Five Questions With: Judith McSoley

Judith McSoley became major gifts officer at the Providence-based Adoption Rhode Island six months ago, after seven years as director of development and community relations. She has been at the nonprofit for 16 years.
Judith McSoley became major gifts officer at the Providence-based Adoption Rhode Island six months ago, after seven years as director of development and community relations. She has been at the nonprofit for 16 years.

Judith McSoley became major gifts officer at the Providence-based Adoption Rhode Island six months ago, after seven years as director of development and community relations. She has been at the nonprofit for 16 years. In her new post, as in the previous one, the responsibility is to help spread awareness about the mission of adoption from foster care. Here, she discusses how she helps fulfill that mission.

PBN: What is the biggest challenge when soliciting gifts for such a personal mission as adoption?
MCSOLEY:
As the major gifts officer, I have the privilege of helping members of our community to be fully aware of our mission, the children and families that we serve, and the ways that they might be able to help. I am responsible for soliciting gifts, managing relationships with our loyal supporters, and identifying and engaging prospective donors.
One of the biggest challenges when soliciting gifts for a personal mission such as adoption is helping people to realize that this is a mission that affects us all. It is really about family. It is about a child growing up alone and eventually “aging out” of foster care without the love and support needed to reach his or her potential.
Although difficult to imagine, this is something that touches most people and motivates them to action. From monetary donations, to donations of time and talent, our community continues to step forward to improve the lives of children in foster care.

PBN: What percentage of the nonprofit’s operating budget are gifts and how are they deployed?
MCSOLEY:
Adoption Rhode Island has an annual budget of approximately $1.7 million, with roughly 50 percent being from state and federal contracts and the remaining 50 percent from individuals, foundations, fundraisers and corporate donations.
In addition, we are very fortunate to benefit from in-kind gifts from our media, marketing and business partners across Rhode Island. Last fiscal year, we received more than $1 million in in-kind support, which was a tremendous help in raising awareness of the needs of children in foster care. This support helps us to provide specialized recruitment services, birthday parties, events for children and families, emergency assistance for aged-out youth, educational advocacy, and mental health services for children and families as needed.
The financial and in-kind gifts to Adoption Rhode Island provide an enormous resource to our state, and maximize government investment in families for children. They help us to keep hope alive in children and provide critical support to families during the most challenging of times.

PBN: How important is a high-profile effort like the WJAR NBC 10’s Tuesday’s Child feature when trying to raise funds?
MCSOLEY:
One of our longest and most valued media partners is of course WJAR NBC 10, Tuesday’s Child, which each week features a story of a child awaiting permanency, or a highly inspiring success story. These segments have been very successful in identifying families for hundreds of children, but in addition have been very instrumental in furthering our mission. Helping our community to “meet” the children and hear their stories, hopes and dreams has been invaluable in encouraging Rhode Islanders to offer assistance. We always say that not everyone can adopt but everyone has something to give to a child.

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PBN: What is the nonprofit’s track record for helping youth get adopted and how does that influence giving from philanthropists?
MCSOLEY:
Adoption Rhode Island’s more than 30-year, established track record of success is definitely a motivating factor for philanthropists, and anyone interested in supporting a child-serving nonprofit.
Our Heart Gallery, for example, in its 11th year, continues to maintain a more than 50-percent success rate. This professionally created gallery, which features 20 children awaiting permanency, travels to a different statewide location each month, and has consistently resulted in more than 50 percent of the children featured being matched with an adoptive family, a visiting resource or mentor, or the presence of a significant adult in their life. The children featured represent all the children that are waiting, and raise awareness that ultimately results in families for many children, not just those featured.
The success of Rhode Island’s Heart Gallery is well-known nationally and other states seek our advice in improving their outcomes, or in establishing Heart Galleries in areas where they don’t exist.
Likewise, our Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Program tripled in 2015 from one recruiter to three thanks to Adoption Rhode Island’s success rate, which was significantly higher than the national average. This evidence-based signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation uses a child-focused recruitment model that is highly effective in increasing adoptions from the foster care system. Thanks to the generous support of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, and the R.I. Department of Children, Youth and Families, we added the two additional recruiters in order to expand on our previous tremendous success with this national program.
Today’s donors are deeply concerned with the effectiveness and sustainability of the organization that they fund. It is the continuing success of programs such as these, consistently producing positive outcomes for children and families, which inspire philanthropic support and commitment.

PBN: What are the most dependable sources of gift-giving for the agency, and how are you seeking to grow that revenue?
MCSOLEY:
Adoption Rhode Island is so fortunate to have a number of steadfast sources of gift giving which together provide a strong foundation.
We have many small business partners who have provided us with invaluable opportunities. These collaborations have increased funding, provided us with increased access to knowledge-based resources and improved the effectiveness of programs and services. Together, we continue to explore ways to expand existing partnerships as well as to develop new ones.
We also rely heavily on individual donations that occur through avenues such as major gifts, online fundraising, planned giving, annual appeal, etc. Many of our donors have a long history of support and are very loyal to our mission. They may, or may not, have a direct connection to adoption, but they all have a strong connection to the importance of family.
Cultivating new donors is of course very important to the growth and sustainability of agencies such as ours. We continue to build our network, explore new donors and increase our individual giving program.
Another highly successful source of revenue at Adoption Rhode Island is fundraising events. Our annual gala is scheduled for April 29 at The Warwick Country Club. This highly successful event is attended by very loyal followers each year, and continues to grow with the addition of new supporters. Attendance at this event is a wonderful way to learn more about Adoption Rhode Island, and the children we serve, and have a great evening as well!
We encourage supporters to stop by and visit us at 2 Bradford St., or to call us at 401-865-6000 to find out more about the adoption process, or to talk about ways to help.

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