Nonprofits’ best profit-making ideas: WE CAN
by Joy JordanHow do the Cape’s nonprofit organizations make money? We share some of the most entrepreneurial ideas from Provincetown to Bourne.
Idea: Women’s Words, Whimsy and Wisdom, a literary luncheon held Aug. 23, 2005, at the Chatham Bars Inn.
Developed by: WE CAN (Women’s Empowerment through Cape-Area Networking), which provides a supportive environment where Cape women can find the assistance they need to achieve personal and professional growth, including employment information, referrals to services, mentoring, legal advice and workshops focusing on life skills.
What is it? This luncheon featured nearly a dozen successful women writers along with featured guest Claire Murray. Tickets were $125 each, and attendees were invited to come meet the best-selling authors, hear panel discussions and share lunch with Claire Murray.
Where does the money go? Funds earned support increased staffing and operations of WE CAN, career counseling services, payment for mentor counselors, legal clinic and support groups.
How was it marketed? The organizers invited a number of women to a planning event to discus the topic of women regenerating – that group became the committee that planned the event. Each member brought special skills, ranging from business skills to retail experience, and those members used those skills to publicize the event – for example, retailers helped market though their stores. The committee sent targeted press releases on disk to specific media outlets for pre-event coverage, presented in a way that was easy for the media to utilize.
Why was it a success? The committee wanted every fund-raising event to relate to the cause of the organization – they felt that a dovetailing of WE CAN’s purpose and the purpose of fund-raiser would make it a success. They approached the event thinking that it wasn’t just a way to make money; it was a way to share these women’s experiences and put the organization on the map. In addition, authors sat at tables with the attendees, creating a personal touch not seen at many fund-raising events.
Contact - Jacquie Scarbrough at (508) 430-8111 or (866) 430-8111, e-mail wecan4@yahoo.com, www.wecancenter.org
Joy Jordan is managing editor of Cape Business magazine. She has worked in the technology and publishing industries and was chief copy editor for Cape Cod Community Newspapers. 
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