Future Leaders in Philanthropy: FLiP Follows: Link Education

Welcome to “FLiP Follows”: A brand new feature here on the FLiP site. Our first ever reality series will follow Rachael Beard and Anna Markowitz, long-time friends, co-workers, and co-founders of the non-profit organization, Link Education. Are you thinking of starting a non-profit? What works? What doesn’t? Learn by following.

LinkEd is vying to become an online resource for all people, organizations, and foundations effecting change in public education. As a brand new non-profit, they are learning about the ups and downs of the philanthropic world. As they start to gain some traction, they are hosting their first ever fundraising event next week.

FLiP will keep you updated on Rachael, Anna, and LinkEd. Will they become the next major national education non-profit, or will cash flow problems keep them down?

In this issue we’ll introduce Rachael, Anna, and LinkEd, and also talk about the event on February 13. If you’re in the New York area, want to support a great cause, and want to meet some fun FLiPs, go to the LinkEd website and buy a ticket!

Meeting Rachael and Anna was serendipity in action. I was talking about FLiP with friends, and through a series of connections I was told I must meet the founders of a new non-profit called LinkEd. At the time the FLiP editors were talking about starting a reality series to outline the trials and tribulations of FLiPs trying to change the world in their own way, but we weren’t quite ready to determine our first FLiP Follows organization. Moments after meeting them, it became clear that Anna and Rachael have a big future in the nonprofit sector, and that LinkEd was going to be an organization to watch. They are engaged and excited about LinkEd, and after talking with them about what they’re trying to do, we couldn’t help but get on board.

Since their first ever friendraiser/fundraiser is going down next week, we thought this would be a good time to start the series and introduce them to all of you. LinkEd has had a small number of four-figure gifts, and a number of prospects for more. The event on the 13th is designed to raise awareness about what LinkEd does, and raise a little money for operations.

“This event is our big chance to bring them all into one room and really hook them so they are lifelong LinkEd supporters,” Rachael told me “Our mission is to not only connect organizations with organizations and individuals with organizations, but to raise public awareness and begin shifting the mindset so that equality in education is viewed as a civil right for all children.

We chose to start with a smaller, more relaxed and intimate gathering because that atmosphere fosters conversation and allows us to engage people in LinkEd's mission. Too often I attend fundraising events where I leave still wondering what exactly the organization does. While people may come to this event for the first time because there is wine involved, we want to ensure they attend the second one because it supports LinkEd. At our event we will provide information about LinkEd in a short presentation, but also engage people in conversation about what we do and why we do it. This size of 80-100 people will not only allow someone from LinkEd to reach out and engage every single person in attendance. Additionally, we want people to have fun and laugh - learning and children are so refreshing. The entire event needs to fit our brand and every minute has been planned to do that.

The people coming to this event are generally people passionate about education, so they understand the need. What we want is for them to not only believe in LinkEd, but also believe that together we truly can reach a point in our country where all children can receive an excellent education. We think it is very important that people leave this fundraiser with an understanding of what LinkEd does and more importantly a belief that together we can and will achieve our mission. This is our first fundraising event, so many of the attendees are people we have been cultivating as advisors during the startup process.”

Be sure to check out the LinkEd website for more information about their business plan, their goals, who they are, and where they’re going.

For more information about Rachael and Anna, check out their bios on the LinkEd website.

In the coming year, we’re going to follow Rachael and Anna as they learn the ins and outs of starting a new non-profit from the ground up. In the next addition, we’ll fill you in on their first event. Did the raffle work, or should it have been a silent auction? Was $35 for a ticket too much? Too little? Were people engaged and energized? Only time will tell.

FLiP reader: What event successes and failures have you had? Share your thoughts and comments.