The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Fundraisers: Are They Doing The Job?
I recently read an article about fundraising and what they actually raise for fire departments and it really makes you wonder: are we getting our money's worth?
Getting together for a fundraiser is certainly a great way to gauge public support, but let's face it; a pancake breakfast won't buy a thermal imaging camera. If you look at prices, cameras can cost $10,000. If you charge five bucks a meal, that's 2000 meals! Most likely, it will take a couple of years or more than one fundraiser a year just to get a camera.
Sure; you're putting your face in front of the public, but it's a lot of work to come up short on your much needed purchases.
So, my question is still: what do you expect from your fundraisers?
I'll be right over there.
TCSS.
Art
Getting together for a fundraiser is certainly a great way to gauge public support, but let's face it; a pancake breakfast won't buy a thermal imaging camera. If you look at prices, cameras can cost $10,000. If you charge five bucks a meal, that's 2000 meals! Most likely, it will take a couple of years or more than one fundraiser a year just to get a camera.
Sure; you're putting your face in front of the public, but it's a lot of work to come up short on your much needed purchases.
So, my question is still: what do you expect from your fundraisers?
I'll be right over there.
TCSS.
Art
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Tiger Schmittendorf on
-
Brother Ted -
I feel your pain. This situation is only magnified as we strive to make ourselves look and act more professionally in the volunteer fire service.
When we show up at a detail in Class-Bs or other similar attire, the more we look like our paid counterparts - the more the community assumes we are paid.
However, that theory alone doesn't preclude us from performing (I don't like the connotation of the word "acting") more professionally, it only motivates us to better educate them to the fact that we are unpaid professionals.
-
Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
-
A lot of good discussion here. I think Jason Zigmont's article is required reading for all volunteer FD chief and corporate officers. The days of being given whatever monetary amount the town/village "thinks" is right, and the fire department dutifully accepting this amount, have got to end.
Some volunteers may feel that if they rock the boat, the town won't fund them anymore, and go find someone else to provide the protection. In some suburban areas with departments every couple of miles, this could conceiveably happen; but in rural America, no way.
The fire department leaders have to realize that the ball is in their court - nothing will happen unless they make it happen. They need to make a five or ten year plan which takes into account needed equipment, desired equipment, vehicle replacement, maintenance and overhead costs (plus inflation and a SWAG for unforeseen increases) as well as phase-out of the fundraisers.
Over the past 10 years we have more than doubled our budget through increases ranging between 5 and 15% each year. During this time we have bought four new trucks and completed a major renovation of our main station. Fundraisers by themselves would not have allowed us to do this.
-
-
I should also explain our budget process, just for those who may wonder. First of all we are an independent organization and we contract with our town for fire protection and EMS.
About this time of year, the current year's budget is reviewed to see how far off we were with our estimate. We revise each line item based on what we think it will cost for next year. Examples include heating electricity and fuel costs.
The Chief consults with the line officers to prepare an equipment list which includes things we need, things we'd like and of course replacement of used gear. The President consults the various committees for input for next year's projects, fundraisers, etc.
The budget is reviewed and approved by the FD Board of Directors, then submitted to the town. The town holds a budget workshop to poke holes in the budget; this meeting is always attended by all available FD members. The town board members were pretty critical of our increases at first, and there were some spirited meetings! But we dug in and prevailed, and I think they are now convinced that they are getting a really good deal regardless of incremental increases.
The next month a town budget hearing is held, at which time the FD budget total (NOT budget) is available for questioning by the general public. Again, FD members attend in force.
If there are no questions or challenges, that's it. We're done.
There are never any town residents who attend the budget hearing, which tells me that they concur with our raises each time.
You may read this and think "Ha, not in my department" but it can be done. I'm not saying that it is easy; but it can be done.
-
Permalink Reply by Diamond Chief on
-
Tiger, right on brother! We have gotten away from fundraisers almost. The time spent versus the payoff is just not worth it! In our area, it is tough enough keeping enough volunteers to fight a fire. You start talking fundraisers, and you start hearing, "I don't have time to do fundraisers, I signed up to fight fires". It is shameful our local governments put us, or should I say KEEP US underfunded. The only funding we get from our city is keeping the utilities paid on the firestation, covering the insurance on apparatus, etc. Bare essentials. They just don't get it! Our city council is in a time warp from the 1950's era. They don't even recognize that we respond to ems calls. Our mayor made the remark to me that he didn't understand why we responded to mva incidents. Talking about out of touch!
-
-
That's crazy talk. Cut it out right now.
I couldn't agree with you more. Engage the purse-string holders early and often!
-
Permalink Reply by Susan Heikkila on
-
depends on the fundraiser. Do you have an auxillary to help out? Have you thought of corporate "sponsorship". you have to keep in mind to make your fundraising realistic. how big is your department?
-
Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
-
Hmmmm.
Didn't the stations on Long Island run into a similar problem a while back?
Lots of money going into their coffers for things like trips and fire truck dragsters?
I just got on our department, because they have been raising money for "equipment", but they haven't been buying equipment. They just let the money sit there in their checking account.
I can see a big backlash in any community where the money isn't going towards its stated purpose.
And if the public is happy watching their money pay for lavish firefighter vacations and such, then I guess we won't hear them bitch when their taxes go up.
I have to question the veracity of that account. Secret, my patoot. If I lived in that community, the "secret" would be found out. I would make certain of it.
TCSS.
Art
-
Permalink Reply by Ashleigh on
-
We hold a hog roast every year and all of us work our butts off, and it's a lot of preperation, but it definitely pays off!! We average $8,000 to $12,000 and we don't even charge for meals. It's purely free will donation and it works great!!!
-
Permalink Reply by Damon Dyer on
-
If you save one life or improve one life with what you got in the fundraiser i would say it was worth it .
-
-
Some fire departments dont have a town to support them .
-
-
Sounds like you dont.
-
-
You have every right to be proud of what you do and the fact that you are self-supporting, but that doesn't make it right.
Your comment, "They like to see that we are doing something to provide for ourselves" is really disturbing. What kind of statement is that?
Saving lives and protecting property for free isn't enough for them?
Here's a news flash: We're not in the fundraising business. We're in the public safety business. There are plenty of other ways to demonstrate our worth to the community - and trading fundraisers for training is not one of them.
They have an addiction to your free services and you're simply being the enabler.
If you don't get what I'm saying, see my comments earlier in this discussion for clarification.
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
