Q: After the 9/11 disaster, many nonprofits felt the effects of donations being diverted to New York City. It was a difficult year that followed. Hurricane Katrina has required the outpouring of millions of dollars and will continue to do so for many years. The dollars now seem to be "going south," and we are wondering how this will impact our local fundraising efforts.

Susan in Missouri

A: The organizations implementing the Benevon Model should not need to lower their expectations in terms of local fundraising goals. The mission-based donors that this model develops will not allow a disaster to divert them from supporting an organization they are passionate about, although they certainly may decide to give to both hurricane relief and local fundraising. In times of disaster, these donors seem to have an "extra pocket" for disaster giving that does not alter their regular giving to the local organizations that they are involved with. This is when you will really start to see the value in the customized cultivation this model requires—your donors will stick with you even during such trying times as these.

Terry