Category: DEVELOPMENT CORNER

Receipt Under the Windshield Wiper

I was in a parking lot in downtown Houston, locked out of my car and an appointment looming in the building in whose lot I sat. While waiting for the wrecker to unlock my car, I struck up a conversation with a homeless man who approached me. I have shared the full story in presentations and writings, but the moral of the story is particularly relevant in today’s climate. After I gave the man money for a meal, he asked if I wanted him to put the receipt under my windshield wiper so I knew that he used the money for food, not booze or drugs. Integrity. Trust. Accountability.

Nonprofits need to take great efforts to “put the receipt under the windshield wiper” so donors know how their funds are being used, what outcomes have been achieved, and who benefitted from the donors’ gifts of any and all sizes.

These are challenging times for nonprofits. We, in the nonprofit realm, must also recognize that times are difficult for those we serve and those who support us, too. It is always important to develop trust and maintain transparency in various ways, some of which are informal, conversational and interpersonal. At New Danville, we are more than happy to “put the receipt under the windshield wiper.” Hopefully, this newsletter reveals some of the ways that donors’ generosity is utilized in service to our Wranglers and residents.

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

Please feel free to contact me at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to learn more about the many ways that gifts affect lives at New Danville.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Having Fun While Supporting New Danville

There are many ways to support New Danville; having fun is one of them. …if you have fun like this:

Play Bingo: New Danville is one of five charities that benefit from the proceeds from King’s Bingo. Located in Webster (in Houston’s Clear Lake area), the bingo hall has provided significant support to us over the years. Their manager, Cassie Raether, recently shared her perspectives about the partnership with New Danville.  Have fun playing bingo! Do it at King’s Bingo and you’ll be helping New Danville.

Play Golf: The second annual Play a Round for the Wranglers is right around the corner – November 7, that is.  It will be held again at The Woodlands Country Club – Palmer Course and a good time will be had by all.  Learn more about the event, registration and sponsorship opportunities here.

Shop: Every day is a new day at Jazzy Junque, the upscale home décor resale store in the Outlets at Conroe shopping center. Thanks to a great flow of donated items, inventory at the store changes daily.  Make it a habit to drop in every day, check for outstanding finds and meet the great volunteer team members.

One of the many things that the Wranglers remind us of daily is to remember to have fun. Have some fun today!

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

Please feel free to contact me at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to learn more about the many ways that gifts affect lives at New Danville.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Tell Others Why You Believe in New Danville

In the last couple of years, New Danville has benefitted from a few unexpected significant contributions that came as very pleasant surprises.  During COVID, a couple made two contributions within a few months totaling $50,000. There is no way to convey the importance of the scale and the timing of those contributions. The generosity of another couple made a record setting possible. We were fortunate to be able to host our Spring Thing (formerly known as Tea on the Lawn) in April. It was our most successful, profitable event ever.  

Strategic, planned fundraising is sometimes trumped by movement of philanthropic hearts that understand and appreciate the mission of a nonprofit’s cause. Sometimes that movement comes from the donor’s own discovery process and sometimes it comes from another donor making a connection. If you appreciate what New Danville does and the heart with which it does it, please spread the word: share the Wranglers’ Ballad music video or The Wrangler Gazette newsletter, too. You never know whose heart you may be affecting.

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

Please feel free to contact me at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to learn more about the many ways that gifts affect lives at New Danville.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

A Year of Stories:  Inspiration for the Future

As much as I try to be cool, calm and collected about it, I am beyond excited for having been awarded the 2022 Barbara Jordan Media Award in the Newsletter category for my work creating and producing New Danville’s Wrangler Gazette. The back of the medallion award states, “For excellence in the communication of the reality of people with disabilities.”  I’m proud of the recognition, but mostly I am humbled and honored to have been able to learn so much about all the people who comprise the New Danville family as each issue was produced. More information about the award, the official award event video, and an invitation to the virtual after-party to which the public is invited can be found here.

Our clients (Wranglers), parents, providers, team members, volunteers, board members and donors share with the heart that they bring to their respective roles, and I learn from them every day. As I mentioned at the award event when it comes to sharing the many great stories, “That is the point, isn’t it?”…to share, to learn, to appreciate and to understand through the stories of those with special needs and those who love them.

In those marvelous stories is another ingredient:  inspiration. As we hear and share the hopes, dreams, needs and concerns of our Wranglers, we are inspired to do more. What if we had more homes for residents looking for independent living? What if we were able to add assisted living? What if we could build a new classroom building, a community/recreational center, and more, to serve more adults with special needs? We can.  How soon?  That is the question and the purpose behind a new initiative that you will hear more about very soon.  We call it Growing…for Living.

If you would like to learn more advance information about the initiative, please feel free to contact me at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org.

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Windmill Society: Reliable in all conditions

Windmills endure. They provide necessary relief in all conditions and all seasons. Their work is not glamorous but it is sustaining. Windmills are also part of our identity at New Danville.

We chose the windmill as the representation of our new planned giving recognition program. Donors who include New Danville in their planned giving and estate plans are members of The Windmill Society. Members will be recognized on the donor recognition plaque on our Gratitude Wall, in our annual report and other channels, unless a donor prefers to not have recognition.

Are you a member?  Contact me to let me know that New Danville is in your plans. Do you want to learn more about the ways that planned giving instruments can be used to support New Danville in creative ways?  Let’s talk.  I can be reached at 936-253-5757 or Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org.

Thank you for the many ways you make it possible for Wranglers to live, learn, work and grow.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) (3) nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Honoring others

We love trees…use them to honor those you love… and reflections on a year

To plant trees is to give body and life to one’s dreams of a better world. – Russell Page

Last month marked my one-year anniversary at New Danville. The cliché states, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” This past year has gone by at warp speed. I’m proud of the things that I’ve been able to contribute to New Danville; I am blessed to be part of the team and of the family of Wranglers and clients that New Danville is composed of.

From April 2014 to March 2021 was weird for me and my career, but that is what it took to get me here. Divine intervention on a career path rarely results in a straight line.  As I look out my office window to the beautiful environment, I ponder, “Was I planted or am I planting?”  Yes. I was brought here to grow, and to grow things (plans, programs, funding, visibility, etc.)  It is exciting to be part of shaping New Danville’s future of service to adults with special needs. Great things are coming…keep watching/reading for updates!

Speaking of planting for the future…

April 29 is Arbor Day this year, a recognition that celebrates trees. It has been a national cause since the late 1800s.  Every day at New Danville feels like Arbor Day thanks to the beautiful environment here. Our vision includes additional beautification of our campus with a park and main road lined by live oaks. This effort is part of a much more expansive plan for campus additions and renovations that you will be hearing more about soon.

Russell Page’s quote conveys our mission at New Danville…create a better world, one corner at a time, for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.  We will be planting young live oaks in 2022, each of which will be available for sponsorship. Donors will be able to honor a legacy at their tree with a recognition plate that will be on a stand by the tree. Along with the name, donors will be able to add about 50 words of text. The trees, that can live to be centuries old, will stand as reminders of the dreams of many for a better world for special needs people.

Though we are not yet ready to roll out the formal order form, we are now taking non-binding reservations for trees. There will be a limited number – probably 40-50 – that are available. We project the cost for each will be about $1,500. We will contact the names on the “call me” list as soon as we have the prices and details ironed out. Though it is early in the process, the month of Arbor Day seemed like the perfect time to share this with our friends and donors.

To be added to the advance list, please email me at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org; being added to the list is not a commitment, but simply a desire to be notified ahead of mass marketing of the opportunity when the details are finalized. Feel free to call if you have any questions or if you simply want to hear a cool New Danville story.  I can be reached at 936-253-5757.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Honoring others

One of the most meaningful aspects of fundraising is being able to help people honor loved ones, legacies and memories. We are humbled by those who choose New Danville for memorial gifts. One donor recently told me after his second memorial gift, “Sadly, there will be many more, I’m afraid. I’m an old man, you know.” I believe he felt comforted that Wranglers would benefit from his gift that honored his friends who passed away.

We will soon be sharing several new ways that you can honor others at New Danville, ranging from benches to live oak trees, and more. It is an honor to help preserve the names and stories of others.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about ways to honor others with options ranging from benches to named buildings and many options in between. You’ll be empowering lives of Wranglers while honoring the life of loved one…or call if you simply want to hear a cool New Danville story.  I can be reached at 936-253-5757.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Adapting to changing conditions

Gloria has been a consistent, monthly donor for quite a while. She also makes additional contributions to several of our special appeals throughout the year.  This year is already shaping up to be unlike other years and she is having to evaluate her giving. Clearly, donors everywhere are having to consider carefully to whom they can donate and at what levels.  I am glad that she and I had a chance to chat.

I wish I had a dollar for each time I said or wrote this phrase with team members and audiences in my several decades in this profession: “Dollars are great, donors are better.” Dollars will come and go as personal or economic conditions change: That is a given. The most important thing is to keep connections and relationships with the people behind the donations. I have always found that as conditions improve, loyal donors committed to an organization’s cause will re-engage if the relationship with them is maintained.

She continues to support us; she just wanted to let us know that there may be some adjustments in her support as the year goes by.  I appreciate her openness and support; more so, I appreciate the person she is and her appreciation of what the team does at New Danville to empower our clients to live, learn, work and grow.

“Dollars are great, donors are better.”  We have wonderful donors.  Thank you, all, for your support.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions about ways to support New Danville, contributing stock, funding a naming opportunity or if you simply want to hear a New Danville story.  I can be reached at 936-253-5757.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Donor recognition:  Changes in how we say “thank you”

“Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”  ~Zig Ziglar

There are a thousand ways we can express our thanks and gratitude. The Wranglers do a great job saying “thank you,” and all of us at New Danville share their appreciation of what donors make possible here.  2022 will add two more ways we can say show our gratitude.

The Gratitude Wall:  We will soon install a special display to honor those who support New Danville’s work. Located in the Classroom Building, it will present the names of individual donors and business partners based on various giving levels and types. (A conceptual drawing can be found in this article from The Wrangler Gazette.) The wall will be updated at least twice per year based on annual giving. Everyone on our mailing list should have received a copy of the donor brochure in November; it explains the various recognition levels and benefits.

Donor Recognition Event:  In the coming months, we will host our first donor appreciation event to honor, thank and recognize those who, in 2021, contributed $100 or more. We will also recognize two award recipients, one for philanthropy and one for volunteerism. More news on the event will be rolling out soon.

We look forward to 2022, no matter what it brings, because of the people we serve and the people who support us.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have about naming opportunities at New Danville, securities as gifts, in-kind donations, planned giving, or other options.  You can reach me at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org, or at 936-253-5757. Thank you for your interest.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

The last two weeks of the year are, for many people, crunch time for making decisions on which causes to support and at what levels. It is also a time when many questions arise about organizational needs, naming opportunities, planned giving options, donor-advised fund distribution details, and more.  Please feel free to reach out with any questions you might have regarding possible support of New Danville. I can be reached at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org or my cell number, 832-877-8821.

Remember, to meet the December 31 deadline for 2021 tax purposes, your contribution must be postmarked by December 31, or you can give online at https://newdanville.networkforgood.com/projects/61703-annual-giving-campaign/.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.  All my best to you and yours.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Among the many donors who joined the ranks of supporters for the first time in 2021, was a company that has tackled a few volunteer projects this year. Sterling Construction has built relationships with New Danville while using an essential building material – shared values.

The first time a Sterling Construction crew of volunteers came to New Danville, they tackled painting picnic benches, the bridge, and the residence cabins. A few months later, they spiffed up the lunch/gathering area with bold, geometric patterns painted on the walls and other wall finishings added that changed the room from ho-hum to “hot dog!”  Their third service trip for the year had them extending the work of their second trip into the smaller gathering area adjacent to the lunchroom.

Sterling Construction leadership believes in addressing the needs of those with special needs. That is the basis, of course, of all long-term relationships between an organization and those who support it; mutual values. The more one knows about the cause and how the organization addresses it, the stronger the relationship can be. 

November 15 is National Philanthropy Day this year. The Sterling Construction story serves as a good reminder of what philanthropy means and the many ways it can manifest. The roots of the word “philanthropy” means “love of mankind.” It is for the love of others that time is given, talent is utilized and treasure is shared. To all who support others, thank you.

Join the family of New Danville supporters. I invite you to learn more about how (and why) the New Danville team serves adults with IDD with a tour or a conversation. I can be reached at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org or 936-253-5757.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.

Constancy in Giving Supports Constancy of Service

“We put our trust in New Danville. It is not a blind trust; it is well earned. We donate consistently to support consistency of community,” said Vernon Friday. His wife, Lois, nodded in agreement. She added, “It takes special understanding and patience with love, which is why we support the general needs of New Danville. Everyone there has those special traits.”

Vernon and Lois are the grandparents of Justin, a Meadowbrook resident since 2014.  Prior to living on-site in New Danville’s residential community, Justin attended the day programs. It is because of his growth and development over the years that the Fridays have made more than 50 contributions, ranging from automated monthly payments to donations of woodworking equipment.

They have been members of the Founders Circle donor recognition when they were able to use the automatic process to make monthly contributions.  Donors who use automatic payments are called “Sustainers” in the new, recently rolled out donor recognition program. “By being blessed, we try to pass it along,” Vernon said.

For those interested in becoming a monthly donor through automatic payments, click here.  If you have any questions about the fundraising and/or naming opportunities, contact Dion McInnis at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org or 936-253-5757.

We are pleased to introduce Live, Learn, Work and Grow:  Wisdom from Under the Windmill, an inspiring, motivational, immediately usable presentation by Dion McInnis, development director. Bring this to your organization, association, business or group; everyone’s life can be better with the 15 nuggets of wisdom for living discovered at New Danville. Contact Dion at Dion.McInnis@NewDanville.org to book the presentation for your event.

New Danville is a 501( c ) 3 nonprofit rural community in Willis, TX for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. New Danville provides our clients an opportunity to live enriched and purposeful lives; we proudly call them Wranglers.