On July 1, 2011 Hiscock Legal Aid received the exciting news that for the second year in a row we were awarded a Challenge Grant from the John Ben Snow Foundation. The parameters for the two grants were very similar in that the Foundation would match, dollar for dollar, all new and increased donations received by mid-December, up to $25,000.
There was one significant difference with the 2011 grant – only donations from members of the legal community would qualify for matching funds.
Private funding sources, as well as staff, board members, and loyal donors have long viewed the legal sector as the primary constituency of HLAS.
Unfortunately, an analysis of donor demographics over the past few years indicates that participation rates from HLAS supporters from the legal sector have been disappointingly low (6 percent) and in fact, showed no growth from 2009-2010.
The lawyers and firms who do regularly support us indicate that they do so largely because they believe “it is the right thing to do.”
We therefore set out to highlight our mission and inform the legal community about our programs, services, and qualifications as the ‘go to’ agency that is best suited and most experienced at representing the working poor to ensure they receive equal justice under the law.
Outreach efforts via direct mail, email, social networking, and in-person meetings afforded much exposure and opportunity to define our integral role in forwarding the cause of local justice and improving the lives of those in need. The John Ben Snow matching dollars offered a key incentive to turn our newly informed colleagues into valued donors.
We are pleased to announce that as a result of these efforts we received donations from 211 legal professionals thereby increasing the participation rate from the legal community to 9.2%. In total, we received $27,580 in new/increased support from this sector, thus exceeding the $25,000 goal.
The members of the Board, staff, and most especially, the clients of the Hiscock Legal Aid Society thank all of our supporters for helping us demonstrate that the legal community is committed to ensuring that “no one shall be denied justice because of a lack of means.”