Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s Fall Business Meeting 2019

Last month, Kristen Bieber, senior marketing associate and Donna Walentenowicz, senior development associate, attended Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) Fall Business Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT. The week was filled with break-out sessions focused on various topics, networking with CMNH program directors from across North America, discussions on best practices and of course some laughs along the way.

Here were each of their key takeaways from the conference, relative to their roles.

Kristen Bieber:

• Storytelling
  • Using the “story spine”, a series of prompts, can help to structure and format stories in an easy to follow manner, and help maximize overall impact
  • Videos, even organically captured and not “produced” can make a large impact for donors and help feel a personal connection to patients
  • Including partners in videos along with kids can help share a different kind of story
• Influencers
  • Social media influencers and brand ambassadors can help increase awareness for campaigns through their followings
  • Sending Influencer Boxes prior to a campaign can be an easy way to engage them in promotion
  • Tracking with hashtags helps to provide assessment of reach
• Local Champions
  • Creating a process for capturing a year’s worth of media assets can be efficient and ensure recognition for all partners and campaigns
  • Selecting multiple champions for the year
  • On-boarding champions can ensure families have all they need to be successful year-round as champions and ambassadors for the hospital
  • Utilizing champions at in-hospital tours or partner visits create a more cohesive bond
• Giving Day Promotions
  • Creating media buzz with an event the day before a giving day can increase reach and earned media
  • Deliver giving day related items to local media (ie: Blizzards for Miracle Treat Day)

Donna Walentenowicz:

• Engagement of Partner associates- Thank You Card
  • Recognition Program (end of year drawing for prize and acknowledgment to front line team)
  • Incentive for cashiers “to make the ask” by chances to win end of year drawing
  • Educate “askers” as to why they are making the ask specifically related to patient need/results
  • Basically no cost- Donated incentives prizes- $.01 per card free “personal face to face” thank you increases personal relationship
  • Participation engagement numbers jump which increases overall fundraising dollars
• Stay in touch with Remind App
  • Set up Partner Contact team
  • Lead the team with up- to- date campaign information
  • Send inspirational messages/current data info; gone are days of having to wait for information
  • Communication to CMN team: Have a question? Now you can message us any time through this app and we can respond directly to individuals
• Everyone’s an Influencer
  • Identifying and leveraging though leaders
  • Connect to social media influencers in our community
  • Utilize tool kits-campaign items start to finish-everything they need to support our campaign-ease of use
  • Use Mom squad of patients as ambassadors- nothing more personal to donors who receiver direct touch from family
• Northeast Medium Hospital Regional Sessions
  • Similar audiences and patient bases as well as Partner participation lead to strong collaboration
  • Updating best practices and what is working well for our teams as well as reporting on new ideas for refining and re-porting on newly tested successful programs