TALKING POINTS for January 12 Immigrant Legal Center Rollout. Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska Changes Name to Immigrant Legal Center

Transcription

1 TALKING POINTS for January 12 Immigrant Legal Center Rollout Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska Changes Name to Immigrant Legal Center On January 12, 2018, Justice For Our Neighbors-Nebraska (JFON-NE) changed its name to Immigrant Legal Center. We remain an affiliate of the Justice For Our Neighbors Network. The new name, Immigrant Legal Center (ILC), is more descriptive of the services we provide, making it easier for clients to find us. Additionally, our named affiliation with the Justice For Our Neighbors (JFON) Network will denote and inform people of our strong roots and continuing relationship with NJFON and the Great Plains Conference of the United Methodist Church. Both organizations fully support our name change. The core focus of the Immigrant Legal Center is to provide immigration legal services for low-income immigrants, just as it was when we worked under the name of Justice For Our Neighbors-NE. The new name and logo does not reflect a change in our culture, our values, or our mission. In fact, our mission remains essentially the same as JFON-NE: The mission of the Immigrant Legal Center, a 501 (c)(3) organization, is to welcome immigrants into our communities by providing high quality legal services, education, and advocacy. The Immigrant Legal Center has also moved our offices into a new building at 4223 Center Street. Our new building, which is more centrally located, will allow us to expand our reach to clients throughout Omaha and give us the space to grow as an organization. Our total of 26 full-time equivalent staff includes 14 attorneys and six legal staff. We are thrilled by the support of community foundations in funding several lead gifts in the early stages of our capital campaign. As of mid-december 2017, we have raised $2.3 million against the $3.1 million capital campaign goal with the help of: o Sherwood Foundation o William and Ruth Family Foundation o Holland Foundation o An Anonymous gift Today we are launching the public phase of our Capital Campaign with a mailing to all our donors. We are asking them to make a play area for clients children, to furnish a community meeting room for up to 100 people in the lower level, and to help us finish renovating the first floor for our offices.

2 (Don t offer the following info. However, if asked directly about one of the pilot programs, only respond with this statement. Repeat, if needed.): o The ILC will not expand into new practice areas; rather, staff will build capacity by developing knowledge and expertise at the intersection of immigration law and family law, employment law, and public benefits law. These services are designed to complement our immigration law practice, not stand on their own, and cannot be accessed without an immigration case. COMMUNICATION CONSIDERATIONS FROM THE BUSINESS PLAN (INTERNAL USE) These items relate to more sophisticated colleagues and funders, but we need to be prepared to answer them with these responses. These questions may be asked of the staff who do tours on Jan. 11. Key Donor Messages What do sophisticated donors want to hear? Focused mission and logical strategic plan o Our mission is not changing; this transition is part of our strategic plan. Attention to responsible growth management o We developed a 2016 business plan to implement the transition, including a growth management framework. Programs unduplicated in our service region o We are the primary provider of free immigration law services in the State of Nebraska. Organizational stability and strong board o JFON-NE has grown steadily and strategically in both budget and cases served through vigilant governance of its board. Cost consciousness and balanced budget o We have always maintained a balanced budget through our organizational growth, Plans to pursue earned income sources o The 2016 business plan designated services for earned income that are developing successfully. Practical problem-solving mentality o Our board and staff are committed to follow our overarching goal: to always do what is in the best interest of our clients. Compassion for clients o Our overarching goal is to first do what is best for our clients. Contribution to community s quality of life o ILC addresses the legal issues that prevent low-income immigrants from fully participating in their communities by providing access to the justice system, while addressing barriers that contribute to the root causes of inequality and poverty. Best-in-class organizational performance o We are a progressive, dynamic organization that continues to serve as a flagship model in the Justice For Our Neighbors network. We work in supportive, united efforts with our collaborative partners. We offer effective education and advocacy to help the non-immigrant public understand complex immigration issues. Our board of directors has approved our implementation of the Nonprofit Association of the Midlands Guidelines and Principals.

3 LIKELY OBJECTIONS TO GROWTH PLAN (INTERNAL USE) Responses to Objection #1: Why expand when you haven t met demand for immigration services? We are not expanding, we are adding new legal knowledge and expertise that will help us be better immigration legal service providers. Opens new frontiers for increased sustainability that can support new work and support increased capacity for additional immigration work. Responses to Objection #2: How do you ensure the quality of immigration services do not suffer? Immigration services has been and will remain the cornerstone of our services. Because new expertise will result in a more efficient and effective delivery of immigration legal services. Responses to Objection #3: What do high impact cases have to do with helping Nebraska residents? By pursuing cases with potential to make positive changes in the law, our impact on Nebraska residents will be greater than if those same resources were devoted strictly to direct legal services. To the extent that changes are made at the Board of Immigration Appeals (which creates precedent for the entire country), it will have nationwide (including Nebraska) impact, further strengthening the ILC reputation and influence that allows it to deliver high quality immigration legal services. Responses to Objection #4: How does advocacy help clients? It can maximize our impact by devoting resources to system change directed at the heart of a legal problem, rather than solely focusing on treating the symptoms of the problem through individual direct legal services. It also informs and improves ongoing direct legal services by giving us the knowledge base to offer the best, cutting-edge legal services. Responses to Objection #5: Is it feasible to generate the income needed to fund this expansion? By developing expertise where legal needs intersect with immigration law and services, we will be tapping into new income sources. And those new areas of legal expertise will have greater potential to be self-sustaining and less reliant on grant support.

4 Board Member Pledges for Public Phase of Immigrant Legal Center Capital Campaign As a board member of the Immigrant Legal Center, I wish to demonstrate my support of our Capital Campaign with this three-year pledge. My total pledge amount over the three-year period is: $ I would like to make one single payment for the total amount by (date): I prefer to make (#) payments according to the following schedule: $ by this date: December 31, 2017 $ by this date: $ by this date: $ by this date: $ by this date: In addition, my company will be a Capital Campaign Partner at the following level: $1,000 by this date: $2,500 by this date: $5,000 by this date: $ by this date I would like to help with donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship. (Staff will assist.) Host an event in my home Make thank you calls to donors Add personal notes to fundraising and thank you letters Take colleagues and potential donors to fundraising and donor cultivation events Recommend new potential donors and corporate partners to help grow & diversify our donor base Volunteer in another way: Please complete and return this form by January 31, 2018 to assist in providing Immigrant Legal Center with an accurate cash flow forecast. Thank you your support is essential! (Signature) (Date)

5 1/11/2018 Expectations of Major Funders Funders expect 100% participation of board for capital campaigns Capital pledges are typically a stretch gift to move the campaign ahead An Affiliate of the Justice For Our Neighbors Network ILC Board Capital Campaign The Development Process We request $10,000 total pledges from ILC board members, with confirmation by January 31 Total of 2017 individual board gifts will be counted as Year 1 pledge 2018 & 2019 pledge should not replace members other donations Cultivation Introduce potential donors to ILC Solicitation Ask for a donation Stewardship Communicate, appreciate and validate

6 1/11/2018 The Donor Pyramid Things to Remember #1 Reason people do not donate: They were not asked Involvement invites investment You seldom get more than you ask for The board must role model giving behavior for other prospects and donors to follow Fundraising is about building and maintaining relationships. It s a marathon, not a sprint It s much easier to get more money from an existing donor than to get $1.00 from a non-donor Capital Campaign Goal Status Overall 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,500,000 2,400,000 GOAL: $3,100,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 Capital Campaign Goals We cast a wide net for a goal this large 1,000, ,000 0 Source 500, ,000 12,155 Foundation Grants Major Gifts Public Campaign $200,000+ $50,000+ $1+ Goal Status

7 1/11/2018 Public Campaign: Lead Gifts $5,000 $15,000 Source Per Gift Goal Public Capital Campaign Goals It takes a lot of prospects to obtain a gift 3 Prospects to obtain 1 gift of: 6 Prospects to obtain 2 gifts of: 12 Prospects to obtain 4 gifts of: $15,000 $45,000 $10,000 $20,000 $5,000 $20,000 $55,000 Prospect-to-gift ratios are recommended by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy of Indiana University. Public Campaign: Mid-Range Gifts Public Campaign: Low-Level Gifts $500 $1,500 $1 $100 Source Per Gift Goal Source Per Gift Goal 32 Prospects to obtain 8 gifts of: 64 Prospects to obtain 16 gifts of: 128 Prospects to obtain 32 gifts of: $1,500 $12,000 $750 $12,000 $500 $16,000 $40, Prospects to obtain 50 gifts of: OR 500 Prospects to obtain 100 gifts of: $100 $5,000 $50 $5,000 $5,000 Prospect-to-gift ratios are recommended by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy of Indiana University Prospect-to-gift ratios are recommended by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy of Indiana University

8 1/11/2018 Public Capital Campaign Status 60,000 50,000 Board Gifts 2017 $9, ,000 Amount 40,000 30,000 30,000 Board Members as a Resource 20,000 20,000 9,155 10,000 How can I Help? 3, Large Gifts Mid-Range Gifts Low-Level Gifts Source Goal Status Board Member Activities Board Member Activities Cultivate 10 new friends each year Identify and suggest future board members Sign a letter to prospects in our community Speak frequently about ILC our programs and purpose Call donors to thank them for their gifts Drop a personal note to lapsed donors Invite prospects to our cultivation events Donate to the best of your ability Accompany staff on solicitation/cultivation visits Join our (future) planned giving efforts and provide a testimony Identify potential corporate donors

9 1/11/2018 Board Members as a Resource Our Capital Campaign Ask Actions I will take during 2018 that will make a positive impact in helping the Immigrant Legal Center meet its Public Capital Campaign goal: Action #1: Complete pledge form Date: January 31, 2018 Action #2: Date: Complete your Capital Campaign pledge form and return to Dawn by January 31, Action #3: Date: Name Please complete your card and return to Mary by the end of this meeting. Thank You! 4223 Center St Omaha, NE immigrantlc.org