Children First: Camp Fire USA's Campaign for the 21st Century

Growth in image. Growth in participation. Growth in resources. Camp Fire USA's road map for achieving a systemwide transformation is predicated on these three growth goals. To ensure that Camp Fire has sufficient financial, capital and human resources to fund and sustain a systemwide transformation, we are conducting the Children First Campaign. Every local Camp Fire USA council across the United States will feel the impact of this comprehensive fund-raising effort over the next four years.

The Children First Campaign will enable Camp Fire USA to change the lives of America's youth and families. This successful campaign will:

• Broaden philanthropic support for the national organization.
• Increase the capacity for local councils to raise funds.
• Result in a deeper base of volunteer leadership for continued growth.

Major Components of the Campaign

Growth in Image

Camp Fire USA will achieve growth in image through a national awareness campaign, unique cause marketing partnerships, and greater consumer brand recognition. We have distributed to councils a comprehensive, state-of-the-art marketing tool kit an are implementing a mentoring plan to help them build public awareness within their communities. The transformed brand image will be infused into all program and merchandising materials.

Growth in Participation

Camp Fire USA will serve 1 million children, youth and family members annually with mission-driven, outcome-specific programs in all 50 states and the top 20 urban markets. A key component is Camp Fire's Community/Family Club, which is currently being offered in dozens of sites in Texas, Oklahoma, Chicago, Kansas City, Atlanta and Boston. Through these pilots, Camp Fire is delivering innovative, small group programming to whole families-parents and siblings of all ages, infants through teens, are included, and developmental outcomes are identified for every age level, including the adults.

Growth in Resources

This will be achieved through the Children First Campaign, comprehensive annual and major gift programs and broad initiatives that build capacity, improve technology and equip staff and volunteer leadership for the 21st century. Camp Fire USA will be able to plan and implement change and position itself to become parents' and children's logical choice for after-school and out-of-school time programming.