Wisconsin Lawyer
Vol. 79, No. 4, April
2006
You Can Make an Impact, Too
The Wisconsin Law Foundation offers
lawyers many opportunities to join their colleagues in supporting
programs that have a long-lasting, positive impact on Wisconsin citizens
and youth. Through membership dues, donor-advised and designated funds,
and will provisions, contributors can direct their donations to specific
law-related programs.
"Teen court is an outstanding program I wish everyone could
experience. It taught me to be a strong role model even when I feel no
one is looking." - Brittany, juror, Clark County Teen Court of
Wisconsin
John D. Daugherty, Wisconsin Law
Foundation development director, is available to answer your questions
and accept your contributions. Reach him at (800) 444-9404, ext. 6038,
jdaugherty@wisbar.org, or
write to Wisconsin Law Foundation, P.O. Box 7158, Madison, WI
53707-7158.
The Wisconsin Law Foundation took a key step forward in 1992 when it
converted from an entity producing educational programs to one providing
financial support for law-related education and public service
programming. With that step, the foundation and its board changed focus.
The new focus meant that contributions and annual investment returns
would drive the foundation's ability to make grants to fulfill its
organizational mission to fund charitable law-related education and
public service projects and programs.
With the 2003 hiring of a full-time professional fund raiser, John
Daugherty, the foundation consolidated the efforts of its volunteer
fund-raisers to one primary point of contact. Daugherty brought the art
of fund-raising in-house, developing fund-raising strategies to increase
the number of foundation members, donors, and contributions. Daugherty
immediately implemented a consistent donor recognition process and began
to visit local bar associations, law firms, and individual lawyers
statewide, during which he informed lawyers about the foundation and
encouraged them to become foundation members. The foundation also began
to regularly communicate with its members via its newsletter Letter
of the Law and through its Web site, www.wisbar.org/wlf. With these and
other initiatives, membership in the foundation increased 13 percent in
fiscal 2005 and has increased another 10 percent thus far in fiscal 2006
to total 825 members. (Only one other year saw more than 800 members; in
2001 foundation membership reached 847 due to its capital campaign).
In May 2004 the foundation board complemented its ability to make
grants by giving donors the opportunity to direct the use of their
contributions. In September 2004 the foundation began producing an
annual report to showcase the charitable grants the foundation makes, to
recognize donors, and to report the foundation's financial status. The
foundation also made changes to its grants program, streamlining the
application process and establishing reporting requirements for all
grant recipients to allow the tracking of grant dollars and their
impact.
Make an impact; become a member. For as little as
$50, you can become a member of the Wisconsin Law Foundation. Simply
include a minimum $50 charitable gift to the foundation through your
State Bar membership statement (the fiscal 2007 dues statement will be
mailed in May) or make a donation with a check or credit card payable to
the Wisconsin Law Foundation.
Plan to visit the Wisconsin Law Foundation booth in the Convention
Expo during the State Bar Annual Convention, May 3-5, 2006, at the
Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison. Foundation staff and board
members will be present to answer your questions, invite your
membership, and accept your contributions.
Wisconsin Lawyer
