New Mexico Fisher House Bronx Fisher House Community

New Mexico Fisher House Bronx Fisher House Community Groups Brian Gawne, VP for Community Relations

2017 Friends Conference • 19 Previous Attendees • 29 New Attendees • 27 of 32 FOFH groups – – 3 finish houses in next Qtr 3 finish houses in 2018 5 Awaiting construction start 5 opened houses in last 18 Months • Program Managers – VA – USAF & USN

Schedule

Introductions

Group Exercise What are your responsibilities as a FOFH Community Group?

FOFH Responsibilities (Conference Attendee answers to Exercise) • • • Awareness Acknowledgment Development Provide Resources Build Relationships Infrastructure to raise funds Volunteers Advocate Level of Excellence Stewardship Continuity Sustainment • SUPPORT THE FAMILIES • Support the FH Manager – – Availabilty Maintenance funds Unmet needs Quick response

If your Fisher House was Annie …. Who would you want your community group to be? or

FH Construction Last 7 years Typically 9 -15 months for construction Key: Brown text = Not VA Bold = Supporting local Community Group (#) = Number of suites

Future Fisher House Locations In Construction • Charleston, SC • Orlando, FL • Keelser AFB (2 nd) • Tampa, FL (2 nd) • West Haven, CT • Joint Base Elmendorf – Richardson, AK • Bronx, NY (I & II) Previously Approved • Cleveland (I & II) • Lexington, KY • Birmingham, AL • North Chicago, IL • Dayton, OH • Palo Alto, CA (2 nd) • Togus, ME • Omaha, NE • Denver, CO (2 nd) • Albuquerque, NM • San Juan, PR • Ramstein, Germany Locations in gold have supporting FOFH community groups 2016 Approved • Bay Pines, FL (2 nd) • Richmond, VA (2 nd) • San Antonio, TX (2 nd) • Ann Arbor, MI • Columbia, MO • Columbia, SC • Huntington, WV • Kansas City, MO • Montrose, NY • New Orleans, LA • Perry Point, MD • Shreveport, LA • White River Junction, VT

Fisher Houses Without Community Groups • VA • • • Albany Augusta Bay Pines Dallas Minneapolis I II Palo Alto Portland Salt Lake City San Antonio Tampa Washington DC Do. D • Army • • • Navy Forest Glen Fort Belvoir Fort Bliss Fort Bragg Fort Campbell Fort Gordon Fort Hood Fort Sam Houston I II IV Joint Base Lewis-Mc. Chord I II Landstuhl I II Tripler I II • Camp Lejeune • Portsmouth • Walter Reed I II IV V

Why have community groups?

Mutually Beneficial How Groups Help the Foundation • Capital Campaign • House Support • Event Representation • e. g. , WLGO, Cardinal Health • Awareness • Pay it Forward How FHF Helps Groups • • Name Guidelines & Experience Friends Conference Development • Grant Assistance • Community Fundraisers • Donation Pages

Starting a Community Group • Existing Group • e. g. Harbour House (Charleston), Build It For the Brave (Ann Arbor) • Already has 501 c 3 status and own donor base • FH fits their current mission • New Group • e. g. Orlando Fisher House, New Mexico Fisher House • May or may not choose to file for 501 c 3 • Starting donor base from scratch

Who helps the houses “keep their head above water? ” FHF Friends of FH Groups VA/Do. D Other Local groups

Fisher House Relationships VA/Do. D Other Orgs Community Group FHF

Directors’ Concerns Hi s Pr tor es ica erv l tio a n Stan dard s of Co nduc t o s r e al P du i v i Ind Local Government Budgetary Constraints e d e F ral Re Oth er C ons Pro tructi on jec ts Pu b lic O pi ni on g n i ff a St s n o ti a l gu s tie i l a n Human Relations HIP PA Co nce News Media rns

FH and VA Guidance for Groups

What’s Covered VA Fisher House Program Index • Introduction • VA FH Program Eligibility • VA FH Operations • Relationship between VA FH Managers and Community Partners • VA FH Donations • VA FH Volunteer Management • VA FH Public Affairs

FH Community Group Webpage

Community Group Support. . two phases • Construction • Sustainment

Big Ticket Items • Service Contracts: • • Internet/Cable Contracts Linen Contracts Temp controlled Storage unit Lawn/landscaping services • Building Projects • Sheds • Playgrounds • BBQ Patios • Transportation Assistance • Taxis, Shuttles, Uber, etc. • Assistance when VA/Do. D response time is too slow • e. g. , Washer/Dryer Repair • Hotels when house is full or unique circumstances • • Bricks Fountain BBQ Pits Van/Vehicle

# 1 FOFH question approaching Dedication • What will it cost us to support a house? • What is reasonable for program expenses? • …admin expenses? • …fundraising? Common asks for new FOFH groups • How big should our board be? • How often should they meet • Do we need an Executive/ Development Director?

Our Data

FOFH Local House Support (Self reported) • 8 of 24 Groups responded • Avg Board Members 11 • Avg Support to FH – $56 K/year - $4667/month • • 2 groups $8 -$15 K year 4 groups $45 -55 k year 1 group $56 -$75 K 1 group over $150 K

How big is the Fisher House Enterprise? $ FHF + $ FOFH + $ Do. D FH + $ VA FH = ? Is that number important?

Ways Donor Give To Community Group To FHF To the VA/Do. D Fisher House

What to Expect When You’re Expecting

New House Challenges: Surviving the First Year FOFH Perspective • Been the star until dedication • Sharing the limelight • Lead role to supporting cast • Challenge: Shift emphasis from capital campaign to support • Switch from $3 M+ goal to ? ? ? Manager’s Perspective • Hear all the great things from other managers • Reluctant to ruin the relationship • …and lose their support

FH Community Groups and FH Mangers A Vital Relationship • FH Manager’s Responsibilities • FOFH Responsibilities

Business Rules & Good Practices for FH Managers • Up to date Wish List • Inform of Events • Involve VA’s experts when needed • PAO • Facilities • Social Services • Set boundaries • Establish procedures • Assistance with Issues • VA/Do. D Leadership & FHF • Support education about FH mission • Don’ts • • • Allow board meetings in house Give groups exclusivity Participate in fundraising Discuss personnel issues Sell naming rights to rooms

More thoughts for us… • Appropriate Relationships • No Promises about house • Donations • Eagle/Gold Scout Projects • Gifts – Acceptance procedures • Receipts & Acknowledgements

Conflict Resolution with Medical Center • Address concerns with respect • Key considerations • Talks with manager • Ask yourself… • Clearly identify issue • Consideration of both sides • Governing laws and rules • Involve direct supervisor • Involve Do. D/VA FH Program Manager • Hospital Director • Keep FHF Informed • Allows us to assist • Independent 501 c 3 • Partnership vs Authority • Actions affect other parties Why is this an issue…to me…to them? Can we find a win/win? What is at risk? What limiting factors? (regulations, $$$, etc. ) • How can we best benefit families? • •

FHF Complaint Process What happens when someone calls FHF to complain 1. Listen 2. Assess 3. Ask for concerns in writing 4. Notify Do. D/VA FH Program Manager 5. Assist as appropriate 6. Inform our Chain of Command

Potential Energy • Force Multiplier • Expediter • Fairy Godparent • Problem Solver • Facilitator • Ally • Overwhelming Force • Corner-cutter • Bad Magic • Problem Source • Impediment • Adversary

PASSION

COMPASSION

New Mexico Fisher House Bronx Fisher House Thank you for all you do!

Questions?