Missouri Mansion Preservation

A Report on Fund-raising, Missouri Mansion Preservation
Jane Cooper Stacy, chair
October 5, 2012 meeting

  Laura Bennett-Smith

I.   A DEVELOPMENT PLAN:

Throughout my thirty years as a development officer at Southeast Missouri State University, I have always gone into every campaign with a written plan to the Board which oversees the campaign. It has always clarified my thinking and made me listen to the aspirations of each Board member.  We learn from each other. 

Here are the questions I ask myself and I want to share these with you.  Together, we can make a  better plan!

Here are the questions!

l.  What is "OUR" product?
2.  Is it worth selling?  What value does it have for anyone?
3.  What are the tangible and intangible values of this product?
4.  Why would someone consider donating to Missouri Mansion?
5.  Why would the Board members consider such a donation or consider being on the Board?
6.  What are the "main" selling features?
7.  How have we acknowledged past donors?
8.  How many donor calls have you personally made?   Would you be willing to make calls?
9.  Would you be willing to "host" something or "sponsor" something?
10.  How can we expand our donor base?

Can you answer these questions?  Take a minute and think about them.



II.   REACHING OUT TO OUR CONSTITUENCIES:

 Board Members at the Christmas Party, 2011

 

1.  Present Board Members and Past Board Members:               

      List of present board members -attached
      List of past board members -needs to be compiled by members and Mary Pat.
(Annual end of the Year Drive and Board of Directors mailing is already slated for mailing.)

2.   Docents and past docents

3.  Past Governors and family members  
                          

     List of past Governors and hometowns -attached

4.  Past Donors:  Individual and Foundations--What about Christmas event?

                                                    Last Year's Christmas Party

 

III.   REACHING OUT TO NEW CONSTITUENCIES:

After studying the efforts of the past, so far as development is concerned, I think that are many ways to reach out to others in the state.  Our expressed goal of reaching out to all the state in awareness has great possibilities, so far as I am concerned.  I have always felt that people in the state consider the Mansion to be Jefferson City's grand mansion and they feel no sense of pride and ownership.

1.   Regional parties scheduled in 2013.                                

One of the reasons for the regional parties is to build our donor base with new names and prospects as well as promoting the areas where governors lived, and the historical ties with the various communities.   As regional parties are developed, it might be possible to have special festivities at the Mansion such as "Cape Girardeau Day at the Mansion", etc.

These "regional" events will take on a life of their own and may vary depending on the host and the constituency.

At the present time,  Donna Huston and I will be contacting all Board members to see if they are interested in having some kind of event.       

Those who have committed already or are in the process of decision are:

Jackie Lenox - Columbia.   She is looking at May, 2013 with a party at her home.
Mary Nell Stamatis - Springfield.   No date at this time.  Is planning a tea at her home.
Sharon Beshore - Joplin.  No date at this time.  Is planning a tea at her home.

 

Mike Esser - St. Louis.  We will meet in St. Louis on October 5 to talk further.      
Jane Stacy and Marilynn Bradford - Cape Girardeau.   Planning to have event in February-March in   
       conjunction with the Opening of the Oliver House where the Missouri State Flag was made.