2009 DGE SeminarGeneral Session III:

Lions Clubs International Foundation

Klaus Tang 2009 DGE Seminar Chairperson

Welcome and Introductions

Mahendra AmarasuriyaChairperson, LCIF

Foundation Overview

LCIF at a Glance• We’re #1. As the global leader in humanitarian service,

Lions Clubs International Foundation helps Lions members serve their community and the world community.

• We Serve. Grants fund large-scale Lions humanitarian projects for sight, youth, disability, health and disaster. In fiscal year 2007-2008, LCIF awarded US$40.93 million for 570 projects.

• We Provide. Since 1968, it has awarded more than 9,000 grants totaling more than US$640 million.

LCIF at a Glance• We Give 100 Percent. Every dollar donated to LCIF goes

directly toward a grant.• We Partner. LCIF leverages all donations through

partnerships with local and international organizations, governments and corporations, stretching each contribution substantially beyond its original value.

• You Gave. In fiscal year 2007-2008, LCIF received US$78.46 million in donations, including historic support for CSFII. This was an increase of US$24 million over the previous year.

Campaign SightFirst II• To continue and expand the SightFirst program,

Lions launched Campaign SightFirst II in 2005• Lions worldwide responded to make CSFII Lions’

greatest fundraising success• More than US$200,000,000 raised

Historic Generosity• During Campaign SightFirst II, LCIF received landmark

donations– More than 60% of Lions participated– More than 90,000 gifts were given– 91 gifts more than US$100,000– 124 gifts US$25,000 – US$99,999

Pledges fulfill “Vision for All”• US$160 million of these funds have been received by

LCIF to date• The need for the SightFirst program continues, as does

the need to fulfill club and personal pledges to CSFII– 33 million people around the world still suffer from

vision loss– On average it costs US$6 to restore or save someone

from blindness• We come closer to bridging the gap and making Lions’

“Vision for All” a reality

Unprecedented Opportunity• Lions worldwide are engaged in the work of LCIF

• There is an understanding of the need for humanitarian service only LCIF and Lions can provide

• With the success of CSFII, an expanded LCIF is possible

• Brand positioning to enhance LCIF’s growth

Brand Positioning

• To further support this opportunity for growth, the Foundation is embarking on brand positioning initiative

• This is part of a larger initiative to develop a long-term marketing and public relations strategy for LCIF

• Includes developing key messages, color schemes, graphics and refreshed logos to support LCIF’s growth among both Lions and the general public

Rebecca DaouManager, LCIF

Initiatives

Four Pillars of Service

• LCIF…

• Gives Sight • Provides Disaster Relief• Combats Disability• Supports Youth

LCIF Gives Sight

• In 1925, Helen Keller challenged Lions to be “Knights of the Blind”– It is Lions’ mission to provide “Vision

for All” • Preschool Vision Screenings• Sight For Kids

– Partnership with Johnson and Johnson

• General eye-care services• SightFirst program

SightFirst Program• SightFirst is LCIF’s flagship blindness

prevention program

• SightFirst has:– Helped to save the sight of more than

27 million people – Prevented vision loss for 30 million

people – Improved eye-care services for

hundreds of millions• Awarded 935 grants totaling US$236

million to 99 countries

LCIF Provides Disaster Relief• LCIF provides emergency assistance

when natural disasters strike• Southeast Asia Tsunami

– US$15.4 million• Hurricane Katrina

– More than US$5 million• Sichuan (China) Earthquake

– More than US$3 million• Hundreds of grants for local

disasters around the world (earthquakes, floods, etc.)

LCIF Combats Disability• Special Olympics Opening Eyes

Program– Provides athletes with vision testing

and eyeglasses– 150,800 athletes screened

• Habitat for Humanity partnership– Funded the construction of 1,000

homes for people with disabilities• Affordable Hearing Aid Project

– Provides high-quality, low-cost hearing aids

LCIF Supports Youth• Lions Quest

– Teaches life skills, character education, civic values, drug prevention and service-learning education

– Active in 50 countries serving more than 11 million youth

• LCIF grants have helped build schools, clinics, youth camps and shelters

The Role of DGs

• Become familiar with LCIF programs and initiatives

• Educate Lions in your district about LCIF

• Work with new LCIF Coordinators, Lions Quest Chairs and other leaders within the Foundation

• Promote the work of LCIF to your local community

Lions QuarterlyLCIF Highlights

Video

Jayne WesterlundManager, Lions Quest

Lions Quest

Celebrate 25 Years of Lions Quest• For 25 years Lions Quest has been providing positive

youth development to adolescents worldwide • Join in the celebration through supporting the program:

– Learn about Lions Quest at the LCIF booth– Wear a “Celebrate 25 Years of Lions Quest” button– Talk about the program with your fellow Lions– Make a contribution to the program at the LCIF booth– Attend one or both of the two Lions Quest session

during Convention or a session at your local area Forum

Lions Quest Overview•A comprehensive, positive youth development and prevention program

• Unites the home, school and community to support the healthy development of youth

•Offered by LCIF to thousands of schools and millions of young people throughout the world

•50 countries and 30 languages

Program Objectives

•Life Skills

•Character Education

•Positive Behavior

•Service-Learning

•Social & Emotional Learning

Lions Quest Strengthens Lionism

• Partnered with Lions Quest for 25 years• Creates partnerships between Lions, schools

and communities• Joint service projects with young people - a

practical extension of the service ethic of Lions • Creates a world brand, enhancing Lions

reputation and membership efforts• Local Lions are essential to introducing Lions

Quest to schools and raising funds

Lions Quest Results

• In Italy, 75 percent of parents surveyed said their children behaved better after one year of Lions Quest

• In the United States, Lions Quest has proven to decrease bullying up to 50 percent

• In Uruguay, 95 percent of teachers say their students have improved teamwork skills and reported improved discipline in the classroom

Lions Quest Promotional Grants

• Assist districts with understanding and communicating the Lions Quest life skills and drug prevention program

• Available for US$1,000 each• Funds can be applied to one or more promotional

seminars for Lions, community committees, and/or educators/school administrators

• Seminars provide information and strategies on how to start a Lions Quest program in communities

The Role of DGs

• Familiarize yourself with Lions Quest objectives • Appoint a Lions Quest chairperson

– Consider who are you choosing• Do they have an educational background?• Are they interested in youth initiatives?

• Attend a Lions Quest workshop for more information• Support activities of local clubs and the Lions Quest

chairperson• Provide opportunities for Lions to learn about the

Lions Quest program

Rebecca DaouManager, LCIF

Grants

How Does LCIF Help Your District?

• Helps Lions respond collectively to major humanitarian concerns in your local community and around the world

• Enables Lions-to-help-Lions…especially in times of disaster and catastrophe

• Funds projects too big for districts/clubs to do on their own

• Develops relevant grant-making initiatives to help Lions better serve the world community

LCIF Grant Programs (Non-Disaster Grants)• Standard Grants: Matching grants of up to US$75,000 for

local humanitarian service projects.

• Core 4 Grants: Funds special projects in eyesight, disability, health and youth (1 per district). Grants up to US$200,000.

• SightFirst Grants: Blindness prevention and sight restoration projects in neediest areas

• International Assistance Grants: Supports club twinning projects; US$5,000 to US$30,000 (1 per district)

Standard Grants

• Broadest category of LCIF funding

– 143 grants in 2007-08 for US$6.53 million

• Matching funds up to US$75,000

• Support large scale Lions projects (equipment or construction only- no operating costs)

• Bottom Up: Lions identify/develop projects

• Provides local impact and community visibility

Standard Grant Review and Approval• Applications due 60 days before board mtg; but earlier

submission is recommended

• Staff pre-reviews applications; clarifications and changes may be requested

• LCIF Exec. Committee reviews applications that meet all preliminary requirements.

• Applications are either approved (sometimes with conditions), tabled (pending further information) or denied

• LCIF grant money is not disbursed until local funds are collected

Core 4 Grants• Supports special initiatives under the four primary

service commitments of Lions:

• Grants are given on a 3-to-1 matching basis in most instances (25% local funding)

Core 4 Funding Priorities• Preserving Sight

– Low Vision Projects– Preschool Vision Screening Program

(formerly Photo screening)• Combating Disability

– Partnership with Habitat for Humanity– Partnership with Special Olympics “Opening

Eyes”• Promoting Health

– Diabetes Prevention and Treatment• Serving Youth

– Lions Quest Program

SightFirst Grants • Projects must focus on the major

causes of blindness on national or large regional levels

• Projects must reach populations that are undeserved or that have limited or no access to eye health care services.

• Funds high-quality, sustainable projects that deliver eye care services, develop infrastructure, train personnel and/or provide rehabilitation and education in underserved communities.

International Assistance Grants (IAG)

• Support for international twinning-type projects

• Need Lions club in at least 2 countries to partner (a sponsor and host club)

• Sponsor club/district raises some funding and applies for grant; host club helps implement

Disaster Grants

• US$30 million awarded to date

• Emergency Grants: Provides US$5,000 to US$10,000 for districts impacted by natural disasters

• Major Catastrophe Grants: Provides up to US$1 million for catastrophic disasters determined by the Board of Directors.

Emergency Grants• Immediate response to natural disasters• Up to US$10,000 available to districts • Funds may not be used for lodging costs, building

materials or to replace lost or damaged property• Lions purchase & distribute supplies to meet

immediate needs:– food, water– clothing, bedding– first aid supplies– hygiene products, infant supplies, cleaning supplies

Emergency Grant Regulations• Disaster must be large in scope, displacing or

affecting 100 or more people• LCIF funds Lions-led relief activities• Grant must be requested within 30 days of

disaster • Funds must be spent within 60 days• One grant per disaster, per district• Final reports to be submitted to LCIF with

receipts for goods purchased by Lions

Tips for Grant Application• Contact the Foundation before applying• Submit application ASAP• No funding for completed projects• Background information on beneficiary organization• Lions financial contributions and involvement• Full contact information• Multiple correspondence is possible• Consult past international leadership

Tips for Grant Application• Clearly lay out the project’s objectives, including

number of beneficiaries

• Fill out the application in its entirety

• An income and expense budget is needed; the more income collected, the better

• Project must be large-scale and one Lions can’t fund on their own

The Role of DGs• Become familiar with the types of grants and

pertinent details for the application process• Carefully review and sign all grant applications• Only the District Governor can apply for

emergency grants • If LCIF is contacted immediately following

disaster, decision from chairperson can usually be given within 24 hours

Ring Family TestimonyFriendship Ventures’ Edenwood Center

Minnesota, USA

Dave & Kelsey Ring

Friendship Ventures’ Edenwood Center

• Dormitory facilities PRIOR to the renovations funded through Lions and LCIF

Friendship Ventures’ Edenwood Center

• Dormitory facilities AFTER the renovations supported by Lions and LCIF

“Thank you for taking time at your convention to hear our true-life report of

how important Lions and Lions Clubs International Foundation have been to

us and have enriched our lives.”

Dave Ring, Parent of Friendship Ventures Camper

Neil BoyerChief Development Manager, LCIF

Development

What is "Development?"

The process by which an organization increases

public understanding of its mission and acquires

financial support for its programs

LCIF Development Overview• A four-year plan to strengthen the foundation

• Based on the LCIF Development Review (2007)

• Adding resources and experience to existing success

• Building on the success of Campign SightFirst II to continue to change the world

• Raise an additional US$10 million annually by 2011-2012 (US$30 million annually)

LCIF Development Plan

1. Case for Support

2. Volunteer Leadership

3. Fund-Raising Plan

4. Resource Investments

5. Communication Initiatives

Volunteer Leadership

Volunteer Leadership• Three-year appointment

• Replaces the existing LCIF MD and District Chairperson structure

• Ambassador for all aspects LCIF

• All levels recruited and trained this past year

• Begin work after 2009 International Convention

• Continue through plan implementation 2011-2012

The Role of the New LCIF Coordinators

Video

Coordinator’s Responsibilities

• Promote the work of LCIF

• Educate Lions through presentations

• Provide fundraising support

• Promote LCIF fundraising efforts

• Know and assist with LCIF recognition

The Role of DGs

• Support and work with LCIF Volunteer Coordinators

• Utilize LCIF Volunteer Coordinators

• Encourage timely payments on pledges

• Encourage ongoing and future generosity to LCIF

• Thank Lions and clubs for supporting the Foundation

Mahendra AmarasuriyaChairperson, LCIF

Concluding Remarks

Klaus Tang 2009 DGE Seminar Chairperson

Closing

Thank You, Lions!