Philanthropic Values
At Masonic Homes Kentucky, we believe that philanthropy is the initiative that occurs when people see a need, and the response they give affects change. Philanthropy is a fundamental human impulse to say how life should be, or could be.
Philanthropy is not about money-making or money-giving. It is a dignified process based on marketing principles and an exchange of values. We invite donors to participate in programs that mirror their values and preserve their interest, meet their needs for recognition, belonging and feeling of making a difference. Needs at the communities become opportunities for donors to invest.
Philanthropy at Masonic is directed toward a lifetime of quality care for both older persons and medically fragile children. It also includes programs, health care services, and education, as well as special projects, capital expansion, and institutional stability. General operational support is sought to ensure ongoing growth and development of important programs and services. Restricted gifts and grants are applied toward projects which cannot be funded through general revenue, demonstrating to donors and the community that their discretionary dollars are vital, in an extraordinary way.
At Masonic, philanthropy is never taken for granted. We recognize that when we receive a gift, be it large or small, our responsibility is to steward the funds in the most prudent way possible and exactly as the donor intended. We will respond to our donors with respect, giving due recognition and timely reports.
The role of the staff and volunteers in the philanthropic process is as follows:
- Facilitator — of people, ideas, and resources
- Conscience — of our mission
- Advocate — for a higher quality of life through appreciation and understanding of our health care and professional services
- Catalyst — for the provision of quality programs and services
- Steward — for wise and proper use of resources
It is our responsibility to serve both the interests of the donor and the institution while working as part of professional and volunteer teams. We practice “case management,” which assures that donor relationships are properly built and nurtured and which offers staff subscribers/members the opportunity for individual growth and leadership.
Our relationships emphasize the human dimension, focusing on donor motivations and constituent education, not fundraising methodologies and balance sheets. Specifically, we focus on how philanthropy enriches both the donor and the community by enabling people and programs to flourish and by encouraging investment in the quality of life in our community.