Far Bigger Than A Big Mac
Last week the mainstream media marked the death of Michael ‘Jim’ Delligatti, who invented McDonald’s two-tiered burger at his Uniontown, Pennsylvania franchise. He was 98.
Back then, in the mid-1960s, Delligatti’s Big Mac sold for US$0.49 cents and left a lasting, if questionably nutritious, mark on consumer habits in the U.S. and around the globe.
Today, in terms of true organizational nutrition and honest-to-goodness innovation, The Agitator joins our colleagues over at 101Fundraising in honoring a — very much alive — fundraising pioneer: Gerhard ‘Wally’ Wallmeyer.
Each time you hear the terms ‘regular or monthly donor’, ‘sustainer’ and ‘direct debit’ give thanks for Wally — the “inventor” of the concept which is now employed by nonprofits around the world.
Wally is retiring from Greenpeace but his legacy won’t quit. In his 36 years as Fundraising Director of Greenpeace Germany (the largest fundraising operation in that organization’s global network) Wally and his team have raised more than a billion euros! That’s right: Billion.
I first met Wally in 1980 on a rainy Hamburg morning when our firm Craver, Mathews, Smith was working to expand Greenpeace fundraising in the U.S., Canada, the UK and Europe.
I dusted off my notes from that long-ago meeting 36 years ago: “He’s bright, iconoclastic and ready to think outside the box.” So true.
As the pioneer of the monthly, direct debit program his efforts have not only been a major financial anchor for Greenpeace worldwide, but a shining example for hundreds of organizations in the rest of our sector.
To see what Wally’s work means to others read the tributes appearing today in 101Fundraising.
Wally’s career is a perfect reflection of the saying, “He planted trees so others might enjoy the shade.”
Job well done, Wally.
Roger
3 responses to “Far Bigger Than A Big Mac”
Behavioral Science Q & A
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I’m not sure which is more impressive, the fundraising innovation and billion euros raised or that Roger still has his notes from a meeting 36 years ago!
I was just “ruminating” the other day about some of the great individuals I’ve had the privilege to work with in this crazy world: Chris Stagg, Freeman Gosden, Bob Hemmings, Russ Reid, JoVon Tucker.
Your article on Wally got me to thinking that perhaps there is a place where these and others who have contributed so much to our industry could be remembered, along with their achievements.
Somehow….I would expect that Roger has his notes from 36 years ago.