Fundraising With Discount Cards

Many organizations find that creating gift or discount cards is an effective fundraising tool, particularly for school events and projects.  Events may include field trips, fun days or any other kind of unusual event that cannot be funded by the school, such as a foreign trip as a class.  Special projects may include raising money for new sports or band uniforms, equipment, supplies or scholarships.

Using Gift and Discount Cards as Fundraising Tools

There are several ways in which you can arrange and organize this type of project.  For gift cards, it is likely that the easiest way is to approach local businesses that would be interested in supporting the cause, project or event.  This can be approached as if the cards are going to be sold individually or if they are going to be raffled off as part of a larger program.  Many people like gift cards and discount cards because they are often related to places they would ordinarily go.  It is a win-win situation!

The same can be said about using local businesses for discount cards.  This type of program is very popular when it comes to school projects.  However, if selling the discount cards online, it is best to try to entice larger, regional, statewide or national businesses to participate so that the discount cards will generate more interest and have a broader appeal, thereby raising more money.

Cancer Fundraiser Ideas

Finding and developing creative fundraiser ideas for cancer patients is not an easy task.  Cancer treatments and accompanying expenses can add up quickly and the cost may seem insurmountable, even if there is an insurance plan involved that pays the majority of the bill.  To offset the rest of the cost, many people will hold fundraisers that can help to significantly reduce the remaining expense.

Creative Ideas for Cancer Patients

There are many creative and fun fundraiser ideas that can raise a substantial amount of money for such causes.  Each year the American Cancer Society holds a Relay for Life, which raises a large amount of money.  People wishing to raise funds may consider a similar event.  Other suggestions include holding a raffle.  A raffle can easily raise thousands of dollars simply by gathering together many relatively small donations in exchange for prizes.  The prizes may be donated by volunteers or businesses.  Naturally, the higher the value of the prize, the more one can charge for a raffle ticket.  Some organizations will give away part of the proceeds to a lucky winner but most will keep the proceeds for the cause.  Some of the things that are commonly raffled off are baked goods, vehicles, artwork, handmade items such as crafts including pottery or jewelry, rugs and quilts.  Of course, the larger the reward, the more money will be brought in.  Advertising the fundraising idea on MicroGiving will help to spread the word.

Creating Fundraising Networks

It is relatively easy to create a fundraising network via MicroGiving.  In fact, MicroGiving was designed specifically to help people create an interpersonal system of raising money through a person-to-person or donor to recipient connection.  Since 2007, MicroGiving has helped numerous people, communities and charitable organizations raise funds necessary for a wide variety of projects.

Fundraising Through Interpersonal Contacts

Once a person or group has developed a fundraising campaign, MicroGiving makes it easy to blast the information to personal and professional contacts via email and social networking sites.  From those locations, the person or group raising the funds can ask to have the information forwarded to people that may be willing and able to help.

In addition to receiving donations, fundraisers should also consider the option of applying for micro loans or micro credit.  There are many different opportunities for receiving these loans from various sources.  The details on obtaining micro loans and/or micro credit will depend solely upon the nature of the project as well as the requirements of the lender/grantor.

When creating a fundraiser, one should remember to state clearly the project needs and the amount funded so that there is the best possible chance of raising necessary funds.  When a project is funded, a group or individual may also consider “paying it forward” by donating to another cause that is advertised on the site.

Raise Money Online by Creating a new Campaign

There are countless reasons people may need to raise money online.  MicroGiving gives each person an opportunity to raise money  through a number of ways, the main one being the creation of a charity page.  Each page describes how much money is needed for the specific charity and also explains the need.  A calculator is included with each page to show the amount that has been raised to date plus the percentage of the charity that has already been funded.

This month alone 119 new charities have been added to the website.  They include fundraising efforts for Education, Art, Animals, Business, Community, Cuisine, Education, Entrepreneurial, Events, Environmental, Fashion, Film, Invention, Music, Non-Profit, Performance, Photography, Technology and Writing.  There are also categories under the heading of Hardship, which include Death in Family, Domestic Violence, Disability, Home Repair, Medical Treatment, Loss of Income, Loss of Housing, Loss of Utilities, Natural Disaster, Vehicle Repairs and Veterinary Care.

Raise Money Through a new Charity

Potential supporters may search specific charities by category, posting date, or amount funded.  There is also a featured category that can help people to raise money even faster.  Perhaps one of the best features that will help charities raise money online is the ability to link to Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites so that people can spread the word about the need.

Raising Money and Giving Back

MicroGiving has created a T-shirt design that will help people with raising money and the T-shirt has become the website’s official T-shirt.  It is super cool and will prompt people to donate in order to receive this trendy garment.  All of the proceeds from T-shirt sales will be sent directly to supporting people in need that are registered with the website.

Raising Money and Offering Goods in Return

The T-shirts are made to look vintage, with a striation pattern that adorned each well loved tee of your youth.  The cotton is a 50/50 cotton-polyester blend that is extremely soft.  It is designed in a “burnout” style, which makes it great for layering with other items.  Of course, no one will want those layers to cover the trendy design.  However, the tees tend to run small, so supporters may want to consider ordering one size larger for a comfortable fit.

As with every offer, there is a catch – there are only 20 days left for people to buy the T-shirt and to help support a favorite cause.  With a project total of $1,000, the goal should be easy to reach.  The tees can be had for $50 each, and supporters of the charity will be able to obtain one for each small donation.  Fundraisers are flocking to the project, so it is important to act quickly to secure one of the unique items before they are all gone.

Raise Money Online for Every Purpose

Finding new and interesting ways to raise money online can be a challenge as well as an adventure.  There are many resources available to help gather ideas, execute the fundraising effort and to spread the word.  Using an online resource gives the fundraiser the opportunity to reach more people than ever before.  It also means that when the fundraiser is in a position to give back, there are resources to help do that as well.

Everyone Can Raise Money

The concept of “paying it forward” is not a new one.  It is born out of the Golden Rule of “do unto others.”  If someone is able to support your particular request, whether it is for a charity, personal need or other cause, it would be nice to be able to support those people in return should the need arise.

A fundraiser website promotes giving for many different kinds of projects such as artistic pursuits, medical needs, housing assistance and vehicle assistance.  There are no limits to the type of cause a person can promote or to the amount of money that may be raised.

If you have a particular cause or need, be sure to read the terms and conditions on the site to ensure that you are eligible.  It is simple to sign up and get started.  Soon you could be on your way to seeing your dream come true.

Ways to Raise Money for Charity: Auction Your Possessions

There are many ways to raise money for the charity of your choice, but one method that is becoming increasingly popular is to auction off personal belongings.

When selling valuables to make cash it is paramount that you take the time to think carefully about what you’re selling. While you will ultimately be donating to a good cause, don’t just rush in and auction everything off in one go, because six months down the line you or your donors may be disheartened that something precious or with sentimental was sold. Donors should carefully consider which possessions they want to sell on before committing to placing them into an auction because, once they’re gone, you can’t get them back.

Auction Your Possessions – One of Many Ways to Raise Money for your Charity

Once you and the rest of your fundraisers have decided what to sell, it’s simply a matter of locating a website that allows you to auction the belongings. One of the most known is eBay, a fantastic auction site where you can sell second hand or even brand new goods to eager customers. Auction items with a reserve or simply place as a ‘buy it now’ good to start selling. Meanwhile, if you have more specific antiques, you can use websites such as ‘Value My Stuff’ to get an estimate value before you sell. And if you have clothes you don’t want, you could even use the new ASOS marketplace to list fashion apparel.

Auctioning off items is just one of many ways to raise money, whilst inspiring and attracting new donors to help with your charitable cause.

How to Raise Money for Individual Projects

When people think of charity they often think of organizations that are non-profit.  However, there are many instances in which people may need to learn how to raise money for personal projects or needs.  In the past, these people might have to use assistance programs, grants, loans, philanthropy or charity to meet these needs.  A person’s needs might range from funding an artistic project to buying a new car, adding a much needed roof to a house or some other worthy cause.  As such, their fundraising efforts may be thought of as frivolous or unworthy of traditional fundraising efforts.

Using Online Resources to Raise Money

These people may benefit from learning how to raise money via the internet.  It may seem difficult, if not impossible, to raise money online, especially if there is a time frame attached to the project.  Still, it is not hopeless.  People can use sites like Microgiving to organize a charity or project that needs to be funded.  The word can be spread through email blasts and social media forums such as blogs, Twitter and Facebook.  Fundraisers may also wish to advertise on Craigslist and similar sites for extra exposure.  Additionally, utilizing search engines can benefit the charity through applicable programs, forums, groups and interested parties that may be willing to help fund the project with little or no repayment after the project’s end.

Ways to Raise Money for Kids

Finding ways to raise money is not very difficult but it can be a challenge to find the right way for a special group.  Even more challenging is finding ways to raise money that can also educate children about the value of a dollar as well as giving service to the community.  One way in which children can benefit from fundraising is through a toy drive.

Showing Children The Gift of Giving

Most children have toys that they have outgrown or no longer play with on a regular basis.  More often than not, there are items stuffed in drawers, toy chests and cupboards that could be sold to make a profit for a fundraiser. Once the toys are collected, children can be put in charge of cleaning and organizing the toys and can also assist in helping to repair them, if necessary.  Toys that are not acceptable for sale can be donated elsewhere or thrown out with the trash.Toys may also be collected from neighbors, families and friends to make the event even more successful.

Teaching children about community service and the value of money will serve them well into the future and throughout their adult lives.  In addition, it will teach them to value what they have and to appreciate their things and to take better care of them.

Ways to Raise Money

It is not always easy to find unique ways to raise money that will work for your specific group.  Having a brainstorming session will be the best way to determine the ideal fundraiser for your charity, community or school project, or event.

Who should be involved in the fundraiser?  The group planning the fundraiser should include everyone that will participate in some way, from the organizer to the volunteers.  It is vital to keep the brainstorming session open and free flowing, yet organized so it does not take an entire evening to discuss, only to come up with no solid suggestions.

Obtaining Great Fundraising Ideas

The first thing to do is to create an agenda.  There should be a list of items to discuss on the agenda, such as:

What type of fundraiser is needed?

How much money is needed?

What is the time frame?

Who will be involved?

Are there any individuals or groups that are willing to donate time, money and/or materials?

What is the profit margin on the project?

To ensure that the meeting is effective, ask people to write down their suggestions for ways to raise money before the meeting starts so that each can be discussed in turn.  Setting a time frame for the meeting and overall discussion will help to keep everyone focused and on task.  Once the basic fundraiser idea is decided, tasks for the development and execution of the fundraiser can be assigned to the volunteers and organizers.

How to Raise Money as an Individual

There are many resources that can be used to raise money for charity groups but there are fewer resources for those that need to raise funds on a smaller, individual basis.  Raising money in a tough economy is not an easy task.  However, there are some ideas that can net a fair amount of money if implemented correctly.  Listed below are some ways in which an individual may be able to raise funds for a specific cause.  Some involve standard charity-type fundraising while others are more related to work.

How to Raise Money Outside an Organization

1.     Hold a garage sale.  While this may seem simple, it can be very profitable, particularly if neighbors and friends are willing to donate items to the cause.

2.     Sell items on eBay.  People on eBay seem willing to buy almost anything.  Sellers might be surprised at how easy it is to get rid of unused items around the house.

3.     Blogging.  Blogging and writing short freelance articles will not make someone rich but it can certainly bring in some money.  Aside from that, it is easy work.

4.     Hold a bake or craft sale.  As with a garage sale, friends and neighbors are often eager to lend a hand by donating some type of baked good or craft.

5.     Hold a benefit dinner.  Benefit dinners can be highly successful and profitable, particularly if the items that will be served at the meal have been donated by a local restaurant or food supply service.

Online Fundraising Websites

Individuals and organizations all over the world have turned to online fundraising as a way to benefit their charities, schools, churches and personal needs.  Raising money online is much simpler than holding a traditional event because it takes less work overall, reaches many more people, and actually involves fewer people.  Supporters of the cause can simply log on and go to a specific website to donate to the charity without having to get into their cars, brave inclement weather or disrupt their busy work days or precious days off.

Online Fundraising Tools Make Events Easier

Online fundraising has also become increasingly popular because of the vast number of people that can be reached quickly and easily.  It seems that nearly everyone we know is connected to the internet in one way or another or knows someone who is connected and, therefore, can get access.

The websites promoting online fundraising vary by type of fundraiser, fees charge and services provided.  It is best to research these individual sites for customer satisfaction, retention rate, and to see if the site offers the services your organization needs.

There are dozens of sites to choose from and each will help to design and execute a fundraiser.  However, it is important to know what the website requires from you and what it is willing to provide.  Most will charge a nominal fee for their work.  It may range from 2-10%, depending on specific criteria.

Fundraiser Giveaways

If you or your church, school, community or charity organization is planning a fundraiser to raise money , you may want to consider purchasing some type of giveaway to encourage people to donate and participate.  The giveaway items do not have to be large or extravagant; they should simply be a small token of appreciation or serve as a remembrance of the event.  The right items may also help to attract future donors and volunteers for the next event.

Items to Give Away at Fundraisers

It is very common to see T-shirts being given out at charity races or sporting events.  Carnivals may inspire personalized balloons or glow in the dark toys.  Schools have a plethora of items to choose from to promote their event, such as pencils and bookmarks, movie or carnival passes, candy, grab bags, small toys or pencil boxes.

There are many useful websites dedicated to supplying these types of giveaways.  Some also offer fundraising services such as candy or magazine sales.

When organizing the fundraiser, it is important to have a budget in place.  The bottom line will be the proposed amount of donations and funds that will be brought in by the event.  A small portion of that amount can be set aside to purchase fundraiser giveaways, most of which cost very little and can be used over and over again for various events, depending on the item ordered.

High End Fundraisers

High end fundraisers are the best way to raise money for any community organization, charity, school or church group.  High profit fundraisers tend to fall into four categories: School, Church, Sports and Charity.  Those four groups tend to hold the most fundraisers and as such, typically raise the most money for their organizations.

School

School fundraisers are the biggest segment in the fundraising industry.  The issue raised by organizing a school fundraiser is that the ages of the children involved tend to vary widely and, therefore, the fundraiser must be structured so that all of the children (and their families) can participate and contribute.

Church Group

The ideas and needs surrounding church fundraisers are many.  Unlike many organizations, churches often depend on fundraisers to meet operating expenses.  There are many websites available that offer fundraising ideas for churches, despite the size and need.

Sports

Sports fundraisers are held for a number of reasons, including covering the expenses of maintaining a sports field, buying programs, uniforms or sending the team on trips and away games.

Non-profit/Charity/Community

Non-Profit/Charity/Community organizations are perhaps the most diverse group as the groups may range from children’s programs to community clean up, animal rescue to erecting a health clinic.  Therefore, the choices for fundraisers must also be as diverse.  High profit fundraisers may include selling advertising in a specific publication, selling candy or magazines, or benefit concerts.

The 3 best places to promote your fundraiser online

A wise man once said, “God gives every bird its food, but He does not throw it out into its nest.”

This is the key point behind this post. If you want to know how to raise money, take a lesson from the birds… you have to work for it! As shocking as this may sound…. it will not just come to you. How then do you raise money online? You have to promote your fundraiser! And fortunately for us all, the Internet provides an amazing opportunity to reach out to many, if not most of your friends and family… all at once… to get maximum exposure and the best chances of raising money to meet your goals.

Here’s what you need to know about the 3 best places to promote your fundraiser online:

Facebook

It seems like everybody is on Facebook these days. And for good reason. Facebook is a great place to stay up to date with the events in your social circle. Frequent posts keep you on the forefront of peoples mind. For example, I have a friend whom I haven’t seen in years, but he posts hilarious pictures of his life several times a day. I feel like I know him as well as I did years ago. If anything, it reminds me how much I like him. If he posted a link to a MicroGiving page asking for donations towards his fundraiser… there’s a good chance I’d donate a few bucks. Take a look at this screen shot of one of our users promoting their fundraiser on Facebook.

Remember to use the link posted under “Share This” on your fundraising page, instead of copying the link from the address bar.This will ensure your users get sent to your fundraising page.

Twitter

If you use it, Twitter can be a great tool for online fundraising. The most common tweets are either a person’s thoughts and feelings that day… or an activity they are currently doing. If you’ve got some followers, tweet about thoughts or activities related to your fundraiser. For example, if you are raising money to pay for a surgery, tweet about your hospital visits, health updates, or news related to your surgery. Once a week, include a tweet with a reminder and direct link to your fundraiser. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends to retweet it to share it with others. Take a look at the screenshot below from one of our own users tweeting about their fundraiser:

Email ( contact 5 people a day )

Last, but certainly not least, is good ol’ fashioned email. As popular as social networks are, email is often the best way to get a response from people. Craft a short, polite, but interesting email about your fundraiser. Include why you’re fundraising, what the funds will be used for, and how much you’re looking to raise. Take the time to address the email to each of your contacts instead of sending a “mass email”. Also, don’t be afraid to let them know that sharing your email with their contacts is one of the best ways they can help you.

Here’s a great fundraising email. Use it as a template when writing your own: Sample-fundraising-email

Fundraising Ideas for the Whole Family

Often fundraising efforts have to be cast out because the organization holding the fundraiser does not have enough experience, volunteers or ideas to raise funds for their cause.  There are many websites that offer fundraising ideas for all ages and abilities.  The benefit of using such websites is that the fundraising ideas are typically tried and true, removing some of the trial and error out of trying a new event.

The best way to choose a new fundraiser is to consider how much money the organization needs to raise, how many people are available to organize and volunteer, and the facilities and supplies available.  It is also important to know if the organization can or will receive any kind of community support.

Fundraising Ideas for Everyone

For children’s events, fundraising ideas that work well include selling handmade items or food, from a child’s art auction to homemade lollipops – just as dunking booths are always popular, particularly at school functions.  Children may also enjoy collecting pennies door to door or participating in game tournaments where each child is sponsored by an adult or other group.

For adults, there are many more options, including selling calendars, bake sales, sporting events, karaoke nights, kissing contests, home goods parties and quilt sales.

When choosing what type of fundraiser to have, create a list of ten fundraising ideas and then discuss the list and the pros and cons of each to arrive at the best choice.

Community Fundraising Help

Many organizations are able to offer help to communities that are willing to hold fundraising events on their behalf.  For example, if a community or local chapter of a regional or national fundraiser wants to hold an event to benefit the parent organization, the parent organization may offer support to make the local event a success.

There are several ways in which this can be accomplished.  Typically, the regional or national charity has a newsletter, RSS feed, social network contacts (such as a Facebook page) and e-mail list that can help spread the word about the local event.

Fundraising in Your Community

Many organizations will supply fliers, press materials, promotional items or educational tools to help inform the public.  Some organizations will also have volunteer rosters filled with people that may be able to lend a hand in organizing the event or participate in the event itself on the day it is held.

The benefits of receiving this sort of help are numerous.  Exposure is one of the most important keys to holding a successful fundraising campaign.  Regional and/or national organizations usually have the resources to spread the word about events; resources that a small community may not have.  Also, charities often have a team of supporters that may assist in raising money and bringing in other supporters and donors.  Larger groups may also be able to have items donated, whereas a small fundraising group may have to pay out for miscellaneous items.

How to Promote a Fundraiser

Running a fundraiser is one of the most important ways in which to raise money for a charity. Once you have the initial idea in your head and have planned the event, it’s important to focus on PR and promotion as well as the development of marketing materials. After all, if nobody comes to your event, you won’t raise any money.

Promoting a Fundraiser

Promoting the event can turn into a very hectic and busy job in the final few days before it takes place. Get around this by putting someone in charge of PR or community outreach. It’s a good idea to appoint someone who has prior experience of marketing or sales. Talking to the press can be very daunting, and events can be a logistical nightmare when it comes to VIPs, so make sure the person you delegate is up to the task.

Develop quality marketing tools and build a brand for your fundraiser. Most of the time it’s possible to piggyback off the existing brand of the charity, but if your event can appeal to the community or if you can add a unique spin on the event, it becomes more than a simple fundraiser and people are more likely to attend. Draw up a timeline of marketing and PR details; book time for community radio interviews long before the scheduled date. You will also do well to set up a Facebook group and interlink with Twitter to promote the event; the Internet allows you to find larger numbers of people with shared interests, and social networking allows you to hone in on your target audience cheaply and effectively.

If everything goes to plan on the day (which it will if you prepare everything meticulously), then a sense of professionalism and class will shine through and make people more likely to respect your event and any others you host afterwards. The single most important aspect is that the fundraiser does its job, but it can’t accomplish this unless people inherently want to go to.

Fundraising News: Mark Owen Donates to Micro Charity

In recent Fundraising News, Mark Owen, a member of Take That, has donated ten VIP tickets to the band’s upcoming show at Wembley to benefit Rainbow School, a micro charity that raises funds to help children with autism.  The tickets will be auctioned off with proceeds going to Rainbow School, a charity organization that has been supported and patronized by Owen, who has been an ongoing patron and supporter.

Rainbow School to Benefit

Rainbow School, founded in 2000, is a school located in South West London.  It was established by parents of children that have been diagnosed with autism.  The Rainbow School is only the third school of its kind to operate in the UK.  The facility offers a structured program of intensive intervention using the principles of Verbal Behaviour (VB) and Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA).

Mark Owen talks about his visit to the school last year: “Last summer I was approached by a friend and neighbor who has a son with autism and she introduced me to a friend of hers, whose son goes to Rainbow School.”

Mark was surprised to learn that he was so close to the school and yet had not known about it.  “Rainbow School was, unbeknown to me, literally only yards away from my front door and so after taking a tour of the school, meeting the children and its founder Karen, I decided that I’d really like to help in whatever way possible to support these amazing people.”

Relief Organizations Step Up Ways to Raise Money

The Southern U.S. has had its share of misfortunes and individuals have come up with some pretty innovative ways to raise money and help people in this time of need. One of the most notable disasters in recent years has been Hurricane Katrina, which hit Louisiana with more force than anyone could have ever imagined.  April 2011 also brought about a great number of disasters, so much so that the events have been dubbed “2011 Super Outbreak.”  The tornados that have ripped though the South, Midwest and Northeast have taken over 300 lives and have left thousands more injured and homeless.

Celebs Help Increase Ways to Raise Money

Many celebrities have stepped up to aid relief organizations to .  Some of the people that have offered their help in raising funds for charity organizations include Britney Spears, who hosted an event to support the St. Bernard Project.  Selena Gomez has announced her efforts to raise money for Save the Children’s Southeast drive; Brad Paisley has agreed to donate proceeds of a new song to the Alabama tornado relief fund; Roy Jones, Jr. is asking fans to support various relief organizations and has offered a phone call and autographed photo to everyone that donates $250 or more; and Kenny Chesney has offered to donate the proceeds of an upcoming concert to GiveTuscaloosa.com.

Britney Spears’ event was attended by many A-list friends, including Kim Kardashian, Hilary Duff, Kelly Osbourne and Selena Gomez.  In total the event raised $200,000 for the St Bernard Fund.  Britney said “The St Bernard Project is an incredible organization whose main focus is rebuilding Louisiana [which is] always in my heart.”