Fundraising Success #17

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FUNDRAISING SUCCESS!
Issue #17

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monthly Column: "Busy, Busy, Busy"

Free Ebook: "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.

Freebie: "Cheese Pairings Poster" (Details in SiteSeeing)


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IN THIS ISSUE
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=> Kimberly's Column
=> Reader Q & A
=> Feature Article: "Event Fundraising"
=> Supplier Spotlight: "Anderson's Party Time"
=> SiteSeeing, freebies & more: "Jovan White Musk" & Poster
=> We want you in an upcoming issue

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KIMBERLY'S COLUMN
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"Busy, Busy, Busy"

Like every other mom and fundraiser, Fall accelerates my daily
pace. The to-do list lengthens and the number of places to go
seems to increase exponentially as various practice schedules
kick in.

There's all the school and sports practices layered in on top
of the usual Fall fundraising activities. The kids all seem to
need to go multiple places at the same time and of course,
there's always dinner to fix.

But, you know what? It feels great to be that busy. Shaking
off the doldrums of late Summer is invigorating.

It's wonderful to be "involved" in a variety of activities.
I think your mental state and energy level reflect your level
of participation in the world around you.

Go ahead and dive in. The water's fine. After the initial
shock, you'll enjoy the deep end.

You're not in over your head, you're finally in your element.
Busy, busy, busy is what moms are all about.


This month's article is about Event Fundraising. It's a short
(for me) look at three event-style fundraisers that will work
for just about any size group.

The Supplier Spotlight is on Anderson's Party Time. This firm
offers some unusual food items (Mexican, egg rolls, fresh-made
pies, and apple dumplings) and large one-pound portions of the
usual candy and nut items.

This month's Freebie is White Musk Perfume from Coty. It's a
pleasant fragrance for everyday wear. Details in the SiteSeeing
section.

The free ebook is: "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu. Learn tactics
and strategy from the master. Outmaneuver anyone you encounter
in life by applying these timeless lessons.


*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*

"Kill Ad" is a great free tool for your computer.
Swat those pesky popup ads before they even open.
The Terminator mode is particularly effective.

A simple install eliminates all the hassles. It's
a miniscule 42kb download and a breeze to setup.


*-----------------HOT TIP------------------*

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READERS Q & A: What's On Your Mind?
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Kimberly, I work for an animal shelter/humane association and
we're in the midst of a capital campaign to build a much large
and very much needed shelter. There are many fundraising ideas
presented. Any directions on the most attractive to animal
lovers and profitable would be greatly appreciated. Since we
are nonprofit - the lower the start-up costs the better!
- K. Obrakta


Assuming you're trying to raise somewhere in the neighborhood
of six figures, you'll need a capital campaign plus a couple
of ongoing programs.

For your capital campaign, put together a fundraising letter
that clearly spells out why you're raising money and more
importantly, why a prospective supporter should donate money.

Offer multiple ways to participate:
- A one-time donation of $10
- A regular monthly draft of $5 or $10
- A larger contribution tied to a donor recognition item

Besides your capital campaign, start fundraising right away
with everyone that visits your animal shelter. A simple way
to do that is to offer a $10 discount card that provides two-
for-one fast food deals. See www.KrazyKard.com for details.

Your third fundraising program should be event based. You can
put on an auction, a yard sale, or a myriad of other choices.
These activities can be rotated on a monthly basis.

Check out This month's article on Event Fundraising for some
other ideas. Good luck with your program!


All this and more is explained in my book, Fundraising Success!




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FEATURE ARTICLE: Event Fundraising
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EVENT FUNDRAISING

by Kimberly Reynolds

Fundraising events work for any size group as long as you create
awareness within the community of both your event and the reason
you are raising funds.

Both are important to any fundraiser, but they are absolutely
critical for a successful event. You have to generate enough
publicity to draw a sizable audience and you must motivate them
to support your program.

So, what fundraising events shall we talk about?

1) Get The Picture
2) Rubber Duck Derby
3) Clean Comedians

Get The Picture is a name I coined for a photo fundraiser. The
idea here is to offer family portraits, glamour shots, vintage
photos, and other "dressy" pictures.

You'll need a central location with plenty of room for costume
changes, picture-taking backdrops, and a waiting area. The
best times are usually Saturdays.

Pre-sell the event with flyers and "reserved session" tickets.
You'll want to get photo commitments up front from 250 people to
make this worth your while.

Your sales pitch should "Focus on the Fun:"
- Capture The Moment (before it slips away)
- Dress up Picture Party (be there or be square)
- Goofy Faces Wanted! (yours included)

Or tug at the heart:
- When's the last time you sent a family photo Christmas card?
- They're not getting any younger... Get a portrait!
- Mother/daughter, Father/son - Pictures that last a lifetime

Your group can coordinate with a local photographer or partner
with a national photography chain. One that I recommend is
Vista Studios. They offer a 10x13 family portrait for $8 and
your group gets paid $6, plus performance bonuses. Find out
more here:



The Rubber Duck Derby is a fun event that can be scaled in size
to fit your group's supporter base. The event, crazy as it may
sound, involves racing rubber ducks down a local waterway and
having your local community "adopt" the ducks for a chance to
win valuable donated prizes.

Duck races have become a unique and profitable event for many
charities. Your group sells a ticket linked to a number that's
painted on a racing rubber duck.

Depending on the prizes involved, tickets are priced somewhere
between $5-$10 a ticket. A standard size for a race is 3,000
rubber ducks, but you can adjust that up or down depending on
the size of your group and the amount you need to raise.

Large plastic bags full of the ducks are simultaneously emptied
into the water. The winning duck is the one that floats to the
finish line first.

It adds a little extra zing to the old-fashioned raffle ticket
sale. Prizes can also be awarded in various categories to add
to the festivities. Many groups organize their "race" around
a group picnic near the waterway and make a leisurely afternoon
out of the event.

A company called Great American Duck Races can supply you with
everything you need. Here's their website info:



Our third fundraising event is Clean Comedians. They offer
over 50 performers capable of meeting almost any entertainment
need. These hilarious entertainers will have your audience
rolling with laughter -- and no one will be offended!

All you need to coordinate is a hall or auditorium and arrange
an audience. Sell tickets up front or at the door. If you want
to make additional funds, you can also offer food and beverage
items as well.

If your group is small, partner with another organization and
split the profits.

Many groups are reporting record giving with this unique
"Bucks through Yuks" approach. Hundreds of schools have used
Clean Comedians for years to provide top quality entertainment
for their students.

From stand-up comedians and impressionists, to musicians,
magicians, and jugglers, their performers provide outstanding,
clean entertainment for any group.

Not only are these guys hilarious entertainment, but each
performer also has several messages focusing on important issues
students face today.

Performances can be arranged through the Clean Comedians website:



Pick an event that suits the talents and size of your group.
Then, focus your energies in getting your message out to your
potential supporters. These event fundraisers will do the rest.


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SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT: Anderson's Party Time Fundraising
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(Excerpt from my book, Fundraising Success!)

Supplier: Anderson's Party Time Fundraising
Phone: (800) 873-6431
Fax: (920) 293-8854
Website:
Email:

Address: P.O. Box 138
City: Berlin
State: WI
Zip: 54923

Description: Offers a wide selection of fundraising goods and
services including food items, candles, gift wrap, accessories,
magnets, music and flowers.

Food items are in good-sized packages. Example: Candy and nuts
are in one-pound bags.

Pie selection includes French Silk, Cookies & Cream, Pecan,
Raspberry, Coconut Cream, Lemon Crunch, Banana Cream, Pumpkin,
Strawberry Rhubarb, Dutch Apple, and Peach.

Software selections include math, language, phonics, reference,
and science.

They will custom design order forms so you can mix & match food
items.

Product Lines: Candles, Candy, Catalog Sales, Cookies, Flowers,
Food Items - Miscellaneous, Gift Items, Gift Wrap, Greeting
Cards, Magnets, Music, Nuts, Photo Frames, Pies, Pizza, Snacks,
Software - Educational, Wrapping Paper.

Terms: Prepay

Notes: Interesting selection of different foods like pies
(11 flavors), egg rolls, Mexican menu, and apple dumplings.
Will do less than full case lots. Offers free tasting party
to sample food items. Offers 100% guarantee. Claims 98% of
their customers repeat annually.


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PLACES TO GO, THINGS TO SEE, FREEBIES & MORE
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SiteSeeing Tip - Time Magazine: The Year in Pictures
This site has some unforgettable photos of a year that we'd all
sometimes wished we could take a "Do Over" on. Links to the Time
magazine stories where the pictures originally appeared.


PLACES TO GO:

On This Day (New York Times)
A great "this day in history" site with important events, famous
birthdays, and links to relevant New York Times stories. Plus,
there's all sorts of useful educational links as well.

A+ Math Flashcards
A+ Math Flashcards earns its grade with a large selection of Java
and non-Java flashcards covering fifteen subjects from addition
and counting money to algebra and geometric areas. The Java
flashcards are "faster and more fun," but the non-Java cards
will work on all browsers, including WebTV.


THINGS TO SEE:

Columbia House DVD Club
Join & get 4 DVDs for 49¢ each! (plus shipping) Choose from a
variety of hot releases like Shrek, Gladiator, Memento, X-Men,
Spy Kids and more... Click for details!


FSBO Real Estate Secrets 2004
Don't enter into the largest financial transaction of your
life without knowing all the facts. Save your hard earned
money. Find out how to sell your house for thousands more.
Learn twelve easy ways to spot serious problems in homes for
sale.


Overstock.com (It's where I shop online)
Shop Overstock.com today for savings of 40-70% off top name
brands like Fuji, Krups, Olympus, Titleist, Movado, IBM, and
more! Overstock.com sells movies, electronics, housewares,
bedding, sporting gear...all at CLOSE-OUT prices



FREEBIES:

Free White Musk Perfume
Get a one-ounce trial size sample of this new perfume by Coty.
Simply fill out your name, address and fragrance preference.


Free Credit Score
Get the same 21-page report that your lender looks at when
deciding if you're creditworthy or not. Avoid the surprises and
fix the mistakes. Trust me, there are mistakes.


"Cheese Pairings" Poster
A huge guide to what cheese goes with which other foods and wine.
Cheese lovers can receive a free printed copy of the new poster
by writing to "Cheese Guide," Customer Service, Organic Valley,
507 West Main Street, La Farge, WI, 54639, or by downloading a
five-page printable version.

Free Skin Care Sample Kit
Look years younger with this free sample. Let the "New You"
Skin Care Product erase wrinkles, lines and brown spots. See
instant results the first time you use it. Works on acne,
dermatitis, acne scars, etc.

All I can say about this stuff is Wow, Wow, Wow!


FREE EBOOK:

This month it's by Sun Tzu. A timeless classic
on tactics and strategy. It's not just for warriors, it's for
everyone. Learn how to turn any situation to your advantage.
Concise writing, 27 pages, 47kb download, PDF format.


That's all for this issue. See you next month.


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WE WANT YOU IN AN UPCOMING ISSUE
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We're always interested in hearing what you have to say
about fundraising. We'd love to publish your article, your
question, your success story, or any other relevant topic
or comment.

Full instructions are on the website. Click on this link:


Thanks for sharing!
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Copyright 2004 Kimberly Reynolds

Fundraiser Help - Great Fundraising Ideas
Maximize your fundraising success!

Related Pages

Nonprofit Fundraising - Tony Poderis describes how any nonprofit group should raise funds.

Non-profit Fund Raising - Organizational tips - Four ways to boost your non-profit fund raiser results.

Capital Campaigns - Capital campaign strategies for non-profit groups to increase their donor base.

Donor Recognition - How to use donor recognition to increase your capital campaign results.

Fundraising Ideas - Ideas for fundraising that focus on the best activities for high school, elementary school, sports teams, and youth groups to raise funds with events, activities, programs, projects and products.

Fundraising Events - Three profitable event ideas for small group or school fundraisers - Fundraiser events that are quick and easy - Fund-raising event ideas you can do in a monthend that work anywhere from Canada to Australia.

School Fundraisers - Easy fundraising ideas for schools that consistently produce excellent results. Includes articles on cheerleading fundraisers, high school football fundraiser, soccer fund-raising, band fund-raiser, plus more great youth sports team activities and events for other high school groups.

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How To Write A Fundraising Letter - Advice and tips on what works and what doesn't.

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