October 2008 President's Message
John W. Hicks
 Dear Colleagues:
As I write this letter, the Dow is recovering from a 777-point plunge, we are now barely a week removed from the collapse of financial giants AIG and Lehman Brothers and barely 72 hours beyond the collapse of Washington Mutual.
In other words, colleagues, it is not business as usual in New York City.
I have taken the liberty of checking in with some of our AFP colleagues. The response has ranged from prudent (“I am turning off the news for the next two weeks and am going to make 100 extra calls for the gala”) to true-New York humorous (“My Xerox machine appears to be jammed while printing Benjamins.”).
A few thoughts and observations on my end:
1. Last Thursday, I heard a Board chair tell his colleagues that “the last thing we can afford to do is stop asking for money. If anything, we need our donors more than ever!” I couldn’t agree more. New Yorkers know that in troubled times, it is the work of our organizations that help preserve the fabric of our City. We need to make sure we are giving everyone the opportunity to give something back.
2. If you haven’t already heard the sentence: “I can’t ask him for a gift, he works on Wall Street and things are terrible,” you probably will. (The variation here is “That foundation/corporation doesn’t have anything to give. We shouldn’t expect anything this year.”). First, remember that giving is a voluntary act. If that donor prospect wasn’t generous before September 15, it’s likely he/she isn’t feeling too generous now. And second, not submitting that grant proposal is providing a 100% percent guarantee that the check is not going to show up (see point 1).
Granted these are not ordinary times, but collectively we have shown in the past that we can be extraordinarily creative and responsive. I encourage you to make use of your AFP membership.
Pick up the directory and call on a colleague. Attend an educational session or chapter luncheon to share ideas.
Most important: keep inviting donors to be part of your valuable work. New York needs you, more than ever.
Collegially yours,
John Hicks
President, Greater New York Chapter, AFP |
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