5 minute read
ENGINEERING
from Winter 2021
elections, 527 organizations can collect contributions of any size and new data is available on a quarterly basis. Of course, actual financial disclosure reports are also filed by House, Senate, and presidential campaigns, political parties, and political action committees. Some noteworthy observations made by the prospect screening firm DonorSearch that relate to political giving and philanthropic inclination appear below: • A single FEC gift of $250 is regulated; • Employer, recipient campaign, home or business city, state and zip, date are reported; • 94% of Americans never make a political gift, which means only 6% do; • Gift sizes are suppressed because of regulatory limitations; • One-tenth of 1% of Americans make a single political gift of $1,000; and • In a study of 1 million records, 70% of all non-estate giving was attributable to FEC donors.
To take it a step further, cumulative political giving of $5,000 for an individual is considered large while $10,000 and above is exceptional. As such, this past year’s presidential election provides all of us in the philanthropic world with an excellent opportunity to qualify current prospects and uncover new potential sources of funding.
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The Value of Studying Political Giving
As the nation comes off of a presidential election, it’s a good time to remember that non-profits face the continuous scrutiny of voters as well. On our ballot in the non-profit sector, no candidate gets a pass. Whether it is individual donors, foundation grantees, or corporate funders, voters examine operations with a keen eye toward efficiency and effectiveness. Therefore, we owe it to our “voters” to stay abreast of current industry trends such as political giving’s role in prospect research.
Organizations that examine political giving as they conduct prospect research are better able to identify new prospects, build positive relationships with potential donors, and, to a large extent, upgrade financial prospects. Thus, an in-depth examination of political giving, coupled with traditional forms of prospect research, can provide non-profit organizations with the foundation to effectively carry out virtually any fundraising program. This, in turn, delivers a pipeline of highly qualified, prioritized, and segmented prospects, which is what every non-profit is looking for!
In the current philanthropic environment, proper prospect research cannot be conducted without reviewing political giving. Today’s fluid economic times mean a lot of non-profits are looking for new ways to raise money. Smart organizations realize that assessing the political giving of prospective donors presents a huge opportunity.
About Kean University Foundation
The Kean University Foundation is the university’s primary fundraising and gift-receiving organization. It was founded in 1984 as a non-profit, tax exempt organization that advances the mission of Kean University by pursuing and securing private support to benefit Kean’s students, faculty, programs, and/or facilities.
1000 Morris Ave | Union, NJ 07083
Ruth Vassar Burgess, Ph.D.
SPEECH & LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY
Ruth Vassar Burgess is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Top Distinguished Educator for her outstanding contributions in Education and her professional excellence as a Professor Emeritus at Missouri State University.
Now retired, Ruth Vassar Burgess has devoted her career to the field of education for more than five decades. She has served as Professor at Missouri State University for 28 years and as Professor Emeritus for the past 17 years. She currently is an Instrumental Enrichment Trainer for the Feuerstein Institute in Jerusalem. She also served on the board of the North American Feuerstein Institute.
Among her academic achievements, Dr. Burgess earned her Bachelor of Science in Education in 1960 from Texas Tech University, and her Master of Arts in 1968, as well as her Doctor of Philosophy in Speech-Language Pathology in 1979 from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She also holds a teaching certificate in the states of Texas, Michigan, and Missouri. In addition, she has been clinically certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Throughout her extensive career, Dr. Burgess served as a member of the science advisory board for the International Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential beginning 1993 and, between 1993 and 1996, she was active as a field reviewer for the U.S. Department of Education and a member of the Title I evaluation team for the Springfield Public School District. A renowned published author, Dr. Burgess is widely published in her areas of expertise in speech-language disorders and cognitive psychology. She is a regular contributor to professional journals and books. She has authored a number of works over the years, including “The Status of Education Resource Teacher” in 1981, “Shantistan: Enabling a Land of Peace” in 2005and 2020, “Challenging Brain Structure Through Cross-Cultural Learning: The Life of Reuven Feuerstein” in 2008, “Spirited Sisters” in 2014 and “Longing for Home” in 2015. More recently, she published “Two Millennia of Memorable Christian Women: Showing Strength Without Power” (2020) alongside her husband, Stanley M. Burgess.
Having been born in India, Dr. Burgess continues to be actively engaged in intercultural educational and peace-related activities. Dr. Burgess has been affiliated with the American Association of University Women and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. She has received grants from the U.S. Department, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and the Mellon Foundation.
Helen Madden-Weiss
President NPW Contracting, Inc. Denver, CO
Helen Madden-Weiss is being recognized by Continental Who’s Who as a Top Executive for her outstanding contributions to the Construction industry and her remarkable leadership as President at NPW Contracting, Inc.
Based in Denver, Colorado, NPW Contracting, Inc. proudly serves as a full-service thermal/moisture protection, restoration, and structural repair contractor since 1989. The family-owned, self-performing contractor specializes in accommodating largescale projects and has worked on numerous high-profile projects in the Rocky Mountain region – including work on the Denver Union Station, Eagle P3, and FasTracks commuter rail projects, as well as the Gaylord Rockies Hotel and Convention Center. Dedicated to providing quality services, the exceptional team demonstrates the highest standard of professionalism, integrity, and honesty. NPW Contracting, Inc. holds certificates from the State of Colorado, the City and County of Denver, and RTD as a WBE, DBE, SBE, and UDBE.
Having maintained a laudable reputation in construction, Mrs. Madden-Weiss currently serves as the Owner and President of
CONSTRUCTION
NPW Contracting, Inc. She proudly serves Colorado and the surrounding areas. She brings a vast repertoire of expertise in expansion devices, commercial and civil space restoration, waterproofing, caulking, coating, and sealants, just to name a few. An active member in her field, Mrs. Madden-Weiss maintains memberships with the International Concrete Repair Institute (ICRI) and is a nationally certified with Women in Bio (WIB).
In her spare time, Mrs. Madden-Weiss enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family. She also devotes her time volunteering with Zuma’s Rescue Ranch, located in Littleton, CO.
Mrs. Madden-Weiss dedicates this honorable recognition to her husband, Joshua, and daughter Rachel, whom she thanks for their love and support.
To learn more, please visit www.npwcontracting.com.
