An Interview With Earl Martin Phalen, CEO, Reach Out and Read

FS: How would you describe your fundraising philosophy?
EP: A diverse portfolio is the core of Reach Out and Read’s fundraising philosophy. Our development team aggressively pursues large corporations, foundations and individuals dedicated to improving children’s health and education.

FS: How do you reach out to supporters and potential supporters in ways other than purely fundraising? Are you engaged with social media and social networking?
EP: It is crucial for nonprofit organizations to recognize their wide base of support as a critical component of a healthy organization. Reach Out and Read engages in a variety of social-media and social-networking platforms to grow our support base. Using social networks such as Twitter and Facebook, Reach Out and Read searches for potential partners and interacts with current supporters by asking questions, highlighting news, and starting up discussions about who we are and what we do.