Brooklyn A secured their honoree through a multi-year process that identified a prospect with deep connections, built linkages to him through several routes, and culminated in a 3-person asking team of long-time donors and staff.  "That was a great way to get donors more deeply involved," acknowledged Gloria Ramon, Brooklyn A's director of development and communications.   

Emboldened by previous honoree arrangements, the group asked directly for a $50,000 "get" - and ended up, through the honoree's corporate connections, with a single $100,000 gift which not only exceeded the group's expectations but led the board to understand that this event was going to be on a different level than events of the past.

The board came through, filling tables with individuals capable of interacting with a corporate honoree at a level they hadn't done in the past.  "This was the first year that the board saw that we have the capacity to get the right people in the room," remarked Ramon. 

Getting one board member to keep beating the drum so that board members stay focused was really helpful for the MinKwon Center.  "Our board president is a big motivator of other people," explained Tomm.  "He's strong with getting the board to give, and getting them to get their companies to give."  Brooklyn A's Ramon set aside time to draft encouraging emails to the board - including ones that board members could send out to others under their own name.