Convincing Letter Brings in $22,000 in 6 Months
Polson, Montana (pop. 12,000) -- The Polson Fire Department purchased two T3s in 2001, after raising $22,000 in less than six months through a fundraising letter mailed to corporations and individuals in the area. Their letter, which included the compelling story of the near loss of three firefighters in nearby Ronan, Montana, in October of 2000, helped convince Polson residents and corporate citizens of the importance of thermal imaging technology.
Fire Chief Thomas J. Maloney: “Our neighbors, Ronan Fire Dept., had a save with their thermal imager, which helped us personalize our campaign. We used Bullard's PowerPoint and video at public events to make our points about how the technology works and why it’s important. It worked out well. We’re truly lucky to get this done in such a short time… We’ve found that our imagers are like the Jaws of Life: we use them all the time, every chance we get. We’ve been especially successful in using our thermal imagers to save property.”
Funding Tip:
Polson Fire Department did research to find a local fire department that had a great story to tell about the impact of thermal imaging. This personalized the campaign and helped leaders communicate the importance of the technology to local residents as they made presentations around the community. Look for ways to personalize your campaign, using stories about local departments when possible.