The days when fund-raisers could engage bank presidents and longtime San Diego residents Kim Fletcher, Gordon Luce and Tom Sefton in a game of can you top this are long gone. Recent controversies over how money has been spent at the San Diego Museum of Art, United Way and the San Diego Symphony have made it all that much more difficult. More and more, donors are earmarking their gifts for specific purposes. People want to be sure the money is going where they want it to go, and that it is making a difference. The challenge is to find creative ways to get people involved.
Advisory boards are one method.
The ability to name a building after a donor, or one of the donor s loved ones, is still a strong lure. There is a delicate balance in bringing wealthy families into the fold without scaring them away. You have to be prepared to be turned down eight out of 10 times. It s just the nature of the beast, says Father Joe. The key is discovering a patron s comfort level, the niche he or she likes to occupy.