“Impact Venture Capitalists”

Morning Team,

After my email last week, I half expected a mutiny. You now how “change” scares people. How they resist it, even when it’s in the best interest of almost everyone involved.

But no, the announcement of switching from “Cash & Check” donations to “Online” credit card processing, almost, by everyone, was universally well-received. What a relief, because I was nervous.

(note: we’ll contacting you sometime in the next 30 days – nothing you need to do yet.)

From Jay Biba – Wilmington Member:

• Good call on the credit card. No fun chasing $. 
• [So true, Jay]

From Kelly Fleck – Yuma Member:

• Kudos to you Ryan! I am brand new and couldn’t agree more to all of your new plans. I really am excited to be a part of this amazing journey to impact our community! Hopefully my shirt arrives before the meeting so I can advertise in advance. I have enjoyed reading each of your messages and watching your videos. Thank you for being such an inspiration to us all!
• [No, thank you Kelly. I mean it]

From Katie Groth – Frederick Member:

• Hello Ryan, You want to know your IMPACTClub members. I will tell you a bit about myself. First off, I am retired from being on the Frederick County School Board for 12 years. Before that, I was a speech pathologist and had a 40 year career here in Frederick, Maryland. I love it here and am grateful for this community, in so many ways. It is a very generous community and the non-profit sector is vibrant and productive. I joined the Board of SHIP (Student Homelessness Initiative Partnership) in December of 2016, and am now the Chair. I was excited to learn about IMPACT CLUB last year and its mission appeals to me. I joined my first meeting! That was the night that SHIP won, and we carried home an envelope full of about $26,000. I thank you for founding IMPACT CLUB. It is changing lives everywhere! Please let me know when you plan to visit Frederick – THE LARGEST IMPACT CLUB IN THE WORLD!
• [Yes it is, Katie. Proud of Frederick – the little town that could!]

From Connie Miller – Boise Member:

• Thanks! Love the idea.

From Megan McCourt – Northern VA Member:

• Hi Ryan! I love that we’ll get tax receipts instantly. For 2017, I only received 1 from Stillbrave. Nothing from the other 3 charities. Any news on those documents? Thanks for everything you’re doing to make IC outstanding!

This is exactly what I want to eliminate.

To respond to Megan, I wish I knew *exactly* when a tax receipt is sent out. But unfortunately, when everything is done by cash, check, and excel spreadsheets – nothing is certain.

I, my team, and co-founders, turn over the donation information to the local charity, and from there, we’re at their mercy.

And often, when there is only one or two people running the charity, tax receipts get neglected. Which, if Impact Club is going to fulfill it’s promise, and be reputable – that can’t happen.

SO MY TECH TEAM AND I HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO SOLVE THAT.

Full Details, in regard to the reasons for the switch (below).

The 5 Main Reasons.

That said, Congrats to Impact Club Eugene!! – $9,800 committed to Branches of Valor.

Eugene got fancy too! – look at that Red Carpet backdrop 🙂

Game on Eugene!

-RYAN

PS: Next up? Impact Club Highlands – January 29th

SWITCH TO ONLINE DONATIONS

“Impact Venture Capitalists!”

In the next 30 days, we’re going to start transitioning every Impact Club member away from cash or check donations, and into credit card donations for a couple of important reasons:

1 – SAFETY

With the rapid expansion of Impact Club, where some Impact Clubs have 200+ members, that means huge amount of cash is being collected at the door. Five, ten, even $15,000 at a recent event.

I don’t know about you. But that terrifies me. After the hours of dusk, 7/11 won’t keep more than $100 in the cash register. And here we have five, ten, even 15K sitting in an envelope next to the door.

Then, we send that cash home with the winning charity –

“Here, $15,000 in cash.”

“Safeguard it.”

So yes, this modification from cash/check donations to digital processing, has been long needed. It’s only a matter of time, if we don’t make the switch, that an Impact Club will be robbed – putting everyone in danger.

Being proactive, oppose to reactive, is a must. I would forever regret it, if something happened.

2 – CONVENIENCE

We have heard you. And we have been listening to ALL of you. We know cash and check donations are highly inefficient and inconvenient. Especially, when you aren’t able to make it the night of the event.

Then people forget.

Then they have to find their checkbook. They have to find a stamp. An envelope. Then have to remember to put it to the mailbox, like it’s the 1950’s. Or since cash isn’t sent in the mail, donation requires an actual delivery.

All the while, members have said – “Can’t I just Paypal it to you…”

“Can’t I use a credit card?”

“Can’t I Venmo?”…

Then, did I mention, people forget? So, a month goes by. Then two months. And the charity that won the majority vote, still waits on the donation committed by each member of Impact Club. Which isn’t fair to them. So, in addition to Safety, convenience is a huge factor.

3 – NO ONE LIKES BEING A BILL COLLECTOR

In fact, recently, I’ve heard from several co-founders that they’ve lost friends. Because, when they try to follow-up to collect donations from members who committed to donate, but didn’t make it the night of the event, there has been some festering resentment involved.

Those member promise to send the donation. “It’s in the mail…”

Then forget.

So co-founders remind them. Text #2…

The member says, “Oh yeah, I forgot. I’ll get that to you…” Then they forget again.

Text #3…

And well – you see where there is going!

When someone makes a commitment to donate, to impact their local community. To help and impact local charities. You should haven’t to hound them. And co-founders certainly don’t like it either.

So, in addition to Safety and Convenience, the elimination of Strenuous follow-up is huge too.

4 – MEMBER MANAGEMENT

With the (soon) launch of Impact Club’s new Infrastructure, which includes a full membership site. It will be easy for Members to manage their donations. Update credit card for donation. Etc.

Or even cancel their membership. (which is ok)

Some members, instead of having the courage to just say, “I think I’m going to cancel.” They ignore the communication of our co-founders, when they follow-up to collect donation. Text #1… Email #1…

Text #2… Email #2…

I mean, c’mon folks, we know you’re getting them. People sleep next to their phone.

That said, inside of the new membership site, under Account & Profile, each member can conveniently manage their membership. Stay. Go. Update their form of donation on file, it’ll all be easy.

5 – BETTER FOR THE WINNING CHARITY

Local charities are burdened enough, often struggling to find ways to do more with less. Less time. Less resources. Less manpower. So, to now have to issue 100 or 200 or 300 tax receipts, can be crippling.

So, by integrating with a 3rd party non-profit, as our donation-processor, we have removed that burden from the local charity. You, each member, also, will get your tax receipt instantly.

No more waiting weeks, or even months, for them to be issued.

On top of that, instead of manually collecting donations for months after the actual event. The winning charity, the very next day, will be issued the full of amount committed by Impact Club members. Which means, immediately, they can start impacting lives.

Boom!!

So, those are the five Core Reasons.

Some I’m sure, will reject this shift, maybe even drop their membership. I get that. But like I said, being proactive is essential. On the grounds of Safety alone, this issue can’t be ignored.

Stay tuned.

Big advancements on the horizon! (Exciting.)

KEEP INSPIRING OTHERS!

Once we launch the new infrastructure and work through the process of transitioning all current members, in each local Impact Club, to the new members’ site. We’ll start launching new clubs.

That is, after all, my favorite part. To see the creation of that initial nucleus in each local community. Those folks, “Your voice is more powerful than your money,” then inspire others.

Upcoming Impact Club dates:

Jan 29th – Impact Club Highlands (TN – 3rd Event)

Jan 31st – Impact Club Northern VA – (5th Event)

Feb 19th – Impact Club S. Canterbury (NZ – 2nd Event)

Feb 20th – Impact Club Frederick (MD – 5th Event)

Feb 20th – Impact Club Conejo Valley (CA – 4th Event)

March 5th – Impact Club Tri Town (IN – 2nd Event)

March 7th – Impact Club Boise (ID – 4th Event)

March 8th – Impact Club Coeur d’Alene (ID – 3rd Event)

March 12th – Impact Club Wilmington (NC – 3rd Event)

March 15th – Impact Club Loveland (OH – 1st Event)

March TBD – Impact Club Fox Cities (WI – 4th Event)

More announced soon…

In January alone, nearly hundred thousand will be donated to local charities!

-Ryan Fletcher

Co-Founder, Impact Club – forever Grateful.

PS: Encourage everyone you know to learn the Language of Story. If they do, life, business, fundraising, relationships, the attraction of opportunity, clients, money, love, etc. will be much easier for them.