Positive Aspects of Situation

Kamps for Kids is an established organization. This is a positive because Kamps

for Kids will already have a donor base and a reputable reputation.

Unique history: This is a positive because it makes the organization unique and

therefore helps it to gain donor attention in the competition for dollars. The idea

for the organization was created when the founder John Rodee was watching a

television program

The key donor’s Edgar and Ruth Thomas were part of the program from the

beginning. As a result, they may still have positive feelings about the camp.

John Rodee, one of the original founders of the camp, publicly supports the

organization. This can be positive because through careful relationship building

his support can be used to cultivate Edgar and Ruth Thomas.

The development director, Elaine Benner, has a personal friendship with Edgar

and Ruth’s daughter Laurel Thomas. This is a positive aspect because this

friendship could help Elaine re-develop Kamp for Kids/Nature Outreach’s

relationship with Edgar and Ruth. In addition, this personal friendship allows

Elaine valuable insight into the Thomas’s point of view. Moreover, Elaine and

Laurel’s friendship creates an invaluable link between the Kamps for Kids/Nature

outreach and the Thomas family.

The development director, Elaine, is very passionate about the cause. This is an

advantage because it will help Edgar and Ruth see that Kamps for kids/Nature

Outreach is a cause worth financially supporting.

Elaine is a very successful fundraiser. This is positive because it helps the

organization obtain needed financial support. In addition, this helps the

organization’s credibility. Moreover, her success as a fundraiser will give her

valuable expertise on how to reach Edgar and Ruth best.

Kamps for Kids focus on environmental issues is positive because Edgar and

Ruth’s daughter Laurel is very interested in ecological issues. This is important

because creates another link between the organization and the Thomas family.

The knowledge that Edgar and Ruth want to get re-involved in Kamps for Kids.

Edgar’s statement “I was never asked is very powerful because it implies that the

Thomas family would consider giving their financial support if asked.

Opportunities

The opportunity is strong for getting Ruth & Edgar Thomas re-involved in is strong.

This is confirmed by Edgar’s statement to Elaine that would have liked to give the

property to Kamps for Kids to start an old-fashioned working farm, except he was not

asked. Incidentally, the best way for Elaine to regain Edgar’s support is to show that

the organizations current mission aligns with what Elaine and Edgar originally helped

create. The best way to do this would be to start them at the middle of the cultivation

cycle—involvement.

Hence, the best way to get the Thomas’s re-involved in Kamps for Kids is to

cultivate them. This could be done by inviting them to spend a day at Kamps for

Kids/ Nature Outreach. Moreover, another possible way to cultivate the Ruth & Edgar

would be to get them involved by inviting them to join a committee. This would

probably be the best move because of the board’s negative comments towards the

Thomas’s i.e. Old Man Thomas.

One untapped resource that Elaine has at her fingertips is her friendship with

Laura Thomas. Laura is interested in the environment, as evidenced by her support of

Green Peace, which is Kamps for Kids/Nature Outreach’s current focus. Therefore,

Laura could be invited to chair a committee dealing exclusively with Nature

Outreach. This would help Kamps for Kids create an even stronger link with the

Thomas family. In addition, Laura may also want to financially support the

organization; however, she may not have been asked. Joining a committee will give

her an added incentive to do so.

Case Direction:

Elaine needs to carefully proceed with the Thomas family, through the following

steps:

Elaine needs to advise the board not to concentrate on asking the Thomas’s for

money, but rather work on building a relationship with them to gain support for

the future.

1. Elaine needs to value the relationship that she already has to the

Thomas’s, while seeking to improve it.

2. Capitalize on common ground.

3. Learn more things about the family and learn what they could do to create

a proposal that works well with the needs of the family and the

organization. Ask the family what they want out of the relationship