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Foundations: An alternate resource development tool
Community-based therapeutic recreation programs
By Kevin Kendrigan and Illinois park districts and community-based programs for special populations have been very proactive in the development of leisure resources, and now lead the nation in terms of service and access to community participation. Illinois is also the national leader in total dollars committed to, and the number of handicapped persons served by, special recreation programs. Illinois park districts commit significant funding via the Special Recreation Association joint agreement concept and Section 5.08 of The Park District Code. Therefore, it's critical that community-based therapeutic recreation programs seek alternate fund-raising ideas when additional funding becomes necessary for growth and special projects. Role of foundations A foundation is an excellent vehicle for community-based programs to accomplish a variety of goals. It can: • develop additional non-tax dollar resources for increased services and equipment, and • create an avenue to enhance overall community acceptance and support. In today's climate, it is critical that community therapeutic recreators understand that while responsible tax support is a legitimate goal, it is equally important that alternate financial and resource support be developed. The citizens who are directly receiving services from a joint agreement program represent a significant minority, and they will not likely be the primary donors for alternate funding programs. Although there are no official statements about the percentage of gross population which requires specialized services, an initial target rate of one percent is a realistic expectation after the joint agreement has been in effect for a minimum 15 years. However, there is a greater number of individuals in a community's corporate and private sectors who understand the importance, and support the delivery, of adequate community resources to handicapped citizens. Considering a foundation When considering the development of a charitable foundation, the direction and purpose of the foundation must be clearly determined. Illinois agencies which at- Illinois Parks and Recreation 11 January/February 1988 Foundations tempt to develop one will require assistance from legal counsel. The initial legal rquirement is the filing of the Articles of Incorporation under the General Not-for-Profit Corporation Act with the Secretary of State. In turn, the Secretary of State issues a certificate verifying the creation of the foundation. The foundation must also submit application for registration of exemption under Section 501 (c) (3) of The Internal Revenue Code to operate as a not-for-profit organization. Legal counsel can assist in filing the required Form 1023. Once the foundation has been developed and established within Illinois, and has received Section 501(c)(3) recognition from the federal government, organization becomes the next step. Foundation activities can be broken down into three broad categories: • the provision of activities or fund-raisers that publicize and create visibility for the foundation,
a foundation creates public awareness and support.
• the development of a strong membership program and • grant solicitations from corporate, foundation, and state and federal sources. Foundation activities When planning activities, it is important to ensure that the foundation's image and the image of the parent organization be presented in a positive vein. Celebrity golf outings, art auctions, Las Vegas nights and a variety of other fundraisers can create broader acceptance for the foundation. The activities portion of the foundation creates public awareness of, and ultimately public support for, the foundation's goals. Membership Membership categories within the foundation should allow for a broad base of support. A variety of membership levels should be established to ensure that any individual or corporate entity has the opportunity to fully participate in the program. In some cases, membership levels can be tied to specific Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 January/February 1988 projects or gifts donated through the foundation to the parent district. The development of a strong membership is critical to the long-term success of any foundation. Those individuals who are selected to serve on the foundation board will initiate a membership campaign. The term "networking" is perhaps overused; however, if a foundation is to be successful in the long term, a strong grass-roots network of individuals who are supportive of, and identify with, the purposes of the foundation will need to be developed. A strong membership base will ultimately ensure that the financial viability of the foundation can be ongoing and productive. Grant solicitations The third area of activity for a foundation deals directly with grant solicitations. In order to have a successful grants program, it is critical that the foundation board and leadership develop a set of priorities and clearly earmark the projects to which the foundation is committed. A purpose, and goals and objectives, should be outlined for each project.
membership network is essential to the success of a foundation.
The foundation will also need to develop a funding proposal. The basic information within the proposal can be used for a variety of grant solicitations. It is important that prospective donors know how they can assist the foundation. The Special Leisure Services Foundation, the fund-raising extension of the Northwest Special Recreation Association, has developed a series of major projects. These include: funding the Area 24 Special Olympics, purchasing adaptive vehicles, and developing a network of adaptive playgrounds. There are other purposes with which the foundation may become directly involved. Identifying key project areas on an annual basis will be critical if the foundation is to have success in the area of grants solicitation. However, it is important to be ethical. Projects should be created that are vital to constituents and to the community, and not solely to raise funds. Available resources There are a variety of resources Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 January/February 1988 Foundations (Continued from page 13) available to foundations. The National Society of Fundraising Executives (NSFRE) is an organization comprised of professionals in the area of fund raising. Membership in the NSFRE is a definite asset in receiving timely information that can assist a new foundation. There are a variety of library and resource materials available to a foundation. The Donors Forum of Chicago is a clearinghouse of fund-raising resources. It contains a list of all corporate and foundation donors who have filed Form 990 tax returns. The Donors Forum classifies information based on the name of the individual donor, the purposes for which the donor has chosen to give grants, and the size of the typical grant that the donor has given. One of the useful reference books available at the Donors Forum is entitled The Illinois Foundation Directory. It lists foundations in Illinois which contribute funds to charities. A monthly magazine entitled Fundraising Management focuses on national trends in fund raising, highlighting successful and unsuccessful ventures, people in philanthropy, and resources available to fund-raising professionals. This magazine can be ordered through Hoke Communications, Inc., New York. The Grantsmanship Center in Los Angeles, CA, publishes the Whole Non-Profit Catalog, which contains training opportunities and provides access to a variety of informative articles. Concluding comments Illinois has become a very proactive state in providing quality leisure service opportunities for the mentally and physically handicapped. It is important for overall community awareness as well as for finanncial assistance that a larger base of support be developed throughout the communities offering specialized services. There are many individuals and corporate leaders within a community who do believe in improving the overall quality of life, and they can be very instrumental in developing additional resources to assist the overall purposes of the agency.
Illinois Parks and Recreation 14 January/February 1988
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