Our Foundation’s Unique Annual Fund

Abstract

To the best of my knowledge, just about every college and university alumni association has an annual fund campaign to raise money for scholarships, facilities, and other higher education purposes. At some schools, classes compete to determine which is giving the most funds. The Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Medicine (PALTC), which we refer to as “Our Foundation,” also has an annual fund and I accepted the invitation to take on the role of campaign chair. I agreed because I strongly believe that AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine needs a robust foundation, a body dedicated to raising money for special programs and purposes not covered by our membership dues. It is like a college that raises money for programs not covered by tuition. Our Foundation focuses on three key areas: workforce development, PALTC quality measures, and recognition of excellence and innovation. Each year, the Foundation board reviews and evaluates the programs it is funding and the board continues to see great success in our Futures program, our efforts to develop and fund quality measures, and the excellence recognition awards we present at the annual conference each year. Yet, there is at least one significant difference between a college annual fund and our own annual campaign. The difference is largely math. For an undergraduate college, there is close to a 100% turnover in students every four years. Over time, this creates a very large pool of alumni. But within our Society, many people are members for as long as they are in practice—one, two, three, or more decades. While some give to the Foundation even after they are no longer members, most are donors at the same time they are members. So, the pool of funders for Our Foundation is much smaller. To me, that means we must accomplish a much higher percentage of contributions in order to fund Our Foundation. But there is a way that math can work in our favor. I may be setting the bar very low—or very high—but if AMDA members contributed an average of $100 each, Our Foundation would be able to fund programs with roughly $500,000—and that would mostly be new money. When I say “an average of $100 each,” I know I’m not speaking of a pittance. But I do want to point out that Our Foundation is unique. It is the only charity created by and that works for the purposes of our PALTC profession. Our Foundation is the only nonprofit dedicated to workforce development, quality care, and recognition of caregiving excellence. Your contribution to Our Foundation makes an important difference. I am asking you as a reader of Caring for the Ages or an AMDA member to please join me and many others in contributing at the level you can afford to our annual fund. All you need to do is go online at www.paltcfoundation.org and find “Donate” or write a check to the Foundation for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. We won’t hound you with phone calls, so it is important that you act now and make what is a very important contribution to what we can together uniquely call Our Foundation. Thank you. Dr. Wayne is chair of the Foundation’s Annual Appeal Campaign and a past president of AMDA – The Society for PALTC Medicine.