By MICHELE F. MIHALJEVICH
Indiana Correspondent

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Shrinking budgets are forcing the Indiana 4-H Foundation to look inward to continue funding a variety of programs.

The foundation, which leads fundraising for 4-H programs, is hoping to raise $10,000 from county support. Each of the state’s 92 counties is encouraged to donate $110.

“You can’t ask the public for money if we don’t do it ourselves,” said Shelly Bingle-Coffman, 4-H resource development officer for Purdue University’s Cooperative Extension service. “With shrinking Extension budgets and shrinking county budgets, we want to make sure kids have the opportunities that they need.”

Monies raised as a part of the Indiana All For One Campaign will fund programs such as the State 4-H Congress, the State Junior Leader Conference, student loans and fundraising training for Extension educators.

The campaign started at the end of April and runs until Oct. 10. The foundation is a non-profit entity separate from 4-H and the Extension service.

“We’re trying to create a culture of philanthropy and giving within 4-H,” said Bingle-Coffman, also the foundation’s executive director. “We don’t want to leave any stone unturned.”

The foundation is leaving it up to individual counties to determine how each may best raise money. Silent auctions, and seeking donations from 4-H councils, various clubs or junior leaders are all options, Bingle-Coffman explained.

“We don’t want this to be a burden to anyone. It’s a good way to teach the youth where the money comes from. Nothing’s free.”
In addition to asking each county to donate, the foundation is hoping to collect $5,000 from county extension educators through a $2 per paycheck deduction. Educators may also opt for a one-time yearly donation of at least $24.

“I tell them that $2 per paycheck is like a cup of coffee,” she said. “Raising money from individuals is new for us, so we‘ve been playing catch up a little bit.”

Bingle-Coffman figures about 208 of the state’s 280 Extension educators would need to contribute to reach the $5,000 goal.
“Quite a few of the Extension educators have already been doing the deduction and there are some who give more than that,” she noted.

The campaign is the idea of Linda Aldridge, Extension educator for 4-H youth development in Huntington County.

Aldridge serves on the 4-H Foundation Board as a representative from the Indiana Extension Educators Assoc.

The campaign seemed like a logical way to get Extension educators and counties to participate in fundraising, she said.

“In many ways, a strong 4-H indicates a strong Extension program. For county offices, 4-H is their most visible program. This shows we’re all in this together.”

While many 4-H and Extension groups already donate, organizers of the All For One Campaign hope to draw new sources of funding.
“We hope the groups that have donated in the past will continue to do so,” Aldridge explained. “But the real focus in this campaign is on getting new money.”

As word of the campaign has spread, Aldridge said she hasn’t heard any complaints.

“I jokingly say no news is good news. I have had a few educators contact me asking how it works, and I hope they follow up from that. I really have no idea how it’s going to go.”