I’m very pleased to announce that our first-ever canvassing campaign for The Andover Beacon raised well over $6,000 and brought to 330 the total number of Andover households who have donated to the Beacon this year. That puts us just over half-way to achieving long-term sustainability for the Beacon, which we calculate will require about 650 Andover families donating to the Beacon every year.
Another hugely important thing we got from this canvassing campaign is compelling insight into fundraising for the Beacon. Clearly, just waiting and hoping that people will “get a round tuit” and support the Beacon every year simply isn’t enough – we’ve got to put “feet on the street” and ask each person who hasn’t donated yet this year to step up.
We tried that this year … it worked … so we’ll be back next fall, asking community members to volunteer as canvassers and contact their friends and neighbors who haven’t donated to the Beacon yet for 2014.
Is the Beacon Failing?
Absolutely not! This big, new fundraising drive is because while we are not failing, we also are not in a financial position to continue forever.
The problem is a simple one – I’m getting older and definitely plan to step down from my full-time position at the Beacon at some point (sooner rather than later, hopefully). But the problem is that I work too many hours for too few dollars to reasonably expect anyone else to take on this job.
If the Beacon is going to continue long past my tenure, the Beacon’s Board of Directors estimates it will require the financial support every year of about 650 Andover households. At that level of support, we expect to be able to hire a part-time person to help with the workload and also increase the salary for my position to the level that the job marketplace expects for someone who runs a small non-profit organization.
So let me say it again: The Beacon is not failing! But it can’t continue forever with only 200 Andover households donating every year. So please, get a round tuit and donate today!
The money we’ve raised this year will go to hiring a part-time Production Assistant for the Beacon in order to start trimming my hours down to something reasonable. Over the next two or three years, as canvassing helps us get closer to 650 families donating every year, I hope to be able to increase the salary for my position to the level that the job marketplace expects, and at that point, the Beacon should be able to continue for as long as the community continues to support it.
I’m confident we can achieve this, as there are still literally hundreds of Andover families who still haven’t donated a dime to the Beacon this year. Now that we know that canvassing is an effective fundraising approach for the Beacon, I’m sure we can bring more and more of those families into the fold and someday soon get to 650 and sustainability!
Finally, a huge “Thank you!” goes out to the 20 of your friends and neighbors who volunteered as canvassers this year. You did an awesome job and have pointed the Beacon toward a bright new future. And thanks also, of course, to the 330 families who have donated so far this year. There would literally be no Beacon without you!
If you haven’t donated to the Beacon yet this year, it’s not too late! Use the coupon on page 4 of any issue, or click the Donate button on any page of this Web site.