ARCHIVES WORKING GROUP MEETING MINUTES

CLEAN AIR COUNCIL - SPECIFIC PROPOSALS FOR CORPORATE CONTRIBUTIONS:

There are three different kinds of corporate fundraising that Diesel Difference should consider:

Membership in Diesel Difference:

Stakeholders are asked to contribute an annual "membership" in order to sustain the organization. The Council suggests approaching large corporations for an annual contribution of $3,000. Smaller companies should be between $500 and $1,000. The goal would be to try and raise $15,000 a year from these members. Such members should be rewarded by getting their name on the letterhead.

Adopt-a-School-Bus Campaign:

This is a great first step for Diesel Difference corporate fundraising. Corporations would be asked to adopt a specific bus or buses for retrofit. Diesel difference would need to indentify a number of school districts that have buses that they want to retrofit. Diesel Difference would then approach corporations, rotary clubs etc. in the general vicinity of the school. The strategy would enhance the corporations image as a good corporate neighbor and that is the school district that company employees may be sending their children to.

Steps:

• I.D. buses from school districts in need of retrofit and school districts interested in working with Diesel Difference.
• I. D. local businesses, corporations, rotary clubs to approach.
• Write letter explaining the Adopt-a-School-Bus Campaign and asking for a meeting. The letter will include background information on diesel pollution and impact on school children.
• Work with school district and sponsoring organizations on local media outreach.

General Corporate Support:

This is the hardest money to raise. Trying to get corporations to make significant corporate contributions to Diesel Difference for retrofits. It is also the slowest kind of fundraising. Many corporations make their giving decisions a 6 to 12 months before they cut checks. Many corporations have specific organizations they traditionally sponsor and there is a heavy burden on any new organization seeking their support. Many corporations fund organizations that their employees are involved in. Almost all corporations contribute to causes that benefits the corporation in some way. The best way to approach a corporation is by having a champion within the corporation. This will be a slow process and Diesel Difference will need to nurture its proposals along:

Steps:

• Identify who "we" know that work in a corporation that might be intersted in this issue.
• Identify corporations whose business interest or public image connects to the Diesel Difference message. Identify the person at that corporation who should be approached.
• Attend as many Chamber of Commerce and other "business" oriented meetingas as practicable in order to trawl for potential "contacts" at corporations.