Eva Kováčová on the Behind-the-Scenes of Daffodil Day: How 16 People Manage the Largest Charity in Slovakia?
Imagine a company that has expenses for 365 days, but must earn most of its income in a single day. That's how Daffodil Day operates. In Biznislab, we opened the topic of extreme efficiency, partnerships, and the real impact of assistance with Eva Kováčová, the executive director of the League Against Cancer.
Extreme Efficiency: A Million Daffodils in the Hands of a Small Team
The numbers associated with Daffodil Day are almost unimaginable for the average person. The organization distributes nearly a million daffodil pins across Slovakia in more than 1,500 boxes. On the actual day, more than 12,500 volunteers take to the streets, overseen by 1,075 co-organizers - from schools to scouts and civic associations.
What surprises the business audience the most is the size of the core team. The entire League Against Cancer, with three centers across Slovakia - in Bratislava, Martin, and Košice, consists of only 16 permanent employees. Eva Kováčová attributes this extreme efficiency to the long-term stability of the team: “The vast majority of these people have been with me in the League Against Cancer for about 15 to 20 years. Systematic approach, consistency, understanding of problems, that's probably the recipe for the proverbial success”.
In such a team, there are no strict comfort zones. The executive director does not hide the fact that it is common for her to carry boxes in the morning, unload leaflets at noon, and record a podcast in the afternoon.
Companies Help Not Only Financially. Where Do Meaningful CSR and Creativity Meet?
Although Daffodil Day, which last year brought in a net revenue of more than 1.3 million euros, accounts for about 60 – 70% of the income, the organization also relies on 2% from taxes and corporate fundraising.
In today's economically challenging times, gaining support is more difficult and depends mainly on how the organization presents the meaningfulness of its projects. Responsible companies know that quality CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activities are not just about blindly sending money, but about real partnership and pro bono services. In the podcast, Eva Kováčová gave a great example from the marketing environment: one of the advertising agencies provides the League Against Cancer with communication design, while the advertising creativity for Daffodil Day is created absolutely non-commercially, only covering direct costs. Meaningful help from companies thus takes various forms - from providing drinks for volunteers to top-notch professional services.
More Than Just One Day: Where Does the Money Really Go?
Many people know the league only through Daffodil Day and the pinned flower, but they do not realize what happens during the remaining 364 days of the year. Annually, about 35 to 40 thousand oncology patients are added in Slovakia, and the collected money is transformed into tangible everyday help:
- Oncology Counseling: A seven-day free service where 28 experts, including oncologists, psychologists, and socio-legal advisors, provide advice. It saves precious time for overburdened doctors.
- Network of Onco-Psychologists: 26 psychologists across Slovakia provide free sessions to patients, which is crucial in coping with demanding treatment.
- Nurse Education: The league organizes unique training for nurses, teaching them to communicate empathetically with patients and educating them about the so-called "social minimum" to properly direct patients to available contributions.
- Financial Support and Accommodation: Annually, about 200,000 euros are allocated for one-time contributions to families in material need. They also operate accommodation facilities at Bratislava's Kramáre for parents of hospitalized children and adult patients from other cities.
A Lesson in Humanity Not Only for Managers
Working in the non-profit sector also brings important life lessons about empathy. At the end of the interview, a strong message was conveyed to everyone in business. Eva Kováčová mentioned a meeting with a top manager who coldly and without empathy refused her request for support. Six months later, however, he came to them personally with an oncology diagnosis, asking for help. The organization helped him just as selflessly as it helps thousands of others. It is a strong reminder that in business and in life “we never know on which side of the shore we are.”
Our Cooperation with the League Against Cancer
The topic of digitization and process efficiency is close not only to the Biznislab podcast but also to the ui42 agency itself. We are proud to collaborate with the League Against Cancer on the organization's main communication activities.
If you are interested in how this cooperation looks in practice and what solutions it brings, check out the detailed case study.
Did this story about efficiency and meaningful help catch your attention? Listen to the entire podcast episode with Eva Kováčová full of more inspiring thoughts, numbers, and managerial lessons on our website or in all podcast applications.
