How To Raise:

Experts Say ‘Highlight Public Benefit’

By Liz Skalka

With more than 6,000 charitable organizations that serve the borough of Queens – far from all of which are mentioned in this issue – finding clear and steady sources of funding is clearly an essential part of what keeps them running.

As explained by many who raise funds for these organizations, funding comes from two sources: government and private giving. Depending on the organization, one source can make up a large portion of its funding.

For instance, the Queens Public Library receives 86 percent of its funding from the City of New York. The Queens Library system is the largest library system in the country with more than $42,672,294 in total assets as of 2006, as noted later on in this issue under Education and Research.

The remainder of its funding comes from individuals and foundations, among other private sources.

In August, the Starr Foundation, which gives grants in education, healthcare and human needs, donated $500,000 to support the library’s adult literacy and after school programs. The money will also go toward the creation of the Children’s Library Discovery Center, which will offer hands-on programs in science and math and will be located adjacent to the Flushing branch.

In addition, the Children’s Media Center at the Flushing branch was donated by Ricardo Tenorio in memory of his wife, and was funded in part by an initial grant of $10,000.

These are just examples of the types of private funding received by the library.

But the funding doesn’t come without a lot of hard work. Jimmy Van Bramer, the library’s director of government and community relations, said funds need to be sought out and giving organizations need to be convinced that your organization is the most worthy of their funds. Though in the case of a library system, he noted, especially the largest one in the United States, the reason for giving is often self-explanatory.

“There are many organizations that are asking for funding,” Van Bramer said. “We’re always trying to make the case that the services and programs that the Queens Library provides are essential services that have a very significant impact on the quality of life and all the neighborhoods in Queens.”

In the case of funding from the government, Van Bramer noted that it’s important to maintain good relations with local elected politicians.

The Queens Museum of Art also receives much of its funding from the City. The organization has a total budget of $3.5 million, $1.1 million of which comes from the City of New York, said Jodie Hanel, the museum’s director of development.

It also vies for funds from private donors.

“We’re in competition with a lot of similar organizations that are also doing a lot of other worthy programming,” Hanel said. “The biggest hurdle is competing for that funding.”

To engage giving organizations, Hanel said, the museum seeks out foundations or individuals that would have an interest in their mission of “presenting the highest quality of visual arts and education programming for people in the New York metropolitan area, and particularly for the residents of Queens.”

As a hospital system, the North Shore-LIJ Health System often receives funds from patients who have been treated at the hospital, said Kevin Dwyer, the senior vice president of the North Shore-LIJ Foundation.

As opposed to the previous organizations mentioned, North Shore-LIJ doesn’t receive much funding from the government, Dwyer noted.

Gifts can range from the very small to the very large.

“The larger the gift, typically the longer the solicitation will take,” Dwyer said. “There’s definitely a correlation between the amount of time spent and the amount of money raised.”

Like the other representatives, Dwyer said there are many worthy organizations all competing for funding.

“There’s so much need in the world,” he said. “Everyone has to make their case and share their mission.”