You betcha!

Perhaps fundraising has gotten a bad rap as a necessary evil because the methods being utilized are a hassle and a drag for both the giver and the recipient.

Traditional methods may seem "tried and true" but if they`ve outlived their usefulness to the point of having to beg friends, relatives and acquaintances to take part, perhaps its time to exercize that brain matter and start actively searching for new and fun methods.

Just a quick look on the web at companies who solicit orgs to use their fundraising services shows just how boring and greedy their methods are.

Just how excited can members of your org get when trying to sell exhorbitantly overpriced premium gifts from catalogs in exchange for a donation?  Or try to get people to donate cash to your org by buying a punchout in a card for 1% discounts at a supermarket?

Then there`s the much overused events like the embarrassing "jail & bail" concept at a local restaurant where people run away screaming in terror at the mere thought of participating!

So, C`mon people, get together here and explore new fundraising methods.

Fundraising can be fun if you make it so!

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Now THATS what I`m talkin bout!

The $10,000 prize may be a bit steep for some orgs but it can still be reasonable to fit their particular budget.

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Boy, $10,000 would buy a lot of hay and fresh greens. 

Most of our funds come from our adoption fees which kinda cancel out the cost of our spays/neuters. 

We set up a booth outside the local Petsmart to collect donations and try to attend functions where there will be a lot of people willing to share the wealth.  Our best collections have come from our selling water and whatnots at arts festivals and the like.

It's hard if you're the rescue for an unusual pet, to collect donations, however, when there are so many dog and cat rescues who need them as well.

We get by, though.  So maybe God looks out for children, drunks, and animal rescuers.

Sam

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One side of course is the money.

The other side is building relationships. Giving people a sense of ownership in the organization.

Some of the less lucrative methods are every bit as important as the more financially successful ones.

Recycling drives are a very good way to do this. It gives your group an opportunity to put your message out when you appeal to people to start setting aside the material you are going to collect, and an opportunity to have the participants come to several meetings in the course of the drive, until you finish off with a party and a big photo op with the collected material.

The meetings are where you can get some of the real work of your organization accomplished.

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....can be boosted by a scheme known as "Gift Aid" .  This is where a donation made to a registered charity is boosted by extra money from our Inland Revenue, equivilent to the tax paid by the donator on the sum handed over.  There is a simple declaration form to be filled in and signed, then sent in to the Tax Office dealing with your charity.  The only prerequsite is that the donator must have paid tax at least to the amount being paid over to the charity... ..  i.e. a gift of £10 to a UK charity is actually worth £12.82......  so the donator must have paid £2.82 in 'income taxes'.

If anybody from the UK does not know of this scheme, just let me know (e-mailing details at bottom of my profile) and I will pass details on to you.   Please do not use the Network Message system as sometimes I do not check in there for days, and then only quickly skim thru.......far too much spurious mail in that system and much of it duplicated and then forwarded again from yet another friend/friend of friend

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There is a program for non profit organizations that you may not have heard of yet.

http://www.humanebenefits.com/

There is a $10.00 sign up fee, but you can have it withdrawn from donations, so if you dont get donations they dont get money. You dont lose anything.

Its worth looking into, as an extra avenue of donation income.

Athena

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Ahh a topic I actually know something.

1. I think the key for many fundraisers particularly for smaller nonprofits is to provide people an incentive for donating. An incentive can be entertainment, prizes, feeling good about themselves but it generally it should be a combination of all of those things.
2. A second tip, know who you are trying to get as donors trying to fundraise from wealthy socialites is very different from fundraising from college students.
3. Third tip, always compare the amount of time you are spending on a fundraising project with the amount of money that you are getting in return. You might find that it isn't worth it.
4. When planning your fundraiser take into account other things going on in the world. For example for the rabbit rescue group you can consider making your large fundraiser around Easter.
5. If your oranization interacts with people from the community often at fairs and such always have a quick inexpensive and creative way for them to donate on the spot. For example: one fundraiser I have seen is selling little stuffed animals that relate to your cause. Another great one in having post cards printed that have to do with your cause and sell them where ever you are. If people are interested in your group try to have a way for them to donate $5-10 dollars before walking away from your table.
6. Whenever you have a fundraiser give people the opportunity to donate time either instead or money or in addition to giving. This way it give people options on how to become involved.
7. Getting to work at a fun fundraiser can actually be a perk of sort for your volunteers. So if you are hosting a big gala always keep a few tickets for your most valuable volunteers and if you are holding a small fundraiser make sure it is something fun for your volunteers as well.

Phew! I'm sure I will come up with more quick tips later but this will do for now. Hope it helps.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

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There are different levels of fund raising.

To get an idea of the target or goal that your fund raising efforts should be aimed at please visit:

http://www.nycommunitytrust.org/

Read their fund 'giving' guidelines.  This organization is generally unrelated to any C2C goals I have read,... however, their guidelines are very common,... and if you want 'real' money,... these guidelines will give you some basis for how to prepare your non-profit so that it is presentable to organizations that provide large grants

From their home page:

Welcome to The New York Community Trust's Web site.  The New York area's community foundation.  The trust currently manages $1.8 Billion in charitable assets, made up of more than 1,700 funds established by individuals, families, and businesses.  We made $118 million in grants in 2003.

Worth reading I would think.

I also know of a few extremely wealthy individuals that can give 'real' money mostly for educational purposes,... some for general purposes.  I also know of a great resource for finding 'real money' grants, however I would suppose you could understand why I will not post them for people to approach them as some are friends.

As posted before,... (not here) I have a personal friend who calls himself 'Uncle Andy,... The loan arranger' who has provided me with a square mile of land for starting my forest project on.  As soon as I find people that want to help plant a forest,... we shall be using this generous property to do this.  Uncle Andy only helps out 'his' friends,... to get money for projects you would first make friends with me... and then we go see Uncle Andy.

Another source is the guy that invented the machine that keeps people breathing during an operation.  Yes he is very old, very wealthy, and only donates to friends.  I have known him to write checks for over a million $ for some of the causes I have worked on for him.

Seems like I would tap those sources for the nation wide forest I plan to get planted,... you would think.  Simply put,... it needs to be more then just me.  I cannot find anyone other then Ecce that wants a forest in America,... and he is focused mostly in Kentucky,... Uncle Andy is in California,... the other friend is in Oregon.   The money is there, we just have to show some team work and convince them we will actually use the money for the purpose they will give it for.  Anybody wanna help?

There are few organizations that give to anyone they have not had a few dinners with.  They want to know the people they are giving the money to.  The other option is a long history of accomplishment in what ever field the money is needed for.  I would guess that most people reading this have never been in charge of a non-profit before.  So that means friendship will have to be the route for getting grants.  I am willing,... are you? rainforestnow@animail.net

Bill

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This recent campaign I just worked on.

The guy running it put the GPS in the Cell Phone.

Sold his little item for over $1,000,000,000. 

I helped him on his project,... I can get through the door.  Just need to get the proper papers,... a simple presentation,... He's got the money!  Most likely 15 to 30 minutes,... perhaps lunch,... and the check can be signed and on the way to the bank.

It just takes more then just one guy (me) to convince him we will do the project.

rainforestnow@animail.net

Y'know, he was paying near $50 per properly filled out voter registration card.  I got there after the pro's had been working it for 6 months,... at the begining of the campaign,... people were making $10,000 per week,... this guy is not worried about cost,... he is concerned about results.  They all are.

People that wont stand together,... fall apart!

I am not saying here that

YOU NEED TO BE 'MY FRIEND' IF YOU WANT TO GET THE MONEY

I am saying:

I NEED YOU, AS MY FRIEND, SO THAT WE CAN GET THE MONEY!

I need people,... friends, some sort of evidence I have the people resources to get the job done if they give the money.

Republicans and corporations stand together,... I am sure many do not like each other,... but they stand together and they get the money.

Actually if you have been getting to know me,... you should know by now that I believe if we just stood together and helped each other, we would not need their money.  People that stand together get wealthy, that's just how it works.

Consider that I have been gathering signatures on petitions for over 20 years.  At first they paid around .35 per signature for over a million signatures.  Now they still need over a million signatures, but they often pay $2 and $3 and on rare occasions $5 and up 'per signature'  and there will be 10 to 15 issues each season (seasons are short and every other year)  This is the off year.  Simply put these are people that stick together,... the petition managers and their crews.  Without each other,... nobody gets the money.

Nuf said,... you want funds, get to know me,... do things with me so I can tell Uncle Andy what we've done already,.. and he can write a check.  Do something with anybody, so you can show a history of team work.  If interested,... you should do it before he dies, both friends I have are very old,... their offer will last to their last breath, but that might be soon.  Uncle andy has colon cancer and does not plan to get it fixed.

Bill

Did I mention that I got Martin Sheen to endorse the forest project once years ago and did an introductory flyer to the Palos Verdes area (extreme wealth neighborhood)  the only response I got was "Who are you, how do I know you will use the money wisely?"

That's all in the past now.  Perhaps not???

Bill

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Had to pay a 'professional' to go camping with him.

It was in the news,... He paid a lot,... couldn't find a friend that would go camping with him!  He did not call me,... I would have gone with him for sure.

Guess he just could not find friends either!

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one of the best places I have seen for ideas for fundraising for animal groups is humanefundraising@yahoogroups.com.  They ideas that flow from there are incredible.  I have used several of their ideas and have increased our fundraising tremendously.  I do suggest if you join.. open a separate email for them, as there are tons of emails from that group.

Michelle LVT

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I just joined this group today, and just got done reading what people have posted so far, I like the suggestions is this thread, but I am wondering how people have tried to promote something that isn't a local organization.  I've been looking into fundraising ideas for a school I work with in Kenya, and most places here in Montana want to stay local.  The main issue I have is that the supporters of this school are worldwide and we "know" each other through a yahoo group, so I don't know how 'organized' we really are LOL

we don't have 501c3 status, but have partnered with Angel Covers, and thanks to Kari, can now use tax-deductoble in our promotions.  They have also helped us out with fudraising, but they're small and I feel that we may be stretching them a little thin.  They created this FUNdraiser.  http://www.angelcovers.org/marchmadness.html   but we only have raised enough for 1 toliet.

Any other good local ideas out there?

I was delighted to see that the company website where I buy low acid coffee has a FUNDRAISING option.

I checked it out to make sure it shows a good % of profit for the fundraisers and it does. No upfront fees or product buying.

Those who sign people up for orders take the money (they supply brochures, etc), place the order and voila, quick and painless fundraising.

I gotta say, you`d be helping people get tuned into some great coffee as well. I vouch for it, lotsa varieties and flavors and no more acid tummy.  

Check it out:

HEVLA COFFEE

http://www.hevlacoffeeco.com/index.php?r=404&style=default

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still advertise on Care2?  They have a good product, both organic and in-organic.  And have recently set-up a fundraising opportunity.  I'm not familiar with its ease or success rate.

http://www.stretchislandfruit.com/

Many small organization fundraising ideas can be tapped into by becoming involved in the public schools organizations.  I was surprised (while only very few), as to the community participants of whom have no children, or the children are grown.

In the little bit that I've observed, some of them are doing successful product sales through a food company called:  "Market Day".  As well, something called:  "Basket Bingo" appears to be circulating school and Volunteer Fire Department organizations.  Too, some of the old stand by's:

1.  Garden or Parking Lot Carnivals.

2.  Penny Drive

3.  Tupperware Fundraiser (Home Hostess Sales Company)

*Note:  They have 2 sales programs last I checked.  Contact a dealer for accuracy.  One being touted and pushed is through a limited edition of products in a fundraising catalog, giving a higher return in donation.  The other, which I find more successful, and you have to push to get it, is through the sales from the regular product catalog.

4.  Pampered Chef Fundraiser (Home Hostess Sales Company)

5.  Spaghetti dinner's, Friday Fish Fry's, Saturday Barbecue's

6.  Bake Sales

7.  Annual street festivals, themed fairs, or block parties

8.  A church in Texas has built a mock city to re-enact annually what Jeruselem might have looked like in the day of Christ!  The town is actually named Bethlehem, Texas.  LoL!

9.  Some places do Civil War enactments.

10.  Fun Company

11.  Some stadium or Arena Food, Drink and Game Booths will offer up slots to bring volunteers to work and give a percentage of the profit.

That's all I can come up with off the top of my head at the moment.  A google search for fundraiser ideas might turn up more.  Perhaps some in residence here who can give information to tailor for, and/or to the success or failure in these endeavor's.

Lot's of planning and hardwork goes into any fundraising!

I cannot give any recommendation, nor attest to the success and/or legitimacy of this corporate fundraising program.  I'm providing it for informational purposes only.

http://www.marketday.com/?cid=ABMD0606

Hi

I am a founder Representative for Southern Style Gourmet.  We offer a fundraising opportunity for your organization to receive 50% commission on your sales.  If your organization benefits, women and children, I myself will donate an additional 10% profit to your group.

Please contact me at painfulsmiles@care2.com.

Break the Silence

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Not quite sure myself how this works but if you figure it out come back here and share your conclusions with the group ?

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http://www.prosper.com

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Hi

I'd like to alert you to the website I edit the Count Me In Calendar where I profile over 1k not for profit events from the UK, US and Canada. Many users say it is a real useful source of inspiration to see what other fundraisers are doing - ideas which you can copy or add your own spin to.

I'm always looking for new national or larger regional events to profile so do submit your event via the site if you think it is appropriate.

Happy fundraising!

Gareth

Editor

Thanx Gareth.

Good link.

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I think I am a Fundraising Expert!  OK, so maybe I have a BIG Head! 

I was thinking about something that I have done in the past to psych myself up to get donations...

1. First I have to personally believe in the organization

2. I need to know as much about the organiation as I can (and any contraversy surrounding it) HA HA!

3. It has got to be something that people in "my" income bracket (poor) can do to help raise funds.

4. ASK ASK ASK ASK ASK .........   Until someone says yes!  The odds may be against you but get through the no's..... and ask people who want to help what they think of your fundraiser (then you can get them on board too)  People who feel like they have an active part of a group want to help it out and make it successful....

5. Don't forget to say Thanks!  I am in a small town Lions Club and we got matching donations for a fundraiser at Sam's Club.  We invited the Store manager to our meeting and gave him a plaque.  It was not a big deal, you can even print up a letter or send a handwritten card of thanks.  When he got the AWARD he mentioned how many ask for donations ans very few of them give any type of thanks....

We even have a Volunteer Dinner at a shelter with X Battered Women, we all brought pot luck and congradualated each other!

One year I got 180 donations from stores and restraunts enough to furnish an office and give gifts to volunteers and consumers we were helping (Women and Children used in Prostitution).  

6. Have a sign up sheet at each event for people to get more info.  This is how I always have gotten volunteers!  Then start a small group of interested individuals and WALLA! They come up with a project and ideas of how to fund it.  (I even got restraunts to each donate a dish and desserts and coffee for these meetings) and in the Agenda I wrote who the donaors were.  I asked each individual to pick up one item, like bread from a donating store.  Then they felt important and a part of the group even more!

7.  I have even asked floral shops to donate the centerpieces for thse meetings!  Ask everyone who comes, and put it in your newsletter if you have one, the stores who donated and asl people to patranize them!

8.  I did a coloring contest this month and kids got certificates for free pizza buffets and ce Creams (100 of each) from two different restraunts when I told them it was to help kids stay safe!  The larger Project was a Rally & Speak Out for April which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month!  The kids pics are now hanging in the stores that helped out.  I will make up simple certificates of thanks and put them in $1 frames.  I will hand deliver them since I am not yet set up anywhere to have meetings except for the local Library (which is a free and nutral place to have meeting)

9.  I just met (Thursday night) a woman and told her about the Survivors of Abuse Community Center that I want to build for AHHHS my non profit organization and out of no where she is donating me a house to do it in!  She even knows I don't have a 501c3.  I am "just" a Survivor of abuse with BIG HOPES & DREAMS!

(You never know who your next Donor will be!)  Ask professionals for ideas on how to fix up something and they may either help or know someone who can!  Don't limit your possibilities by dreaming too small..

I have wanted to do this for 24 years, and now I am here in Cut N Shoot Texas, and I am!

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I just got my nonprofit organization involved with a company which has a background in helping nonprofit organizations. Ginny Dye started with Shop for Charity Day (SFCD), were people could go online and purchase their products and the merchant would make a donation to the NPO.

She expanded an started another business, Together We Can Change the World, (TWCCTW) Inc, with almost the same concept except instead of just shopping and getting a donation, she made a business out of it. The NPO can sign on shoppers (board of directors, volunteers, staff, administration) who shop online and the merchant pays out a rebate percentage through nine shopping tiers - instead of just one.

I signed up my noprofit, Abundant Life Social Services, and at our first board meeting I am going toask my board of directors to sign up and support our organization. For more information on TWCCTW doing business as (DBA) My Power Mall follow this link: http://www.mypowermall.com/biz/home/11494

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Get your own FREE Website to raise money for your group, club or org. A friend sent me her clubs website through here and I ordered 5 things! I loved their offers. The best thing is you can order as little or as much as you want and the group, club or org gets paid and it shows you just how much they are getting from the product or service you buy.

Check it out and sign up for your FREE Website which is activated immediately for you to see and send out to your email list.

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I just did a little more research on the PROMO FUNDRAISING Website deal. Looks pretty good, especially since they don't charge the org anything like other fundraising sites do. It can be started by an individual (13 years of age and up) to raise money for something or by groups, orgs, clubs. The applications could be limitless! When I think of all the wonderful people on Care2 with so many good causes, this should be of a great help to them.

Here's an example of how it can work for you (taken from their site):

Q: How much can we earn with Promo Fundraising™?
A: Earnings are UNLIMITED! You get paid each and every month that your account is over $25!
Here is an example of how much money you can raise with a group of 30 members:
First, every member of your group or team tries one promotion each that pays out a flat fee of $15. Second, each member sends out emails to 10 friends or family members who each do the same. In this case, your group has earned $4,950.00! The more promotions you and your friends and family try, the more money you can make! Some people will try dozens of promotions on your FREE fundraising website! The earning potential is huge because the special offers are GREAT! 

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I came across this site and havn't tried it but its cheap enough to try out if one has a mind to.

http://www.bedzzzinn.com/fundraiser1.0/

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Help with Fundraising

My GREAT IDEA! 

Hi CARE2 ACIVISTS & DO GOODERS!

Do you want to hear about an easy way to raise awareness and at the same time raise $ money $ for your groups or organizations? 

I can and would love to help You!

I am now an AVON Independant Sales Representative and I can help you to reach your goals online and off!
 
There are NO up front costs to you or your members...

The AVON name practically sells the items itself!

Let me know if this interests you and I can show you how to get started!

email me here at care2 or to my direct email: warrior_womyn31@yahoo.com

Thanks for your time
and all you already do on care2!
Victoria Kelly

psssst.... pass it on!

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How about saving people money on their electricity and natural gas bill?

Your group helps members, neighbors, family and friends save up to 30% on their electricity or natural gas bill. They also get a free vacation coupon.

Now, your group gets a portion of that paid bill sent over as a fundraiser, month after month after month?

Everyone wants to save money. Everyone needs electricity and natural gas, right?

There is a small one time set up fee, but everything is free after that, including all of the marketing materials, flyers, presentation, etc... Everything can be customized for free for individual or group use.

For more details, go to;

http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=19010&pst=773773&saved=1

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Weigh To Give, www.weightogive.org, is a weight-loss-a-thon and health initiative that was developed by the Foundation for Caregivers, a nonprofit.  Anyone can use the system to raise money for any IRS approved charity and promote health at the same time.  The Foundation for Caregivers 2009 goal is for 2 million participants to lose at least 10 million pounds and raise $50 million for community charities. 

In this fundraiser, every participant commits to lose lbs in exchange for sponsor dollars.  Every person sets their own weight loss goal and noone sees anyones weight...just progress toward the goal in pounds lost.   

You can start a team, join a team or go solo and begin fundraising with this  sophisticated on-line resource in a matter of minutes for $15. 

100% of all registration fees and sponsor dollars goes to charity.  It is a fun  event that makes weight loss a charitable mission.  To learn more, go to www.weightogive.org

I have a wonderful way to raise funds for any organization in the US or PR without having to ask your contributors for any money.  The premise  is an online affiliate shopping mall that links your organization with over 1,000 top brand name stores and includes over 300 earth friendly stores as well.  People simply shop for what they already need and use on a regular basis and your organization receives cash back on every sale.  Some of the participating stores are Target,Staples,The Gap,Disney,Walgreens,PetSmart,BestBuy and all monies are issued through Citibank.  The website sets up instantly and can be used as a stand alone site or incorporated as a link into your existing site.  It's a win-win situation for everybody as your contributors get the items they need and your organization gets paid cash back on every purchase.  Contact me at smartshoppersearn@gmail.com for all the details and to share ideas. Wishing you all the best in your efforts.

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