August 21, 2014; New York Times
This is an interesting story that brings that research about big gifts given locally to ground. In New York City, Citymeals-on-Wheels is, through a program they call the Guardians, appealing to wealthy donors to support meals in whole neighborhoods and boroughs.
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Leon G. Cooperman, 71, who’s the founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Omega Advisors Inc., was the first donor in, pledging $183,000 to pay for a year’s worth of meals for people in the South Bronx. The letter sent to him from Citymeals-on-Wheels called him “a son of the Bronx.”
But a good fundraiser recognizes opportunity in many different kinds of stories. The group used the story of that pledge to leverage another $100,000 in matching funds from eight other donors.
Though it is still early in the campaign, this is a strategy to keep an eye on. Has anyone else tried something similar?—Ruth McCambridge
