In it to End it!

Thought this was a pretty good email campaign from the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.  They have a pretty catchy slogan they use - IN IT TO END IT!  Straight to the point, I like it.  They also use great photos.  How could you not want to join those two ladies below?  They are having a blast!  Avon does a good job of throwing in fast facts - every 3 minutes, there is a new diagnosis in the US, 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer, men can get it too.  All important messages that inspire people to act.

What do you think?  Will Avon benefit the most from Susan G Komen's downfall earlier this year?  Or perhaps the American Cancer Society?  Or will Komen come back stronger than ever?

Excited to see how the breast cancer field plays out this year...

REGISTER NOW / LEARN MORE / FUNDRAISING / TRAINING / EVENT INFO

EVERY 3 MINUTES! ARE YOU IN IT TO END IT? Every 3 minutes, there is a new diagnosis of invasive breast cancer in the United States. Perhaps you, or someone you love, have sadly been a part of this statistic. If not, there is a good chance that all of us will know someone affected by breast cancer in our lifetime. This is exactly why the Avon Foundation for Women created theAvon Walk for Breast Cancer 10 years ago. And it's exactly why we are inviting you to be IN IT TO END IT with us in 2012! For 2 days and 39 miles, we'll walk side-by-side and keep the momentum going. The critical funds we raise will allow more promising research initiatives to be funded, more low-income women to receive mammograms, and more under-insured breast cancer patients to get the care they need. A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer in her lifetime. And, yes, men can get breast cancer, too! To help you take your first step and register for a 2012 Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, we'd like to offer you a reduced registration fee for a limited time only. From now until April 15, 2012, you can register as a Walker or Crew member for only $55 (a $10 discount from the 2012 registration fee of $65). Register online now at avonwalk.org and use Promotion CodeENDIT2012. Or, register over the phone by calling 888-410-WALK. Choose an Avon Walk near you, or make it a destination weekend for you and your friends or family! 2012 Walk Weekends Houston April 21-22 Washington, D.C. May 5-6 Boston May 19-20 Chicago June 2-3 Rocky Mountains June 23-24 San Francisco July 7-8 Santa Barbara September 22-23 New York October 20-21 Charlotte October 27-28 Every 13 minutes, a life is lost to breast cancer in the U.S. The critical funds raised by participants in the Avon Walk events are put to work to advance access to care and find a cure for breast cancer. We are touching literally millions of lives. Read more about how the funds you raise help both your Avon Walk city and local communities across the nation. We can't continue our work without people like you. Register today! And join us for a life-changing weekend. This special registration fee is for a limited time only and will end April 15, 2012. Make your commitment today and join us. Together we'll show the world what thousands of determined hearts can do. We look forward to seeing you soon! Remember, early detection helps save lives. Get a mammogram. Perform monthly breast self-exams. Talk to your doctor about your risk. And encourage women around you to do the same. Don't forget, men can get breast cancer, too. For breast cancer information and resources, visit cancer.org or avonfoundation.org.	5,261,811 MILES WALKED Just how far would Avon Walkers go to end breast cancer? In the first 9 years, they've collectively gone around the globe more than 201 times.
AVON WALK FOR BREAST CANCER
About the Avon Foundation for Women and the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer The Avon Foundation for Women, a 501(c)3 public charity, has been improving and saving women's lives since it was founded in 1955, and we are proud to be the largest corporate philanthropy dedicated to women's causes globally. Today our mission is focused on breast cancer and domestic violence, as well as emergency and disaster relief, touching lives across the country and around the world. By the end of this year, Avon global philanthropy will have raised and donated more than $860 million worldwide. The Avon Breast Cancer Crusade marks its 20th anniversary in 2012 and more than $740 million has been raised and awarded in more than 50 countries to advance access to care and finding a cure for breast cancer, with a focus on the medically underserved. Funding supports awareness and education, screening and diagnosis, access to treatment, support services, and scientific research. Beneficiaries range from leading cancer centers to community-based non-profit breast health programs, creating a powerful network focused on eradicating breast cancer and ensuring access to care. Funds are raised through a variety of "pink ribbon" product sales, and events, races and walks. The largest fundraising program benefiting the Crusade is the U.S. Avon Walk for Breast Cancer event series, which began in 2003 and has raised more than $422 million to date. For more information on the Avon Foundation for Women visit www.avonfoundation.org. You are receiving this e-mail because you have requested information about the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. If you would like to stop receiving our e-mails, unsubscribe. Contact Info: Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10105-0196. 1-888-540-9255

Karen Handel Exits Susan G Komen

Karen Handel Exits Susan G. Komen: The Resignation Letter

Image via WikipediaPhoto credit: Sarah Mirk

This morning Karen Handel, Susan G. Komen’s controversial (as of last week) Vice President of Public Policy, announced that she would resign from the breast cancer charity and would decline any offer of a severance package.

Following the highly charged week in which Komen pulled (and ultimately reinstated) funding to a handful ofPlanned Parenthoodaffiliates, this resignation has been, to watchers of the situation, a long time coming. Handel, a long-time pro-life and anti-abortion advocate, is thought to be the catalyst for breaking Komen’s long-time partnership with Planned Parenthood.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution got its hands on Handel’s resignation letter to CEO Nancy Brinker in the wake of the scandal, in which Handel refuses responsibility for the decision and calls the reaction a “gross mischaracterization of strategy.”

Susan G. Komen Pink Slips Planned Parenthood -- Who, What And Why?Meghan CasserlyForbes Staff

After Changing Course On Planned Parenthood, What Susan G. Komen Should Do NowSusan AdamsForbes Staff

With Friends Like Ari Fleischer Did Komen For The Cure Have All The Enemies They Needed?Rick UngarContributor

How To Destroy A Reputation In Less Than A Week: Komen And Planned ParenthoodDavia TeminContributor

Cries have been made for Handel’s dismissal for the past seven days, so there is at least something to be said about her exit strategy. But before we  commend Handel for stepping down of her own volition, AJC notes there might be more self-serving reasons for her decision: taking a severance deal might have bound her to a non-disclosure agreement. As things stand, Handel has scheduled a press conference for later this afternoon.

The letter in full:

February 7, 2012

The Honorable Nancy Brinker

CEO, Susan G. Komen for the Cure VIA EMAIL

5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite 250

Dallas, Texas 75244

Dear Ambassador Brinker:

Susan G. Komen for the Cure has been the recognized leader for more 30 years in the fight against breast cancer here in the US – and increasingly around the world.

As you know, I have always kept Komen’s mission and the women we serve as my highest priority – as they have been for the entire organization, the Komen Affiliates, our many supporters and donors, and the entire community of breast cancer survivors. I have carried out my responsibilities faithfully and in line with the Board’s objectives and the direction provided by you and Liz.

We can all agree that this is a challenging and deeply unsettling situation for all involved in the fight against breast cancer. However, Komen’s decision to change its granting strategy and exit the controversy surrounding Planned Parenthood and its grants was fully vetted by every appropriate level within the organization. At the November Board meeting, the Board received a detailed review of the new model and related criteria. As you will recall, the Board specifically discussed various issues, including the need to protect our mission by ensuring we were not distracted or negatively affected by any other organization’s real or perceived challenges. No objections were made to moving forward.

I am deeply disappointed by the gross mischaracterizations of the strategy, its rationale, and my involvement in it. I openly acknowledge my role in the matter and continue to believe our decision was the best one for Komen’s future and the women we serve. However, the decision to update our granting model was made before I joined Komen, and the controversy related to Planned Parenthood has long been a concern to the organization. Neither the decision nor the changes themselves were based on anyone’s political beliefs or ideology. Rather, both were based on Komen’s mission and how to better serve women, as well as a realization of the need to distance Komen from controversy. I believe that Komen, like any other nonprofit organization, has the right and the responsibility to set criteria and highest standards for how and to whom it grants.

What was a thoughtful and thoroughly reviewed decision – one that would have indeed enabled Komen to deliver even greater community impact – has unfortunately been turned into something about politics. This is entirely untrue. This development should sadden us all greatly.

Just as Komen’s best interests and the fight against breast cancer have always been foremost in every aspect of my work, so too are these my priorities in coming to the decision to resign effective immediately. While I appreciate your raising a possible severance package, I respectfully decline. It is my most sincere hope that Komen is allowed to now refocus its attention and energies on its mission.

Sincerely, 

Karen Handel 

Buckets for a Cure

Here is a pretty funny YouTube video making fun of Komen's 2010 "Buckets for a Cure" Campaign with KFC.  I had to share...

Komen Aftermath

By now you probably know that Komen has decided to reverse their statement from last week and will now allow Planned Parenthood to be eligible for future funding and grant opportunities.

But can they recover from this PR nightmare?

Joe Waters is a cause marketing and social media blogger who isn't afraid to tell it like it is.  Here are his candid thoughts on his thoughts on Komen.

Komen Sucks…But So Do You

By: Joe Waters, Selfish Giving


Nothing Komen for the Cure does surprises me anymore.

They sell deep-fried chicken to raise money to cure breast cancer. They sue other nonprofits that use “for the cure” in any variation in their name. Now, they’re flexing their muscle and shutting off the funding to Planned Parenthood.

For Komen, it’s just another day being a big, arrogant SOB that has swallowed too much of its own public relations and is drunk with power and eager to show its fight.

Part of me grudgingly admires Komen. Heck, I tell nonprofits all the time they should operate more like businesses. And that’s what Komen is doing. If they were a for-profit company instead of a nonprofit we’d be applauding their actions, or at least ignoring them. After all, we live in a country where success and money wash every sin clean. And Komen has plenty of soap to spare.

The challenge is that Komen is a nonprofit but their walking and talking like the Standard Oil of our time. I hope they’re headed for a crash, or at least a painful breakup.

But that’s not up to me. It’s up to you. (I say you because I’ve never supported Komen and I never will. I don’t even talk about their cause marketing much except to be critical of it. Yeah, I’m grinding my ax when I can.)

You gave them their swagger with your sweat, support and money. You created a monster. Not that you care. You’ll turn a blind eye and find comfort in the stories of sadness, hope, womanhood, courage and success that define the Komen experience.

That’s just what Komen wants. Come walk season, you’ll still be wearing pink.

You need a new narrative that puts cause above Komen. A true supporter is someone who is willing to defend her cause from the people who would hurt it, even if they are within the cause. This new story needs to be about accountability and direction that speaks to the breast cancer organization you want.

If you’re happy with deep fried cause marketing, brand witch hunts and punishing poor women, congratulations, you have the organization you want.

But if you want something else: wipe away your tears, dump the pink and find your angry voice and tell Komen to change their ways, or you’ll change yours.

Komen Controversy

Unless you have been living under a rock this week, you know that quite the controversy has been brewing with the Susan G Komen Foundation.  They have decided to cut all funding to Planned Parenthood as a result of a new policy of theirs that states they do not fund any organizations who are currently under investigation by Congress (yet, no one has seen this new policy and they are still funding a research grant of over $7.5 million to Penn State who is under investigate for Jerry Sandusky sexual assault scandal).

But now Komen is changing their story.  Nancy Brinker, Komen founder, said that the decision to stop funding Planned Parenthood was unrelated to the investigation, but in an effort to support groups that directly provide breast services, such as mammograms. Many believe that this decision was made as a result from pressure from anti-abortion groups.  Brinker and Komen reject this claim.

To make things a little more interesting, three top Komen officials have resigned or are threatening to resign as a result of Komen's decision to end future funding for breast cancer screenings and breast health education at Planned Parenthood.  Komen's top public health official, Mollie Williams, and Deb Anthony, the Executive Director of Komen's Los Angeles County Chapter has both resigned in protest.  Dr. Kathy Plesser, a Manhattan radiologist on the medical advisory board of Komen's New York Chapter said she plans to resign if Komen doesn't reverse their decision.

Planned Parenthood says "At immediate risk are low-income women, many located in rural and underserved communities, served by 19 Planned Parenthood programs funded by the Komen Foundation.  This funding has enabled designated Planned Parenthood health centers to provide women with breast health education, screenings, and referrals for mammograms - lifesaving care for women where Planned Parenthood is their only source of health care."

Here is a quick video to get you up to speed on the latest.

Here is Komen's side of the story -

However, it looks like both organizations are potentially profiting from the split.  Some are outraged by Komen's decision and are rallying around Planned Parenthood to fill the gap that will be left behind when Komen pulls their funding.  Mike Bloomberg, mayor of New York City, has offered to match $250,000 in donations to Planned Parenthood's Breast Health Fund.  I expect this campaign to come close to fulfilling the amount left vacant from Komen ($680,000 in 2011) for one year, but I do not see them able to keep this up year over year without Komen's support.

Equally interesting, Komen says after this story broke, their donations have gone up 100% in the last two days.

So what do you think?  Was this a political move ... or a smart move by Komen?

7 Event Participant Types and How to Effectively Communicate with Them

Peer-to-Peer Event Fundraising Tips

Posted: 26 Jan 2012 07:26 AM PST

Many summer peer-to-peer fundraising events will be opening registration in the upcoming months (hopefully, yours included).

To get the most from your event this year, it’s important to realize that your participants are a diverse group and you need to speak to each group differently.

Sending one-size-fits-all event update isn’t going to cut it anymore. You have to target each audience with a tailored message – one that speaks to them.

Why?

Your participants have different motivators, perspectives and needs. They also have varying levels of commitment to your event and organization.

First-time participants have separate needs from longtime participants. Superstar fundraisers respond differently than those who raise the minimum. Team captains have a different perspective than individual participants.

With so much money at stake, it’s important that your event communications resonate with participants and anticipate their needs. Strive to answer their questions before they even think of them.

Just like email appeals, crafting unique messages for different audiences is the best way to connect, inform and motivate participants.

In fact, by sending targeted communications to its different audiences, the Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure was able to increase their average amount raised per fundraiser and overall amount fundraising (despite fewer participants). Check out the results …

• With 2,500 fewer participants registered, the Global Race has brought in $150,000 more in donations to date
• Fundraisers raised an average of $32 more in 2010
• Power fundraisers brought in over $25,000 more than last year
• Overall average donations increased by $8 per registrant

So, how can you start segmenting your audiences, tailoring your communications and improving your fundraising results? Here’s seven ideas to get you started …

7 Event Participant Types and How to Effectively Communicate with Them

Your communications should tell all participants why donations are needed and how they’ve been previously used. Besides that, here’s what to say to your unique audiences:

Superstar fundraisers

Show them the love! Your communications should let them know how much they’re appreciated. Chances are they’re closely connected to your cause. More than other participants, share outcomes of past donations. Tell them “you did this!” Also monitor their fundraising progress and reach out by phone, if needed. Highlight statistics about how social media can help them raise even more. Provide ways to connect with other top fundraisers. List the top fundraisers and discuss high-level incentives.

Minimum/Non-fundraisers

Keep communications brief. This group will be tough to motivate, so focus on incentives, contests and convenience. Highlight the ease of fundraising by social media and email. Remember, 1 in 4 emails result in a donation. Those who use Twitter raise 10x morethan those who don’t. Tell them you know they’re busy. Make fundraising easy by including sample Facebook posts or emails they can forward to friends. Highlight stories of those who’ve raised money with minimal effort. At the end of the day you should be focused on turning these participants in to fundraising superstars!

Team captains

Show them the love, too! Captains are the lifeblood of your event. Send communications that help them manage their team. Include reminders about deadlines and contests. Tell them what they should communicate to their team at different stages of the event. Provide ideas to grow and inspire their team. Emphasize what resources they can access to help them manage their team.

New participants

Explain your mission and why donations are needed in a simple, concise way. Remember, they’ll have to retell it to potential supporters, many for the first time. If you can connect them to your cause, the rest will fall into place. Instead of overloading them, focus on the simple things they can do at each stage of the event. “You’ve registered! Here are 2 ways to get started” or “The event is a month away. Here are 2 things to do this week.” Highlight first-time participants who made a difference. Here are 44 more tips for engaging with new participants.

New teams

In addition to what’s outlined above for new participants, communicate the rankings of top teams to motivate those with a competitive side. Send event and team-related details, so they’re not bombarding their team captain with questions. Highlight team-specific contests, like best theme or largest team. Feature stories of other teams.

Returning participants

Returning participants are like gold to any event fundraising organization so make sure you acknowledge they’re the reason for the success of past events. Outline how last year’s donations were used and tell them what you could do with more money this year. Be specific! Vague, high-level phrases do not inspire. Also, let them know what event details are the same this year and point out anything that’s new. Remember, it’s about their success in the current event and getting them to come back next year!

Returning teams

In addition to what’s outlined above for returning participants, include rankings of top teams and many team stories. Learning about other teams will give returning teams fresh ideas and motivation. Also feature team-related contests and incentives.
Basically, you need to create mini-communication plans for these unique audiences. While that does mean more work, it also means more engaged, inspired participants that are far more likely to raise more for your event and return next year.


What other participant audiences have you focused your communications on?
Reprinted from Blackbaud's NetWitsThinkTank.com: an online resource for nonprofit organizations working with social media, internet marketing, and online fundraising.