ST. JOHN’S, Nfld. – When it comes to making donations, men and women have different motivations, says a Toronto fund raiser.
Bev Wybrow told the recent Canadian Farm Women’s Network conference men give money based on who asks them.
“It’s prestigious or an exchange such as ‘I’ll give to your hospital if you give to my university.’
“Women primarily donate because they want to make a change. They want more information about the group before they give, but they stay loyal.”
Wybrow heads the Canadian Women’s Foundation, a seven-year-old organization that has raised $2 million for projects and aims to change and solve the problems of women and girls.
Read Also
Europe holds promise for Canadian lentils
Pulse Canada is trying to help boost lentil consumption in Europe, which is already the fourth largest market.
“We do raise money and give it away,” said Wybrow, “but we are also a voice for the role of women in the economy.
“We know we still bear the brunt of poverty and violence in the world. We’re fund raising for the future.”
The concept was started by two women who met with individuals and groups. Amid the concerns about double work days, physical abuse and health care, was a unanimous outpouring about women’s need for economic security.
Time to take control
“Women were tired of waiting for men and governments to give us equality. It is time to be positive and seize it ourselves.”
Wybrow said the foundation decided from the beginning not to ask any government for money. That has proved a wise decision especially as public budgets are shrinking. Wybrow said 20 to 50 percent of all organizations in Canada will disappear in the next five years because they relied on government money.
The women’s foundation has 3,500 individuals as donors plus some major corporations such as McCains and The Body Shop. It has also relied on the corporate sector to help sponsor special events which raise 10 percent of its money. Private family foundations bring 20 percent of the money.
In rural projects the foundation has given $10,000 to develop a farmer’s market in St. John’s, $7,000 to a project helping Ontario rural women get access to capital to start businesses, $6,000 to help a dozen low-income women in Winnipeg build skills to start home-based businesses and $3,000 to help New Brunswick farm women access the banks’ entrepreneurship programs.
Wybrow’s advice to farm women’s groups searching for new sources of funding includes:
- The number one reason why people do not donate money is that no one has asked them.
nDon’t assume only farm women are interested in their issues. Look at related businesses, retired farmers and people who care about food issues and women’s futures.
- Donate to your own group since potential donors will ask if you do.
- When working with corporations you must bring something to the table – either expertise about farm women or good publicity in terms of who will be helped. Target which corporation to work with and be aware that none is pure.
- Lower income Canadians give a higher percentage of their incomes than wealthier ones.
- Deal with donor fatigue by giving hopeful messages.
The Canadian Women’s Foundation can be reached at Suite 208, 214 Merton St., Toronto, Ont., M4S 1A6.
