Start Up 'Your' Karuna

Karuna History | 9 Steps to Karuna Success | Do's  and Don'ts | Marketing Tips

This web page has been primarily designed to help those of you who wish to start up your own hospice of the same nature as Karuna. To give you the best possible picture and mindset, we wish to inform you about our history before we continue.

KARUNA HISTORY

Indeed you will run into obstacles along the way, to help your progress we will give you a few hint, tips if you will, that we think are useful.

Here are some steps that will help you get started:

9 STEPS TO KARUNA SUCCESS

• Research, research, research.
• This is the first essential rule for any new organisation to get off the ground.
• No money is required for this type of organisation.
• Karuna started out with one volunteer, no money, no car, no building, only a vision, which is the key to success.

• Know your community around you.
• Know their needs and wants, to meet with their demands.
• Carefully analysis other hospice services and start to look for gaps.

• Make a list of what other hospice services do not offer such as a 24 hr service, or a service free of charge etc…and start to build from there.
• This list will provide you with an outline of objectives in which you wish to archive. (When Karuna first got together they worked towards filling 3 major gaps, these were.

• Personalization
• A service free of charge
• A 24 hour service

• Organize a public meeting within your community that consists of medical professionals, volunteers, friends, family and any one who has an interest in your idea.
• A public meeting does not require the expenses of professional advertising in the paper or TV, just through several phone calls.
• This meeting should be used to explain your motives and ideas, and must be completely honest.
• From this meeting you must then organize a second meeting for those who are willing to participate in your organisation.

• Simple advertising must now be applied.
• Again keeping in mind that no money is required.
• Going through the phone book is a good idea in locating all of the medical contacts you will need to get started.
• Doctors, hospitals, nurses, physiologists, old peoples homes, and more will need to be contacted in order for you to gain awareness of your service.

• Sponsorship is a must, a vital key to help you get started.

• With your first couple of clients that you help, you should try to encourage a donation in order for your organisation to help other who are terminally ill.
• This should not be an issue, as you will find that the majority of people you help will be more than generous with their donations.
• With your donations use this to employee one nurse and self employee yourself.
• This is important to your organisation, as any service requires professionals.

• It took Karuna approximately 6 months to generate enough donations that were required to start up the organisation.
• Once you have generated enough donations, buy a building that you can run your service from; keeping in mind that Karuna visits their clients in their own home environment. A building is simply used for employees, volunteers and staff to work from.
• The money raised through donations must be spent wisely. Karuna’s advice is to spend the money on resources that are required to make your clients life as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.
• Nurses, medical equipment, physiologists are very essential tools to have once your organisation gets moving.
• Keeping in mind that community clubs will also be more than willing to donate either money or equipment.

• Expand at a realistic pace.
• Don’t be in a hurry to make your organisation look pretty and professional, remember "Karuna" is a service nothing more or less.
• Always have monthly meetings to set new goals and recap on every ones achievements and ideas.
• In house counseling sessions for volunteers are a must.

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• Start with a vision.
• Know the needs of your community.
• Have a good concept, - it encourages people to give both expertise and dollars.
• Be patient and persistent.
• Encourage volunteers at all times.

• Assume anything.
• Expect donations over night.

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MARKETING TIPS

The marketing efforts of an organization like Karuna are crucial. A non-profit organization is dependant of funding from governmental and private institutions and individuals. The marketing message will be one of the most important element in your organization. As mentioned above, a good concept draws people, knowledge and dollars to you.

To further assist you in the initial stages we give you Karunas key marketing messages.

• A youthful, dynamic organization – only 10 years old.
• Genuine caring and friendly
• Spiritually based and compassionate
• Community based and inviting participation from diverse backgrounds.
• A commitment to high quality holistic care (not only medical)
• Empowering of clients, carers, volunteers and staff.

Along with the marketing aspect of the organization, a lesson of ours that can’t be repeated too many times is: the more integrated and unified the marketing message sent out from various divisions, offices and staff is, the better. The Karuna office in Brisbane and on the Sunshine Coast is continuously working towards an integrated marketing message.

We regard the marketing message important when our sole income relies on governmental and private donations. Also, the less consistent you marketing message is, the less professional and sincere you will appear. Remember, you will be asking individuals and organizations for time and/or dollars, so you better provide them with good reasons to donate to you.