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  1. Surveys
  2. 2016
  3. April
  4. M
  5. Massachusetts Environmental Sector Study
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Exit Survey
 
 
Hello:
My name is Susan Thompson. I am from Harvard University and am undertaking a research project on the Massachusetts environmental sector. I hope that you will take part in a brief survey about your organization. It should take no more than 15 minutes.

I am inviting more than 100 participants to share information about their organizations' environmental priorities and how each receives funding to support its work.

Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data will be reported only in the aggregate. Your information will be coded and will remain confidential. Your participation is completely voluntary. If you feel uncomfortable answering any question, you can skip any but the first. You may withdraw from the survey at any point.

If you have questions you may contact me at 617-686-7370617-686-7370 or [email protected].

Thank you very much for your time and support. Please start with the survey now by clicking on the Next button below.
 
 
 
Hello:
My name is Susan Thompson. I am from Harvard University and am undertaking a research project on the Massachusetts environmental sector. I hope that you will take part in a brief survey about your organization. It should take no more than 15 minutes.

I am inviting more than 100 participants to share information about their organizations' environmental priorities and how each receives funding to support its work.

Your survey responses will be strictly confidential and data will be reported only in the aggregate. Your information will be coded and will remain confidential. Your participation is completely voluntary. If you feel uncomfortable answering any question, you can skip any but the first. You may withdraw from the survey at any point.

If you have questions you may contact me at 617-686-7370617-686-7370 or [email protected].

Thank you very much for your time and support. Please start with the survey now by clicking on the Next button below.
 
 
 
* What area(s) does your organization serve?
 
Massachusetts
 
A town/city or specific region of Massachusetts
 
A multi-state region that includes Massachusetts
 
National or Global (including Massachusetts)
 
A region that does not include Massachusetts
 
 
 
As this survey is focused on Massachusetts, your organization does not meet the project's needs. Thank you for offering to participate.
 
 
 
Please indicate the size of your organization's expense budget (to the best of your knowledge) .
 
Under $1 million
 
$1 million - $3 million
 
$3 million - $5 million
 
$5 million - $10 million
 
$10 million - $20 million
 
Over $20 million
 
 
 
What is your role?
 
Chief Executive (Executive Director, President)
 
Board Member
 
Development Director or other Development Staff
 
Other staff member
 
Volunteer
 
 
 
To what extent does your organization focus on environmental/conservation/sustainability issues?
 
More than 75% of what we do
 
50% to 75% of what we do
 
Less than half of what we do
 
 
 
Please focus mainly on your environmental activities and fundraising for the remainder of this survey.
 
 
 
Please indicate which issues and topics are high priorities for your organization. Select all that apply.
 
Terrestrial ecosystems and land management
 
Access to natural areas, public parks and outdoor recreation
 
Fresh water and inland water ecosystems
 
Sustainable agriculture and food systems
 
Biodiversity and species preservation
 
Animal welfare (wildlife)
 
Botany/Horticulture
 
Coastal and marine ecosystems
 
Climate change
 
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
 
Waste reduction and recycling
 
Environment and Public Health (including toxins, clean air and water)
 
Environmental Justice
 
Green buildings
 
Green communities
 
Responsible business/investing
 
Sustainable development

 
 
 
Does your organization work on any environmental topics or issues not listed above? Please name:
   
 
 
 
Please indicate what type of activities your organization undertakes to accomplish its mission and goals:
 
Advocacy
 
Environmental education and training programs
 
Museum/nature/science center operation
 
Land purchase/protection
 
Scientific research
 
Citizen science
 
Habitat restoration/maintenance
 
Wildlife rescue/assistance
 
Public information/awareness (including publications, radio/TV productions)
 
Community based gardening
 
Lobbying

 
 
 
Are there any other activities your organization undertakes to accomplish its mission? Please name:
   
 
 
 
Does your organization have a current strategic plan?
 
Yes
 
No
 
I don't know
 
 
 
Was fundraising considered in your strategic planning?
 
No
 
Yes - the planning considered the amount needed to accomplish goals
 
Yes- the planning considered how attractive the elements would be to donors and the total amount needed
 
I'm not sure.
 
 
 
Does your organization establish annual goals/priorities?
 
Yes
 
No
 
I don't know
 
 
 
Is fundraising considered in your organization's annual planning?
 
No
 
Yes - annual planning includes the amount needed to accomplish goals.
 
Yes- annual planning includes how attractive goals are to donors and the amount needed to accomplish goals.
 
I'm not sure.
 
 
 
Which of the following donor types does your organization pursue? (Select all that apply)
 
Members
 
Individual donors
 
Corporations
 
Private foundations
 
Government agencies

 
 
Please rank donor types by revenue, highest to lowest (to the best of your knowledge, in most years)
Drag your choices here to rank them
     
     
    Return on Investment (ROI): Consider the staff time and other resources required to raise funds from each source, the likelihood of success and the size of donations. Please put donor types in order with best ROI #1.
    Drag your choices here to rank them
       
       
       
      For the following questions, please indicate how easy/successful to difficult/frustrating the activities are for each donor type.

      (Note: each organization defines mid and high level individual donors differently. For this survey, consider giving circles if you have them, otherwise, think of your top 25% of donors.)
       
       
      Establishing relationship (identifying prospect, making contact, getting a meeting/conversation)
      Usually easy and high rate of success Sometimes challenging but rate of success is clearly worth the effort Often Challenging with low rate of success Difficult/frustrating and usually not worth the effort N/A
      Foundations
      Individuals (mid to high level donors)
      Members
      Corporations
       
       
      Getting first gift/grant
      Usually easy and high rate of success Sometimes challenging but rate of success is clearly worth the effort Often Challenging with low rate of success Difficult/frustrating and usually not worth the effort N/A
      Foundations
      Individuals (mid to high level donors)
      Members
      Corporations
       
       
      After the first gift/grant, maintaining donor loyalty and retention year after year.
      Usually easy and high rate of success Sometimes challenging but rate of success is clearly worth the effort Often Challenging with low rate of success Difficult/frustrating and usually not worth the effort N/A
      Foundations
      Individuals (mid to high level donors)
      Members
      Corporations
       
       
       
      Does your organization seek foundation grants?
       
      Yes every year
       
      Yes but not every year
       
      No
       
       
       
      Which describe grants you have received from foundations during the past five years. Select all that apply.
       
      Unrestricted/general operating
       
      Restricted to one or more core activity we would do anyway
       
      Restricted to new or altered program-- based on our internal planning or wish list.
       
      Restricted to new or altered program--based on foundation's interest or request.

       
       
       
      Please share what types of requests have been most successful with foundations. (For example: what kinds of projects? Which issues?)
         
       
       
       
      If your organization does not seek foundation grants, why?
         
       
       
       
      Does your organization have a mid-level and/or major donor program? (Do you actively seek high level gifts from individuals?)
       
      Yes-annually
       
      Yes--but not every year
       
      No
       
       
       
      Which describe mid-level and major gifts you have received during the past 5 years? Select all that apply.
       
      Unrestricted/general operating
       
      Restricted to one or more core activity we would do anyway
       
      Restricted to new or altered program-- based on our internal planning or wish list
       
      Restricted to new or altered program-- based on donor interest or request.

       
       
       
      Please share what types of requests have been most successful with mid and high level individual donors. (For example: what kinds of projects? Which issues?)
         
       
       
       
      If your organization does not seek mid level and major gifts from individuals, why?
         
       
       
       
      Does your organization seek corporate support?
       
      Yes every year
       
      Yes but not every year
       
      No
       
       
       
      Which describe support you have received from corporations during the past five years. Select all that apply.
       
      Unrestricted/general operating
       
      Restricted to one or more core activity we would do anyway
       
      Restricted to new or altered program-- based on our internal planning or wish list
       
      Restricted to new or altered program-- based on corporate interest or request.
       
      Event sponsorship.

       
       
       
      Please share what types of requests have been most successful with corporations. (For example: what kinds of projects? Which issues?)
         
       
       
       
      If your organization does not seek corporate support, why?
         
       
       
       
      In the past 10 years, has your organization been unable to accomplish a specific goal (such as a new program, building or scientific research project) or had to alter plans and expectations due to inability to raise sufficient funds?
       
      Yes
       
      No
       
       
       
      Please provide some information about the goal that was missed and type of funding that did not come through. (You may leave out specifics to ensure anonymity. If identity seems apparent to researcher, details will be excluded).
         
       
       
       
      Please provide brief comments to the remaining questions that are applicable.
       
       
       
      Please share a good experience or what is best about working with individual donors.
         
       
       
       
      Please share a frustrating experience or what is most difficult about working with individual donors.
         
       
       
       
      Please share a good experience or what is best about working with foundations.
         
       
       
       
      Please share a frustrating experience or what is most difficult about working with foundations.
         
       
       
       
      Please share a good experience or what is best about working with corporations.
         
       
       
       
      Please share a frustrating experience or what is most difficult about working with corporations.
         
       
       
       
      Use the space below to provide additional comments about your successes, challenges or frustrations in raising funds to support environmental priorities.