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To Do Or Not To Do Fundraisers
I am not talking about fundraisers to raise money for your fire department needs.
I am talking about holding a fundraiser for one of your firefighters.
I have been involved for many years and here is what I have found: When fire departments take the lead on fundraising for one of their own regardless of circumstances, they are, in effect, saying that it is owed to the firefighter for his/her public service.
But we do what we do because we want to and don't expect anything in return right?
However; in your communities, do you support others efforts to raise funds? When someone has mounting medical bills and needs assistance, do you lend your name and your effort to their cause?
Do you pick and choose what/who you support, because the first wrong decision could bring a firestorm of resentment and a loss of support for your cause.
So; my question again is: do you get behind other fundraisers in your community and if so, are you careful of the ones that may cause a PR problem for the department or its members. Example: taking donations to pay bail for someone-might even be a firefighter!
I'd like your thoughts.
Also; when you raise money, do you just "hand" it over or do you set up an escrow account and write checks as bills come in?
How would you feel about "handing" the money over and all of a sudden the "strickened" is driving a new car?
Talk to me.
Art
I am talking about holding a fundraiser for one of your firefighters.
I have been involved for many years and here is what I have found: When fire departments take the lead on fundraising for one of their own regardless of circumstances, they are, in effect, saying that it is owed to the firefighter for his/her public service.
But we do what we do because we want to and don't expect anything in return right?
However; in your communities, do you support others efforts to raise funds? When someone has mounting medical bills and needs assistance, do you lend your name and your effort to their cause?
Do you pick and choose what/who you support, because the first wrong decision could bring a firestorm of resentment and a loss of support for your cause.
So; my question again is: do you get behind other fundraisers in your community and if so, are you careful of the ones that may cause a PR problem for the department or its members. Example: taking donations to pay bail for someone-might even be a firefighter!
I'd like your thoughts.
Also; when you raise money, do you just "hand" it over or do you set up an escrow account and write checks as bills come in?
How would you feel about "handing" the money over and all of a sudden the "strickened" is driving a new car?
Talk to me.
Art
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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A different subject, for a change.
My department has built in the budget an"emergency relief fund," which can make available food or other household items the member might need. We are fortunate to have insurance coverage which also pays for lost time. We have used this fund in the past for citizens in our district who have had a castropic event. Again, we buy groceries etc. and do not give out cash/checks, but purchase items to prevent abuse such as the "new car." We did use funds to repair a porch for an elderly resident who had fallen through his and become injured.
We sponsor a local Cub Scout pack, and allow the use of the meeting room free of charge for them and three other packs and troops. We have hosted an event for a local residents' son who obtained his Eagle Scout. Being a "rural" suburban area, we do not have a lot of call for charity events.
Naturally, we support neighboring departments fundraising events for one of theirs by purchasing briskets, station coverage, etc.
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Permalink Reply by Fireyladd - Retired Chief Sharp on
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Chief, so true! We are very careful as to what we lend our name and generosity to. It is assumed that the fire department will always help out and we do get requests from time to time. Mostly by service clubs. Today we are supposed to participate in a "Donkey Baseball game" to support the Lions club. I have gone on record as saying we will not participate in this event again. The person behind this is a piece of scum and I want no connection to him even if he is with the lions club. He dosnt come to me and ask for our participation he just sent out a flyer to the media indicating we are participating and so if we dont show up it appears we are the bad ones for not supporting it. We help allot of people and do it willingly but I am careful not to Aline our integrity and service with less then good situations. Sure from time to time we get burned by situations where we get taken advantage of. That may happen. However, providing we arnt wrong in our motivations and we dont incur bad press for us then the ill feelings are on the person who scammed us.
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Permalink Reply by Joe Stoltz on
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A number of years ago we turned over the profits from a barbecue to a member's family, as one of the children was suffering from a serious condition and medical bills were piling up fast.
We are currently discussing whether or not to use money from a recent fundraiser to buy a memorial for a recently departed member.
These bring up other questions, like "would we do the same for all members or are some more special than others?" But that is another subject, I think.
Excellent question and points to ponder. I like the idea of an escrow account from which to disburse funds for the intended purpose and not for the general use of the recipient.
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Permalink Reply by Art "ChiefReason" Goodrich on
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Several years ago, we did a fundraiser for a firefighter's wife, because of a kidney ailment.
The firefighter bought a car and gambled away the rest.
Oops; boy, did we have egg on our face for a while.
TCSS.
Art
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