What To Expect

We meet four times a year for a one hour meeting. Members who wish to request a donation for a local person or charity will complete a quick form upon arrival.

Submit

Forms will be placed into a hat, and three will be randomly drawn at each meeting.

Present

The members whose forms are drawn will be invited to give a five-minute presentation explaining why their chosen person or charity should receive the donation.

Vote

After all presentations are complete, members present will vote for the person or charity they would like to support.

Donate

The person or charity with the most votes receives the donation from that meeting. Checks are then written directly to the selected person or charity.

Rules

No national charities will be considered. The purpose is for 100% of our contributions to stay in Rockford and closely surrounding areas.

The selected person or charity is not eligible for consideration again for 12 months after receiving a donation from the group

The other two non-selected persons or charities may be submitted again for consideration beginning with the next meeting.

Presenting Tips

1.

Introduce yourself and the name of the organization you would like to receive the funding.

2.

Start with a compelling opening statement.

3.

Share the organization’s mission or person's situation including full background information if possible.

4.

Identify how the funds will be used and who all they will impact.

5.

End with a heartfelt request and a thank you to your fellow members for their consideration.

Spend a few minutes planning your presentation for maximum impact. Remember you are the key to helping the local person or charity receive the help they need. Consider incorporating the points below into your presentation, but remember, you only have 5 minutes!