One of the types of requests we get from time to time is from organizations who want to pull together a fund-raising campaign. Often, these are non-profit groups who are also looking to raise awareness for their cause. And while marketing and communications are certainly important elements of any fund-raising campaign, it's important to understand the true purpose—or purposes—of the campaign when developing the marketing that will support it.

If awareness is truly an important part of the effort, then it will need to be agreed that the success of the campaign can't be—and shouldn't be—measured solely in dollars raised. Some percentage of the funds raised will have already been spent in increasing awareness of the cause or the organization. In this type of campaign, you're not just raising funds, you're raising friends—you're gaining access to people you might not reach otherwise, and their awareness of your cause or organization is going to be positively impacted by their exposure to the campaign. Conversely, if the campaign is really just about enlarging the coffers, different marketing strategies and tactics will be employed to meet that goal.

While it's certainly possible to have both objectives at the same time, it's important that everyone agrees upfront that that's what's happening, or the marketing people will be disappointed if awareness isn't increased as much as they wanted it to be and the fund-raising folks won't be happy when they don't accumulate all the cash they were hoping to collect. And if fund-raising is truly the primary goal, it may be well worth an organization's time to find a professional fund-raiser—not a marketing firm—to help them. Effective fund-raising involves detailed knowledge not only of specific strategic directions in support of various types of causes, but also the ability to be able to describe and process different types of giving—outright gifts, bequests, annuities and so on.

So if your organization needs a boost in fund-raising—or friend-raising—give us a call and we can help you refine your objectives and determine the best way to meet them. If you need marketing support, we've got the experience to help you get where you need to go, and if it looks more like you need fund-raising support, we can refer you to some organizations in that business that we think do a great job. Here's to your worthy cause!

Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those
who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.

Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

In English, turkeys say "gobble gobble gobble." But what do turkeys say in Portuguese? The answers to these and other Thanksgiving tidbits.

Where can you find the most turkeys in the U.S.?

Want to learn more about the history of Thanksgiving?

Volunteerism in the workplace
You may think that being a "volunteer" involves giving freely of your time and talents and receiving nothing in return. The opposite is actually true. While you are helping to make a difference in the lives of others, you're also gaining valuable skills that can translate back to your own work, such as communication and teamwork.

Your company can also benefit from volunteerism, whether it's utilizing volunteers for some aspect of your business, or encouraging your employees to give back to the community in which they live and work. As a business owner, you're concerned about the health of the community in which you do business. Your stakeholders and employees live there—and so do some of your customers. If the community is not healthy, businesses will not thrive and may not even survive. And, for a community to be healthy, it needs an adequate supply of volunteers.

Employee volunteerism is an effective way to demonstrate commitment to the community, to show leadership in addressing community concerns, to increase visibility and to build your company's image, while at the same time making a contribution to the community. Volunteerism will offer your employees the chance to polish skills that can be transferred to the workplace. Your business will benefit from providing a nurturing environment where people's talents are tapped and their creative energies are released.

Let your employees know that volunteer work can offer personal rewards, new experiences and a sense of belonging to their community by doing something positive and meaningful. Volunteer involvement increases self-esteem, and can have a positive effect on physical health and mental well-being, all of which translates into a productive, effective workforce.

Making a difference—the M45 way
Each year the United Way of Northwest Illinois sponsors a "Day of Caring" as part of their annual campaign kick-off. Volunteers spend half a day helping with whatever the participating member agencies may need…painting, raking, cleaning...you name it. M45 is proud to have participated in this Day of Caring since its inception three years ago. This year M45 employees painted the dining room of the Norman C. Sleezer Youth Home in Freeport. The previous two years the New Horizons Counseling Center benefited from cleaner windows, an organized garage, painted porch and raked yard thanks to the M45 folks who were able to break away from work for an afternoon of volunteerism. Even amid the rush of deadlines and projects and a very real focus on our clients' satisfaction, we are happy to take time from our day-to-day profession to make a contribution to those in our community who need help.

In the words of Aesop, "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." The folks at M45 are giving back to the community in a variety of ways, enriching other people's lives, as well as their own.

Volunteering Activities—M45 employees

• YMCA Board of Directors, Membership and Marketing Committee
• Northwest Illinois Trails Foundation Board
• Freeport Community Foundation Board
• American Heart Association
• Freeport School District
• Rebuilding Together of Greater Freeport Board
• Church activities: adult and children's Sunday School teachers, money counters, committees, bereavement group, religious education, etc.
• School activities: athletic booster clubs, technology planning committees, music booster clubs, girls' softball coach
• Vision 20/20 community planning process
• Library Foundation Board
• Bank board of directors
• Freeport sesquicentennial celebration committee
• Freeport Downtown Development Foundation
• Freeport's Communities That Care Positive Youth Development