An Interview With Leah Drew of Bright Pink

Bright Pink is a national nonprofit organization with an annual operating budget of $900,000 that provides education and support to young women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer.

According to its website, "We arm young women with knowledge, options and a great attitude, and offer companionship and empathy during their journey. We empower them to take control of their breast and ovarian health and, in turn, grant them the freedom and peace of mind to live a beautiful and fulfilling life."

Here, FundRaising Success talks with Leah Drew, marketing and events manager at Bright Pink, about the organization and its fundraising.

FundRaising Success: How does Bright Pink fund its mission?
Leah Drew: Bright Pink funds its mission in a variety of ways, including annual events around the country, corporate sponsorships, donations and grants.

FS: What are Bright Pink's fundraising strengths/weaknesses?
LD: Our strengths are that we have a strong base of committed donors and supporters who regularly attend our events, support our mission and share our messaging with their friends and family. Rather than weaknesses, I would say we have an overwhelming number of opportunities, and the challenge we face is finding a way to creatively tackle as many of them as possible.

FS: How does the organization engage donors and other supporters and potential supporters in ways other than purely fundraising efforts?
LD: We engage our community in a variety of ways beyond our fundraising efforts, by including them in the conversation about healthy lifestyle behaviors and how being a proactive health advocate can impact your long-term health. Through regular communications such as our quarterly newsletter, as well as regular social-media activity on Facebook and Twitter, our supporters can feel like a part of the Bright Pink family beyond their financial contributions.

FS: Can you share a recent fundraising success? Why was it successful?
LD: In fall of 2011, Bright Pink participated in the Bank of America's Chicago Marathon as a charity partner. In our first year of participation we recruited 50 runners and raised more than $60,000 to impact the lives of young women nationwide. It was a tremendous success due to both our dedicated supporters, as well as our unique training program providing consistent support, motivation and training opportunities to each runner.

FS: Any major difficulties or setbacks you've faced along the way?
LD: Bright Pink has been truly blessed in our five years of existence. We have successfully increased our growth since year one and continue to make big plans for the years to come.

FS: Things you would do differently with your fundraising?
LD: Generally speaking, we always try to stay abreast of the newest trends and best ways to reach our audience. As a young, flexible nonprofit, we can easily implement new strategies to keep our fundraising cutting-edge.

FS: What is the organization's fundraising philosophy?
LD: Lead with gratitude. We infuse gratitude and thanks into everything we do.

FS: What advice would you give to organizations similar to yours in size and annual operating budget?
LD: Always aim high — the bigger you dream, the more you can achieve!