United for Libraries to present Fundraising & Building Support for Your Library: A Three-Part Webinar Series in October

EXTON, Pennsylvania — United for Libraries will host Fundraising & Building Support for Your Library: A Three-Part Webinar Series in October. The sessions included are available for purchase as a package; they cover fundamental aspects of fundraising, advocating, and building community engagement and support for libraries. Each webinar lasts 60 minutes and will be recorded for further access. United for Libraries Statewide Group Members can attend the 3-part series or individual sessions within the series at no cost.

Crafting a Compelling Case for Support on Thursday, October 3rd at 2 p.m. This webinar offers an overview of the importance of a fundraising organization’s case for support and provides the building blocks for creating your own. The case for support articulates all the reasons and justifications for supporting a cause; therefore, a strong case for support is an essential resource to anyone soliciting donations on your foundation’s behalf. Without a case statement, an organization will struggle to establish an effective fundraising program and the materials necessary to raise money and support volunteers in their fundraising roles. By attending, you will acquire fundamental fundraising skills necessary to engage prospective donors for your organization and seek their philanthropic support.

Presenter Lisa Lintner, a library director leading a newly formed foundation in 2016, will share her experience in developing her foundation’s first case for support, and the subsequent updated versions. Presenter Dr. Sarah Nathan, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy’s Associate Director of Public Programs, will share an overview of their signature program “Fundraising for Small Nonprofits,” where Lisa first learned how to create a case for support.

How Everyday Relationships Build Support and Help Libraries Transform on Thursday, October 10th at 2 p.m. Libraries are fighting for support and dollars in every community across the country. Asking for support when the ballot is printed is too late. How do you create a community of advocates before a ballot initiative or budget request is on the agenda? Learn how one library has developed an advocacy plan to build a community of library champions who are ready to be activated when needed. Through strategic communications planning, utilizing the Libraries Transform campaign, and one-on-one meetings with stakeholders, speakers Dara Schmidt (Director) and Amber McNamara (Community Relations Manager) of the Cedar Rapids Public Library will show you how to take on advocacy one step at a time.

The Cedar Rapids Public Library learned a hard lesson after losing a ballot initiative in 2016 and being forced to reduce hours and services. Since that time, the Library has taken a strategic approach to advocacy, meeting regularly with a committee of people to prioritize communications and to assign work. Through this process, the Library was able to restore partial funding after two years through the City Council—avoiding another ballot initiative that may not have passed. Learn from their mistakes and hear how the Library has transformed a loss into a victory by making advocacy the focus all year long, every year.

Annual Giving Campaigns - Best Practices From Across the Country on Tuesday, October 29th at 2 p.m. Presenter Kathy Selking will dissect and compare successful campaigns from libraries across the country. After attending this webinar, you will have a list of best practices and tools you can immediately implement in your next campaign.

Kathy Selking is the Manager of Library Development for the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, as well as the Secretary and Treasurer for the Library Legacy Foundation of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library. With over 10 years of fundraising experience, Kathy has earned her CFRE credential and is currently leading the Foundation to its most successful year in decades. Kathy also manages the Library’s events and volunteer work. Currently, she is working with other Library staff on finalizing the completion of the renovation work at their Main Library. Her future plans include growing their planned giving program and increasing corporate giving.

For more information on this three-webinar package, including member and non-member pricing, visit www.ala.org/united/training/webinars.

Use this form to register for this series. If you are a United for Libraries Statewide Group Member, register here.

United for Libraries: The Association of Library Trustees, Advocates, Friends and Foundations, is a division of the American Library Association with approximately 4,000 personal and group members representing hundreds of thousands of library supporters. United for Libraries supports those who govern, promote, advocate, and fundraise for libraries, and brings together library trustees, advocates, friends, and foundations into a partnership that creates a powerful force for libraries in the 21st century. To join, please visit www.ala.org/united or call (800) 545-2433, ext. 2161.