Building the Little Non-Profit that Could -Traveling the Foundation timeline from 2007 through 2010
In 2006, the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation’s business plan was focused on achieving IRS recognition as a non-profit foundation, garnering corporate sponsorship to cover fundamental business costs, building a strong volunteer core and initiating a series of TBBCF-driven fundraising events including its signature Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut. All this was based on Norma Logan's vision outlined in the Foundation's first public meeting in February, 2006.
In the four years that followed, much thought and planning went into continuing to build the underlying infrastructure which would propel the Foundation forward. Pictured here is the business model as presented by Norma in 2006 and the original website design for 2006-2007:
In those first five years, our fledgling non-profit organization awarded $1.55 million to 15 breast cancer researchers. The money raised in a given fundraising year was almost immediately handed over to scientists closing in on a cure for breast cancer.
All the institutions were located in the northeast including Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and Mt. Sinai.
In 2010, the Foundation’s name was added to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s benefactors’ wall, signifying contributions over one million dollars.
In those early years, the work was organized and carried out by various all-volunteer steering committees (no paid positions) formed around three major functions: Operations, Development and Outreach.
Operations
Operations covered a broad range of activities (accounts receivable and payable and managing the annual signature fundraiser). During that time, Website Development/Management, Marketing (social media/website) and Communications (newsletters and mailings) aligned with the general operations function.
Accounts Receivable and Payable and grants administration were managed by TBBCF Treasurer, Stacey Gualtieri, and Jean Logan (managed accounts receivable and walk participant registration).
Carlin Swint (corporate technical project manager) managed the website and credit card payment tools. He also managed a small group of volunteer technical professionals including a corporate-level senior software developer, Veer Telaprolu, and website and graphic design professionals.
Shawna Constantine (corporate meeting, conference and events management professional) managed marketing and communications. As the Foundation Marketing Director, Shawna chaired the Marketing Standing Committee and served as the primary media relations and marketing contact for TBBCF.
The Foundation largely relied on Microsoft Office tools for marketing and communications. This financial technology company provides payment technology (credit card processing) and ‘aspx’ a Microsoft custom website development tool.
More important here is that these professional volunteers saved the Foundation many thousands of dollars.
Walk Across Southeastern Connecticut
The Foundation’s signature fundraiser underwent a number of significant changes in the first five years. During that time, four different individuals held the position of walk and/or walk co-chair, with overall responsibility for the execution of the event and the management of the walk leadership team. They were: Lisa Carroll, Pat Newborg, Anne Rochette, and Ellen Swercewski. It is difficult to describe the enormous impact of the contributions made by these walk chair volunteers on TBBCF’s bottom line. This was a year-round commitment that required hundreds of volunteer hours.
During their tenure, the walk format changed three times, primarily due to the Foundation’s overarching goal to drive up walk registrations/donation dollars and an obligation to respond responsibly to walk participant feedback via the post walk surveys. The following outline highlights those changes and the walk statistics during that period.
- 2006 – 149 full marathon walkers, 116, or 75 percent, had never participated in an endurance event. The fundraising goal was $1,000. See results at January 2007 Newsletter
- 2007 - 175 full marathon walkers and 128 volunteers. The fundraising goal remained at $1,000. See results at December 2007 Newsletter
- 2008 – The traditional marathon walk with new fundraising goals was expanded in 2008. There were 428 walkers and 142 volunteers. See results at Autumn 2008 Newsletter
- A two-person relay, with each participant walking approximately 12 to 15 miles and raising a minimum of $250 each.
- A five-person relay, with each team participant walking approximately 5 to 6 miles, and raising a minimum of $200 each.
- And the traditional 26.2-mile walk marathon, with each participant raising a new minimum this year - $500 each. See 2008 Changes to Walk Across SECT for details
- 2009 - During this period, the annual event was changed from the 2008 model to a full, half and quarter marathon. There were 394 walkers and 201 volunteers. See results at Winter 2009 Newsletter
- 2010 - 5th annual walk following the 2009 format: 357 walkers and 202 volunteers. See results at Winter 2010 Newsletter
In the first five years (and years beyond) a handful of walk fundraisers consistently made the ‘Top 5” category each year including Marcie Brensilver, Jean Barrasso, Eric Bauman, Shelley Gregory, SAVA Sole Sisters, Pam Watt and Pam’s Pink Posse.
Development and Outreach
Development
Sponsor recruitment fell primarily under the executive director's responsibility, with board members responsible for recruiting at least $1,000 in sponsorship dollars in a given year. From 2006-2009, it was primarily Sandy Maniscalco in the role with a part-time paid executive director replacing Sandy from mid-2009 to third quarter 2010 when the responsibility was returned to one of the board steering committees.
Outreach
A loosely defined category at TBBCF over the years has been “Outreach.” Initially, it was tied to the goal of securing sponsorships to help underwrite Foundation operating costs. From 2007-2010, outreach had also come to mean engaging our community in fundraising activities outside TBBCF.
- Community-led Events and Promotions – From 2006 through 2010, Events and Promotions supporters raised more than $300,000. That’s three research grants! These were not TBBCF sponsored events. These were community members, clubs, companies and area schools.
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- Annual Promotion - Deep River Snacks
- Month-long promotions - Ashlawn Farm, Bella Perlina Jewelry, and White Dress by the Shore
- Golf tournaments - Black Hall Country Club, Old Lyme Country Club Women’s Golf
- Schools - East Lyme Middle School Walkathons, Old Saybrook Middle School Walkathons, Old Saybrook High School Cancer Walkathons
- Walk Team Fundraisers - Jeremy Han’s Shack Restaurants, Pam’s Pink Posse, Sava Sole Sister, Team Leesa and Zen & Now
- Pre-walk Pasta Dinner - In 2008, full marathoner and training walk leader, Allison Barnes, founded and chaired the annual Friday night, pre-walk day pasta dinner held at Old Saybrook High School. These dinners gave walkers and volunteers an opportunity to connect for a meal the night before the Walk. This annual event ran annually until the 2020 pandemic.
Allison Barnes Founder of the Annual Pre Walk Pasta Dinner pictured at 2010 event - 27th Mile Club – At the 2009 TBBCF Annual Meeting, we introduced the 27th Mile Club featuring TBBCF supporters who have gone the extra mile giving 100% of themselves so that TBBCF can continue to give 100% of fundraising to breast cancer research. The awards were again presented at the 2010 and 2011 Annual Meetings then retired for several years. Following are links to the newsletter announcements for the 2009 and 2010 recipients. TBBCF 2009 27th Mile Award Recipients TBBCF 2010 27th Mile Award Recipients