A Special Note for Community Foundations

I want your community foundation to be great.
Will you let me share 13 years of 'lessons learned' with you?

Dear Community Foundation Colleague,

I began to write a glitzy direct mail marketing letter to tell you how I can help your community foundation grow and prosper. After four drafts, I was still dissatisfied that I wasn’t being 'me'. So let me give you the StraightTalk I promise in my business name.

I love community foundations. It’s a love based on 13 years of working with one of the best, The Rhode Island Foundation. I built that foundation’s first communications department and helped design its first development department. As vice president for communications and a senior staff member, I helped more than triple its assets — from $150 million to a half billion dollars — by attracting more than 500 new permanent endowments.

I could deluge you with more "I"s. I initiated the statewide grantmakers association. I managed the charitable response to the Station Nightclub fire, one of the state’s worst tragedies. I designed award-winning websites, special reports, and annual reports. I’m a sought-after speaker, facilitator, and moderator.

A German Marshall Fellow since 2001, I’ve been part of the international movement of community foundations growing throughout Europe. I am a member of the National Standards review team, too.

You can check out the rest of my credentials by clicking on Rick’s resume and testimonials.

But it’s the 'you' that’s important here. That’s why I’m saying farewell to my community foundation at the end of 2006, except as an occasional consultant. I want to work with other community foundations towards their — your — success.

Here’s how I can help. My particular expertise is planning and facilitation, public relations and marketing. Using all the methods I’ve gathered at community foundations — and previously as a journalist, a legislative director, and an arts grantmaker (see the next page) — I can show you how to build strong relationships with the people you need in your corner at all times. Donors and prospective donors. Professional advisors. Grantees and would-be grantees (and angry non-grantees). Board members. Government and business leaders. Advocates. Your staff. The media.

I can help you with:

I’m proud to associate with advertising and direct mail expert Tom Ahern, website developer Embolden, graphic designer Greenwood and Associates, photographer Jon Sharlin, and other brilliant specialists. But it’s always your choice whether we work with them -- when needed -- or find the quality craftspeople in your neck of the woods.

Rick Schwartz

P.S.  You’ll never get me cheaper than you will in the next 12 months, as I make the transition from The Rhode Island Foundation to the itinerant life of consulting. Call me now at 781-784-8728.