Rick Robins from Rick Robins

Rick Robins

Rick Robins

Winter Springs, FL
Highly Recommended (29)
Fundraising Consultant
Fundraising Consultant
Refer
About Us

Lightning Philanthropy is a fundraising consulting firm specializing in Annual Fund, Capital and Special Event campaigns.

Our Annual Fund campaigns have raised between $10,000 and $2 million. Capital campaigns have raised from $500,000 to $29.1 million.

Our special events, such as Dancing with the Local Stars, have raised between $25,000 and $275,000 annually.

How We Got Started

I grew up in the fundraising business following my father into this career path. I started in college and university fundraising for 15 years and then moved into consulting as a principle with Jerold Panas, Linzy and Partners in Chicago. I left them to start my own company after about 10 years.

I have consulted with a wide variety of organizations, from colleges, universities, hospitals, youth agencies, arts organizations, and social service agencies across the country to small local churches.

The products and services we offer

Board Recruitment & Training Annual Fund Planning & Implementation Capital Campaign Feasibility Studies Capital Campaign Planning & Implementation Development Department Audits Donor Aquisition Fundraising Consulting/business Special Events Show all 9
Products & Services
Dancing with the Local Stars
I have helped 7 organizations start a Dancing With the Local Stars fundraising event. In each of those cases, this event has become their biggest ...
Regional Delivery Service Consulting
I own 5 regional delivery service businesses for local restaurant delivery and a dispatch center that provides the dispatching services for these b...
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Recommendations Given (25)
"Barry offers a great program and is very committed to making it a success for any non-profit who..." Read more "Barry offers a great program and is very committed to making it a success for any non-profit who uses it. "
"Great service to the community!"
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Recent Activity
What Things Do You Consider When Choosing a Nonprofit to Partner With?
Rick from Rick Robins Answered this on October 30, 2017
Sabrina, your question strikes right at the heart of every fundraising effort. The first thing you need is your "Case for Support" document. This document should define your mission, talk about the need you fulfill, demonstrate your ability to meet the need, give a vision for the end results of... (more) Sabrina, your question strikes right at the heart of every fundraising effort. The first thing you need is your "Case for Support" document. This document should define your mission, talk about the need you fulfill, demonstrate your ability to meet the need, give a vision for the end results of your mission, and justify your rationale for requesting private support. Once this is accomplished, you should be able to write a one or two paragraph synopsis of your case to use in your fundraising efforts. If you google "Case Statement" you will find many examples and many consulting companies that have free information about what your Case Statement should include. Once you have built your case, then search local businesses and owners who you believe will have an interest in your mission. Remember, business gifts aren't given by "businesses," they are given by business owners. Your challenge is to show the business owner how supporting your organization helps the business owner accomplish something that is important to him/her by giving to your business. For instance, someone with an autistic or emotionally detached family member will immediately empathize with the self-esteem and belonging part of your mission and your case for support. You can also look at programs such as the Dancing With the Local Stars events I help people use as a great way to spread your case and mission and to attract donors and supporters to your organization. Event fundraising has the double advantage of both fundraising and friend raising. Good Luck!

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