[NJARC] Attn: AWA Members

[Alex Magoun]

Ray,

 

I received one of those; for some reason it's not here with the cover letter
and other materials.  If I find it I will bring it along.  Two cautionary
observations:

 

1.      Fundraising for capital campaigns typically starts with persuading
major donors that the price of the stated objective is worth investing in
and associating with.  In most campaigns, major donors account for at least
half of the total sought, and the fundraisers work with them privately
before any campaign publicity.  Only when that amount is pledged does the
campaign go public and seek the larger number of smaller donors that
comprise the fundraising pyramid.  They will give because of the confidence
in, and of, the larger donors.  The AWA hasn't reached that tipping point
yet, which makes reaching it more challenging.

 

2.      Beware of taking sides in debates in your fundraising, unless you
want to identify yourselves as partisans of one sort of another.  I was
astonished, and very disappointed, that the AWA has already to decided to
criticize RCA in two exhibits.  Most professional museum staff recognize
that there are multiple perspectives around any story, and that's what keeps
visitors talking when they leave.  It certainly evaporated the interest I
had in helping what should be a non-partisan organization that recognizes
the roles of individuals and corporations in developing wireless
telecommunications around the world.  

 

Best, Alex