An Interview with Jodina Hicks, Executive Director, UrbanPromise

• The church has been a primary vehicle for developing individual donors who are aligned with, supportive of and engaged in the mission of UrbanPromise, particularly churches/individuals in the surrounding 30-mile radius of Camden.
• Special events have provided a strong fundraising venue. Our annual banquet raises approximately $100,000 a year, golf tournament $200,000 a year and other special events are growing in their revenue base.
• Cultivation of individual donors and engagement of these donors in volunteering and ongoing interaction with UrbanPromise have been critical to the development of long-term donors who truly believe in, and have a hands-on experience with, our organization. Volunteers serve as tutors, mentors, boat makers and teachers' aides in the classroom. They host groups of students for special meals, provide Christmas presents and Easter baskets, and provide support to college interns/volunteers.

FS: What are your fundraising strengths/weaknesses?
JH: Strengths are special events, PR/website, engagement of donors in our vision and development of long-term church relationships. Weaknesses we are addressing include grant development (government and private), data analysis and reporting (of programmatic and donor data).