partners have agreed to support our efforts, of which we are very grateful. I would like to express my gratitude to the Board and staff for reaching the goal of $25,000 to launch the BFP Child Welfare Endowment Campaign. February 7, 2015 kicks off our first event to be held at Heritage Isles from 5:00-8:00 pm. I am pleased to report that Sheriff Ivy has agreed to be our Master of Ceremony. Members are encouraged to join us as we celebrate at the kickoff event.

Moss, Krusick and Associates have completed the annual audit and presented the findings to the audit committee. They will be present at the February Board meeting to present the audit to the members. Congratulations to Jim Carlson, Jessica Simmons and the Finance team for a job well done.

On January 22, 2015 members will meet for our annual retreat and meeting of the Board. The schedule is jam packed for the day beginning with the recognition breakfast at 7:30 am hosted by the Leadership Team to recognize our former Board members for their service and support. At 9:00 am we will begin our Fired Up Fundraising session with Gail Perry and have invited the Cares Board members to join us for the breakfast and training event.

The afternoon agenda will begin at 1:00 pm and include a review of the proposed slate of Officers and Board terms. Each of the current Officers has agreed to serve for one more year in their position. Mel Broom will be terming off the Board having completed his 6 years of service.

The 1st meeting of the joint Feasibility Committee occurred on December 29th. The meeting was facilitated by Jane Callahan from Dean Mead. The meeting consisted of an overview of the history of the partnership between the 2 agencies, a review of corporate structure options, the benefits and risks, key decision points and timeline and deliverables were discussed. The next meeting is scheduled to occur on January 27, 2015 from 10:30 am-12:00 pm at the BFP Eau Gallie office. The focus of the upcoming meeting will include: Board structure between agencies, a separation agreement and plan, terms of a letter of intent and the business plan and timeline.

2 . . The redirection and transition. of leadership of the NCFIE has occurred. There are several major projects underway. First, includes designing. and hosting an annual Wraparound Training Certification Institute that will take place two times a year. Second, is. to begin the planning for the 2016 National Wraparound Conference. Third is to enter into a revised cost share agreement. with Mindshare Technology to market our UM System. Fourth includes a revenue sharing agreement with Frank Eckles, Executive Director of the Academy of Competent Youth Work to offer web based training programs. More information can be located on the NCFIE website at http://ncfie.org/ and click on programs. Kathleen and I are working on Board recruitment efforts and setting the strategic direction going forward.

On Friday Jan 9th, Dr. Howes, Andrea Betting and I attended the Lead Brevard Board Governance workshop. The session on Board fundraising practices was outstanding and outlined a good framework for discussion in advance of the annual retreat training on “Fired Up Fundraising.” Below is an outline I crafted of the key points for members to consider as we begin to structure our culture of philanthropy:

1. Create a card with 10 reasons to donate for all to use when interfacing with prospective donors

2. Set a donor stratification outlining the responses and timelines per gift size

 $50 and under

 $250

 $500

 $1,000

 Send charitable donation receipt within 48 hours

 The higher the donation the more important Board members write a handwritten thank you on personal stationary.

 Send a follow up of how the donation made an impact. (10 children went to camp and had better school grades this year.)

3. Annually have each Board member identify 3 things they can do to assist in donor relations.

 Host a gathering with friends to share vision and mission of agency

 Coordinate a cocktail party to recognize donors and ask them to bring friends. Do not ask for funds but rather share the mission of the agency.

 Accompany staff to key donor meetings.

4. Begin each Board meeting recognizing members for their role in the process of donor relations.

5. Annually outline the Board giving on a spreadsheet using coding and distribute to the Board with their specific donation highlighted.

6. Donor’s Choice website:

 They have donor gift cards you can purchase where the individual can go on the website and pick a project to sponsor. Choice and options are important.

 They respond to donations immediately and ongoing

 They send acknowledgement

3  Then a thank you letter

 Then a hand written letter

 Then pictures from the children

 Then a link to a video to watch the children in the project they selected to sponsor

7. You cannot fundraise effectively without Board participation, but this does not mean the members have to do an ask. They can assist with prospecting donors.

8. Giving profiles

 72% of contributions come from individuals

 43% came from baby boomers

 15% from foundations of which ½ are from Family Foundations so you can add that portion to individuals

 5% from corporations and ½ are in kind

i. 1/3 of the corporate donors are pharmaceutical companies giving medication

9. Donors are on a decline

 31% of all donations went to religious organizations: churches, mosques, synagogues

i. Not to religious nonprofits

ii. In 1985 55% donations to religious orgs as compared to 33% in 2013, 31% in 2014

10. The critical equation in development is Mission. If people don’t understand your mission they don’t give.

 Hope and opportunity are important phrases to incorporate

11. Online giving increase is more transactional than an improved strategy

12. Events need to be redefined:

 There is a difference between an event participant and a donor

 Golf story

i. ED overheard them on their cell stating they did not know who they were fundraising for but rather they were asked to attend on behalf of their agency so they were there to golf not give

ii. These men were respondents not donors

iii. Boomers and Gen X’ers give as a result of attending an event

iv. Men tend to give to institutions and ask few questions

v. Women tend to donate to causes and ask a lot of questions

vi. Gen X’ers and Millennials give like women 4 . . 13. Outline on a form. a lot of options for ways to give and to what cause: give donors a choice . 14. Bequests: .  Why do Universities and hospitals raise so much money?

i. They have entire teams dedicated to stewarding donors- most have hundreds of staff

 3-4 bequests do not tell you they are leaving you money

 Bequest info should be on your website, in your newsletter, in your email signature, annual report, etc. It should not be next to donate now or hard to find.

 Be careful when posting information if you have a DBA as this can cause future problems.

 Outline clearly all information a lawyer would require to complete a bequeath.

 If you can get someone to bequeath, highlight them and their reason in print. This is how Universities and hospitals are so successful.

15. Backwards strategy

 Most Americans have 85% assets and 15% liquid but we focus on the liquid donations

 85% of giving came from 15% of wealth

 We need to know how to target asset giving

16. 50% of nonprofits have vacant DD positions

 50% of sitting DD’s want to leave their job

 Receptionist is critical to successful fundraising: 1st POC and impression of agency

17. Colleges are successful because they know they have to meet the needs of the donor first

 They offer a menu of options

 They are highly staffed

 They have a Board driven culture of giving and fundraising

 They have mastered the art of maintain contact, recognizing donors and locating alumni

Finally, I had the privilege to meet with Lori Emly, Director of the VSA Brevard program. Lori has decided to leave the Brevard Achievement Center in April and is seeking a new partner to serve as the VSA fiscal agent. After meeting to discuss vision, mission and service population, I have concluded this is a wonderful opportunity for BFP and will present a motion for approval at the January Board meeting to forge this partnership effective April 2015.

VSA, the international organization on arts and disability, was founded more than 35 years ago by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to provide arts and education opportunities for people with disabilities and increase access to the arts for all. In 1987 VSA-Brevard began serving children and youth with disabilities through the Florida Diagnostic Learning and Resources Systems/East – part of a statewide network that serves students with disabilities through the school system. Brevard Cultural Alliance housed the program from 1992 to 2003. In 2003 VSA-Brevard became a program of Brevard Achievement Center (BAC) and began providing services to both students and adults. VSA-Brevard 5 now provides activities in the arts for all ages of people with disabilities by bringing arts experiences directly to people with disabilities, training others to deliver arts experiences, and creating awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities in the community.

The Guiding Principles include:

 Every person with a disability deserves access to high quality arts learning experiences.

 All artists in schools and art educators should be prepared to include students with disabilities in their instruction.

 All children, youth, and adults with disabilities should have complete access to cultural facilities and activities.

 All individuals with disabilities who aspire to careers in the arts should have the opportunity to develop appropriate skills.

VSA-Brevard is one of five affiliates working with VSA Florida. VSA Florida is a state affiliate of the National VSA organization, which is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Florida affiliate began in 1981 by the Florida Department of Education and the Florida Department of State and was housed at Florida State University. The state office moved to the University of South Florida (Tampa) in 1996. You can find more information on the VSA at http://www.vsabrevard.org/.

Respectfully Submitted,

Patricia Nellius Chief Executive Officer