22 Million Is Yours, If You Stick To Tried And Tested Methods

We met at a conference in Bratislava a few years ago, but in Prague we had the chance to talk at length. It was before the launch of the VIA Foundation’s “1:1 Campaign”. To this very day I can still recall how he told me something fundamental, in an off-hand way but at the same time with a glow in his eyes: “Sticking to tried and tested methods and rules simply works”. Two years later, the VIA Foundation’s “1:1 Campaign” raised 22.5 million Czech korunas.

Tony Myers manages to understand the world’s richest people to such an extent that they will open even the deepest pockets to him. He has been sharing his experience his whole life and in the people of Central and Eastern Europe he has gained his most fervent students.

Three years ago he came to Prague to help the VIA Foundation raise 9 million korunas. Together with the Foundation’s team he managed to raise more than twice that target. For the first time in history, private Czech donors came together to increase a foundation’s endowment. Together with the VIA Foundation they raised capital that will help people and non-profit organizations across the whole of the Czech Republic for the next few decades. The VIA Foundation’s “1: 1 Campaign” raised 22.5 million korunas. The campaign was jointly led by the foundation and a group of prominent Czech figures, including, for instance, Sanjiv Suri, owner of the Zátiší Group, Libor Malý, founder of the http://www.prace.cz, http://www.jobs.cz and http://www.hearth.net servers, as well as the visionary and mathematician Karel Janeček.

Tony is the kind of person who generously shares his experience and is happy when someone else can be enriched by that experience. “I’m 66,” he says. “If I’m lucky I have 20 years of my life left. If I’m really lucky, maybe 30. Or maybe I only have one year left. I want to pass on everything that I’ve learnt. For me, it’s a gift and a blessing that I’m here.”

In response to the question what do people usually donate to, he says: “To the causes that are important to them. If I talk to you for a while I will find out what is important to you and I will immediately know what you give money to or to what you will be prepared to devote your time.” He is convinced that here, right now is a good time for philanthropy. “It’s the right time just now, and that’s why I’m here. It’s a golden age for philanthropy and Central Europe has, in that sense, just been born. You can call it evolution, or revolution, because, now, after more than 20 years, the time for a new era has come. The time is coming when people who have become successful here, want to help people who live here.”

Tony Myers is a passionate enthusiast, fundraiser, consultant, strategist, writer, speaker and trainer who enjoys raising money as well as helping others be successful in fundraising. His strident presentations can change your way of thinking, offer a new perspective and strengthen your faith in your own ability to build a better world. Don’t miss out on the chance to meet not only him at “CEE Fundraising Conference” which takes place on the 8-10 October 2014 in Bratislava. It will be worth it.

By the way, he enjoys returning to Bratislava and considers our conference to be one of the best. In short, he likes us.