ALS Canada – ‘Ways to Support’ document

A simple, low cost document that tells donors just how far their money will go.

This case study appears in these showcases

• Publications showcase
• The stewardship showcase

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Type of charity:

Country of origin:

Creator/originator:

Scott Fortnum

Name of exhibitor:

Date of first appearance:

Summary/objectives:

These are leave-behind materials used in face-to-face discussions with donors. When distance is an issue, they are occasionally sent out in advance to the potential donor.

Background:

There was a need for a comprehensive document that outlined the tax implications of various giving vehicles. This piece was designed to expose potential donors to the various options and to illustrate the true ‘cost’ of their investment.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease or, in the UK, as Motor Neurone Disease) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, those living with the disease become progressively paralyzed due to degeneration of the upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. Eighty per cent of people with ALS die within two to five years of diagnosis - unable to breathe or swallow. Along with ALS, neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease. According to the World Health Organization, neurodegenerative diseases are predicted to surpass cancer as the second leading cause of death in Canada by 2040.

ALS has no known cure or effective treatment. For every person diagnosed with ALS a person with ALS dies. Approximately 2,500 - 3,000 Canadians currently live with ALS.

The ALS Society is committed to:

• Support research towards a cure for ALS.
• Support provincial ALS societies in their provision of quality care for persons living with ALS.
• Build public awareness of ALS and its impact

Special Characteristics:

Printed as required on office printer, then bound.

Costs:

None (well, almost none).

Merits:

It has proved to be very effective with ALS donors.