The economic downturn has taken its toll on the Regional Medical Center's Foundation, with donations falling about 14 percent in 2008.

Giving during the critically important month of December is down about 38 percent from a year ago. The Foundation relies on the larger gifts donors typically make at the end of the tax year.

"Obviously, the stock market downturn and losses in personal savings, coupled with the overall economic angst of the past year, have resulted in lower levels of giving to the Foundation than achieved in recent years," said Mac Burton, RMC Foundation executive director.

For the fiscal year which ended Sept. 30, 2008, the foundation received $424,922 in gifts, compared to $493,477 in fiscal year 2007.

"We are trying harder and are not getting caught up in the gloom and doom," Burton said. "We are sending out more end-of-the-year appeals and keeping the traditional standing things we do as strong as we can. We are stating our case more clearly and more forcefully."

The RMC is not alone when it comes to facing these challenges.

Burton said a recent survey in the Chronicle of Philanthropy showed that of 35 major charities, 28 are collecting less than they did the year before. Ten of the 28 have seen giving decline more than 10 percent.

Burton, who has been in nonprofit management for more than three decades, says his experience has shown that when the times get tough, the local community and Americans get going.

He is hoping the same giving trend will continue.

"Fortunately, many of the people in our community and across the country who can afford to help others dig deeper during hard times," Burton said. "Per capita giving during the Foundation's Employee Appeal rose this past fall to almost $260 per person - up from $218 in 2007. But there are concerns going forward."

The RMC Foundation, which is a separately incorporated organization, exists to encourage private financial support to benefit the programs, clinical services and health-related outreach initiatives of the hospital. Today, the foundation continues to attract gifts of support for cancer patients and has added about a dozen other standing funds which help various clinical services and health outreach programs.

Funds are raised through various community events and special appeals, with one of its largest fund-raising efforts being the February gala. A majority of the funds raised there have been used to support the cancer center.

In addition to the hospital's Foundation, Burton said also getting hit hard are patients who cannot afford medicines and other basic necessities such as utilities, food and rent payments. Burton said patient requests for financial assistance have increased over the last few months by at least 30 percent.

The hospital currently has two "humanitarian" fund allocations within its Chaplain's Fund and Hospice Fund, Burton said, adding that the hospital has applied for more grants in an effort to help with the needs. But, the fund stream is limited, he said.

"There is not a whole lot we can do," Burton said. "There are heart-wrenching needs we cannot fund."

T&D Staff Writer Gene Zaleski can be reached by e-mail at gzaleski@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5551. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com

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