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Now The gifts catalog concept needn't be limited to the printed word. In Atlanta, 0 a nonprofit organization produced a film which illustrated, itemized and packaged some of the major needs of Atlanta's High Museum and the overall park system. The Second Century Fund in New York developed a slide show to complement its Central Park gifts catalog. All three media approaches could be employed for different audiences. What's 5o Great About Gifts Catalogs? * An Effective Way to Involve the Private Sector Present economic and political realities provide.a strong motivation for leisure service and conservation agencies to more thoroughly involve the private sector for assistance. The message of the taxpayers' revolt is that governmental agencies must operate with fewer tax dollars. By involv- ing the private sector as a partner in every "marketable" aspect of your programs, you can continue to provide high quality recreation opportunities. The challenge is to devise mechanisms that foster a partnership. A gifts catalog is one such mechanism. You can make a direct appeal for assistance. Your gifts catalog can include a list of recreation projects/programs which have been cut back or eliminated for lack of adequate funding. Be aware of special opportunities. In California, for example, property taxpayers and some renters will receive a "windfall" as a result of the passag? Proposition 13. The taxpayers may be willing to channel some of that: fall into community leisure services if an effective appeal is made. California special district has asked its residences to donate one month's worth of their property tax savings. The gifts catalog is an effective device you can use in requesting assistancd from your community! * A Quick and Easy Approach The gifts catalog approach is an inexpensive, fast and easy method of rais- ing funds relative to the donations it can attract. Most agencies and organizations which have experimented with the gifts catalog report that the catalog has paid for itself many times over. Most of the preparation can be done in-house. For approximately $10,000 (including mailing and promotional costs), the City of Houston's sifts catalog netted a quarter of a million dollars in its first year. Riding on a crest of Bicentennial enthusiasm,Boston received $150,000 for its "Liberty Plant -Tree" program, at little expense to the City. Once an agency or organization has undertaken a systematic and comprehensive inventory of its needs, a gifts catalog can be designed, written and distri- buted in a matter of weeks. �q 1 *