April 25, 2016
Shop Talk
New Red Cross director seeks blue-skies funding
Kim Goulette, executive director, American Red Cross, Central Massachusetts chapter
In March, Kim Goulette took over as the new executive director of the American Red Cross' Central Massachusetts chapter, replacing Lisa Piehler, who retired in February after 23 years in the position. Goulette previously served in the same position for the Western Massachusetts Chapter of the organization and has more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit administration, including as director of employment and community-based day services at Aditus in East Longmeadow as well as the regional director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts.
When did you first decide to seek the Central Mass. position?
As soon as Lisa decided to retire.
What are some of the issues you are facing?
It is pretty much the same as across the nation. Our funding has changed quite a bit through the years. Red Cross has always been known as a major disaster organization. We call the major disasters “gray skies” but we do more in “blue skies” on a daily basis.
We have five lines of service that are really important to the community on a daily basis: blood services, service to the armed forces; international services – helping people find family members if there is an incident overseas and they can't find their family members; disaster services; and preparedness health and safety programs.
How does that change your funding effort?
We rely on the public for most of our funding. I know most people think because we are chartered by the U.S. government to be at disasters that we receive government funding, but we don't. We need the public to support us.
When it is gray skies – when it is a disaster – everybody comes to the rescue of the Red Cross and funds us at that time. During blue skies – when we are most in need because we are providing services on a daily basis – that is when we really need funding, even though we are seen as a disaster-services organization.
How do you get that blue-skies funding?
We have been working on this marketing campaign nationally, and it is really about trying to tell the public what we do on the daily basis.
My role is to get out in the community – like I am doing right now – and meeting with the rotary clubs, chambers of commerce and other community resources to let them know what the Red Cross does on a daily basis. We are not just about large-scale disaster; we are not just about blood. We have many other programs.
How will Central Mass. corporations respond?
It is actually very, very good. We have a number of large organization where all we do is have to make a phone call and say, “We have this need,” and they are very, very supportive. Central Mass. has a very strong corporate sponsorship in their donors.
Where will your funding growth come from?
We have a strong corporate backing, so now we are going to work on individual donors. We are going to put boots on the ground and talk about how, for example, after a fire we help a family with food, clothing, shelter and things like it. We continue the cycle – it is not just us swooping in that day – we work with the family until they say, “We don't need you anymore.”
It is a full cycle: preparedness, response and recovery.
How is Central Mass. different from Western Mass.?
Different culture. It is more corporate, which is why we are going to focus more on individual giving. The Central Mass. chapter has a very strong board of directors that helped raise the funds to build the building they are in now. The chapter has very strong backing. Lisa Piehler did an incredible job. She was there for 23 years. She built a really solid base.
For me coming in, I have that solid base she built. Now, I just need to spring off that and increase giving a little bit more.
Anything else you would like to add?
Support us. Call me.
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