A Special Note for Community Foundations
I want your community foundation to be great.
Will you let me share 15 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 was 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 said farewell to The Rhode Island Foundation at the end of 2006, except as an occasional consultant. I wanted 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 as a journalist, a legislative director, a nonprofit consultant, and an arts grantmaker — I can show you how to build strong relationships with the people you need in your corner. 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:
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I’m honored that many community foundations have taken me up on my offer since I left The Rhode Island Foundation. You can see a list on my bio page. I've done short-term projects like developing a case statement for an LGBT fund, and extended efforts like designing and executing a 25th anniversary year for one, and leading strategic planning for another. It's been the joy working with you that I expected!
I’m a one-person shop, so you always get me. But I can bring other colleagues, as well.
I’m proud to associate with wonderfully talented experts in everything from graphic design to website technology. But you don't pay their overhead, and it’s always your choice whether we work with them -- when needed -- or find the quality craftspeople in your neck of the woods.
Every community foundation is planted in different soil, too, and that's why you'll never feel like you're being treated by a cookie cutter. I'm pretty sure we'll end up friends.
Rick Schwartz
P.S. It doesn't cost anything to just call or write and say 'hello': (617) 699-5668 or rick@schwartztalk.com. Most of my clients tell me I give away too much of my time anyway!
