Rape Advocacy, Counseling & Education Services (RACES)

2 Hours, 20 Bucks & New Hope for the Future

Mary Evans, Executive Director, Rape Advocacy, Counseling & Education Services

One of the first things that Mary Evans, the new Executive Director of Rape Advocacy, Counseling & Education Services in Urbana, Illinois, did when she was hired was sign up for do good’s Nonprofit Excellence Training Series. Little did she know what a valuable investment this would be.

“In the special events class alone I had about six ‘a-ha’ moments,” she reports. “It was like a light would go off, then another, and another.”

She inherited a poorly-performing special event when she was hired. “In years past, it raised about $900 – every dollar helps, but is it even worth the effort?” she sighs. “I was frustrated with the time being spent to raise so little – until I went to do good’s class.”

Mary left energized, and her Personal Action Plan – a custom tool do good uses in every training we offer – overflowing with ideas. She learned several tips from do good to refocus the event as a friend-raising opportunity and ideas to infuse better fundraising options into the evening.

“I went back to RACES and immediately began working with my staff to infuse more attendee data collection options, increase our storytelling, and to better brand materials with photos and quotes.”

In the end, the Boo Bash, which was expected to raise another $900 actually raised $6,957 – nearly 700% more than planned. “If I had more than a handful of weeks to reformulate things based on what I learned in class, I know that would have been even more,” Mary reports. “And it definitely will be for future events!”

The event also sparked the creation of RACES new mailing list with the addition of nearly 100 new names of supporters. “For years, we never cultivated names or addresses for a database,” says Mary. “But that all changed because of do good‘s class. Now we are on our way.”

“That one class cost me about $20, but helped us raise over $6,000 in unexpected funds for our mission,” says Mary. “But what’s most exciting for me is that what I learned in do good’s Nonprofit Excellence training will pay off for RACES as we plan for the future. Best $20 I ever spent!” she laughs. (The actual return on Mary’s investment is 34,800%.)

“The tips and tricks we learned were so simple to implement”, Mary reports. “So logical and straightforward, and they’ll work for us for years to come.”

The impressed board of directors opted to invest the unplanned funds into continuing to build RACES’ future: they invested the first 20% of their profits in a newly-created reserve fund, their first. With the rest, they are purchasing a formal CMS (database) system to manage contacts properly and have also committed to a formal strategic planning session in early 2016.

“This tiny but significant event turnaround has shown the board that so much more is possible for RACES. They have new energy to see how we can grow into the future. It’s an exciting time at RACES!” – Mary Evans, Executive Director, Rape Advocacy, Counseling & Education Services

Securing a matching donor was one strategy RACES employed to boost donations at the Boo Bash.

RACES 2015 Boo Bash was expected to raise $900. With do good‘s help, they actually raised $6,957 – 700% more than planned.