Subject: RE: Update
From: "Bonnie Raquet" <[email-masked]>
To: "'Rick Leach'" <[email-masked]>, "'Allison Sapp '" <[email-masked]>, "'Amanda Chowning'" <[email-masked]>, "'Barbara Belmont'" <[email-masked]>, "'Carl W. Stern'" <[email-masked]>, "'Dan Glickman'" <[email-masked]>, "'Danley Laurenceau'" <[email-masked]>, "'Darlene Shively'" <[email-masked]>, "'David Novak'" <[email-masked]>, "'Donna Hughes'" <[email-masked]>, "'Dr. Marsha Dubrow'" <[email-masked]>, "'Hunter Biden'" <[email-masked]>, "'Jo Ann Emerson'" <[email-masked]>, "'Jonathan Blum'" <jo
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 16:56:38 -0500

This is a great list of good news, Rick, especially in the context of
Congressional activity these past weeks.  Thanks for sharing.  

Some of the good fundraising news seems to prove out the research reported
in yesterday's WSJ on how to get donors to give more.  Really positive news!

Congratulations to the entire team for this good work!

Bonnie E. Raquet

Mobile: 612-562-0380

E-mail:  [email-masked]

From: Rick Leach [mailto:[email-masked]] 
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 4:31 PM
To: Allison Sapp ; Amanda Chowning; Barbara Belmont; Bonnie Raquet; Carl W.
Stern; Dan Glickman; Danley Laurenceau; Darlene Shively; David Novak; Donna
Hughes; Dr. Marsha Dubrow; Hunter Biden; Jo Ann Emerson; Jonathan Blum;
Katie Dodge; Larry Darrow; Laura Huber; Marshall Matz; Matthew J.
Harrington; Nicole Hertenstein; Pat Walton Butcher
([email-masked]); Randy Russell; Rick Leach; Samuel "Sandy"
Berger; Shannon Hiskey
Subject: Update

Dear Members of the Board,

Good afternoon, following are a few updates:

Omnibus Appropriations includes Increases in Funding for the Fight Against
Global Hunger

While there may be many areas of partisan disagreement, the effort to fight
global hunger unites both parties.  As highlighted in the chart below,
Congress passed FY15 appropriations legislation this weekend that includes
funding levels above the amounts requested by the Administration, with
increases over FY14 levels in a few accounts.  In addition, a Supplemental
Appropriation was included to help alleviate the Ebola outbreak.

ACCOUNT
($ in 1,000)

FY '13 Enacted

FY '14 Enacted

FY '15 President's Request

FY '15 CR/Omnibus

 

 

 

Ag Appropriations

 

 

Food for Peace

$1,361,000

$1,466,000

$1,400,000

$1,466,000

 

 

 

McGovern Dole

$174,744

$185,126

$185,126

$191,626

 

 

 

Local and Regional Purchase

n/a

n/a

$0

$0

 

 

 

SFOPS Appropriations

 

 

International Disaster Assistance (IDA) 

$1,555,000

$1,801,000

$1,300,000

$1,895,000

 

 

 

IDA Ebola Supplemental

n/a

n/a

$1,436,273

$1,436,273

 

 

 

Feed the Future

$950,864

$1,100,000

$1,000,600

$1,000,600

 

 

 

Nutrition

$95,127

$115,000

$101,000

$115,000

The Food for Peace (commodity-based) and International Disaster Assistance
(cash-based) accounts are the main conduits of USG resources for WFP's
emergency response efforts.  The small increase in the McGovern-Dole school
feeding program funding is attributable to Bob Dole's engagement of House
leadership.  We were not able to secure funding for the new Local and
Regional Purchase Program (established in the Farm Bill) but are confident
that we can establish a base of support for this new Program in the year
ahead.  USG contributions to WFP will likely reach $2 billion by years end,
almost $500 million more than was provided in 2013.   WFP will also receive
funds from the Supplemental for its West Africa Ebola response effort (WFP
is working to ensure that the health crisis does not become a food security
crisis.  In addition to providing food assistance, WFP is assisting the
humanitarian community with logistics support - from building Ebola
Treatment Centers to transporting equipment, supplies and personnel). 

Significant Increase in Engagement/Donations from the General Public 

Individual giving has increased significantly in the first two weeks of
December, in excess of projected contribution levels.  We are assessing the
relative impact of a range of actions, including the airing of the 60
Minutes segment on WFP, placements of ads/video (from Times Square to
Google), a partnership with Amazon targeting select audiences, links to
articles placed by WFP USA (including USA Today and the New Yorker),
response to our Thanksgiving appeal and other targeted efforts.  In past
years, 25% of our annual revenue was provided by individual donors.  This
year, we expect increases in overall revenue and the percentage provided by
individuals.    

.         Fundraising: In the first 10 days of December we raised $1.35
million from individuals, with an average of $25,000 per day online (much
higher than our average online donations). 

.         Website: In comparison to a similar timeframe in early November,
the number of sessions on our website have gone up 394%, while average
session duration is up 58% and bounce rate is down 36%; all of this means
that more people are coming to our site, and they're spending more time on
it. Furthermore, our online conversion rate has gone up 799%. Conversion
rate is the percentage of visits to our website that have resulted in a
donation. 

.         Social Media: Our interactions on Facebook and Twitter have gone
up 197%, which means we're engaging with more users. Our impressions have
gone up 311%, which means we're reaching more users, even those who are not
already following us.

Effort to Increase "cargo preference" Defeated

WFP USA and it partners successfully defeated an effort in Congress to
increase the percentage of food assistance required to be transported on US
flag ships.  This effort would have increased transportation costs by
approximately $75 million, thereby decreasing the number of people assisted
by USG food assistance by an estimated 2 million.  The provisions to
increase cargo preference were included in legislation initially passed by
the House.  Thanks to the bi-partisan efforts of Senators Corker (R-TN) and
Coons (D-DE), the problematic provisions were removed before the final vote.

The apolitical/bipartisan commitment to fight global hunger has the deep
support of the American People.  It is a clear statement about our shared
values and principles that transcends politics and party.   

FYI, attached is a special supplement in USA Today (with a piece by WFP USA
and an article on Christina Aguilera) and following is the link to the 60
Minutes segment:  60 Minutes segment on WFP
<http://www.cbsnews.com/news/war-and-hunger-world-food-programme-and-syrian-
refugees-in-jordan/> 's Syria operation.

Thank you very much for your continued commitment - your support is greatly
appreciated.

All the Best,

Rick

 

Richard Leach

President & CEO

World Food Program USA

1725 Eye Street NW, Suite 510

Washington, DC 20006

T 202.627.3737

F 202.530.1698

[email-masked] <mailto:[email-masked]>