Interview 4973 – Caption Index: 422
Were you able to use the political process to get money?… Read More
Were you able to use the political process to get money?… Read More
You’ve mentioned tax levies. We were in a quandary for a long time on moving the zoo forward. And the only way I saw out of this dilemma was that we had to go after tax dollars. Now my board then was composed of many conservatives, and conservatives don’t like… Read More
Did the voters ever turn you down?… Read More
How has fundraising changed in the director’s involvement today as to when you started?… Read More
Fundraising is more difficult today than it was when I started, and I started this aspect of my career or my zoo professional job. It’s difficult because you’re competing now because of the problems in municipalities, the demand for dollars for all the non-profits, you’re competing with the arts, you’re… Read More
And, you know, in fact, at times we were running into the situation are you back here again?… Read More
You know, it’s that kind of, ’cause they’re getting the corporations and donors are getting hit from so many different sides. So it’s more difficult. It takes a more organized plan, and that’s why I again emphasize outside professional help. An organization cannot or should not attempt this just with… Read More
How did you adjust to fundraising hat?… Read More
One of the things I really enjoyed and not many zoo directors do, but I really enjoyed fundraising. I love to ask for money. That was a fun part of my job. Really, when you think about it, most of them are flattered. You know, all they can do is… Read More
And I found that over a period of years that you’re not gonna make any enemies. In fact, you’re probably, even if they don’t give you anything, they still think it was nice of you to ask them. Read More
The most difficult areas to get the public to respond to, of course, were sewer renovation and underground repairs and the nuts and bolts of the zoo operation. Our zoo had been so neglected. We still had, if you can believe this, and probably we should have preserved them, we… Read More
And if we didn’t address them, who would?… Read More
So we got them passed, but it is difficult. You mentioned a zoo director has to wear many hats. Read More
And a marketing firm worked very well. For example, I went into a donor and personally, I would have never asked, I asked for certain amounts, I would have never gone over that. Read More
And this gal says, no, you’re gonna ask for a million and a half, I said, what?… Read More
They’ll kick me out, throw me out. I asked for a million and a half and I got a million. So she said right there, she more than paid her way. She brought us in an extra half a million dollars. So they were quite instrumental. They knew the community,… Read More
Was it hard to sell, when you talk about funding, was it hard to sell the public on funding for sewer renovation, underground renovations that had nothing to do with animal exhibits?… Read More
I had media, I had television, everything. I thought that was again, the end of a promising career, but it worked out. Eventually I survived it. The board supported me, and that was important. Read More
When you talk about the board and fundraising, what were your major fundraisers for bringing money into the organization?… Read More
Our fundraising, we started out our initial fundraising back in the 70s using key board people that were movers and shakers. Bill Williams, who was one of the former owners of the Cincinnati Reds, Southern Insurance Company and Oliver Gail, and they would go out and they would find a… Read More