[Cash-and-caring] ideas

Sat Dec 17 17:29:43 UTC 2016

Michelle,

I love the idea of the dance fundraiser. This sounds similar to my chapter’s banquet we used to do, but it stopped being successful. I would like our affiliate to try something like this, but we need more participation from our general membership to pull off a bigger event. Curious to how you, and others, stimulate participation for events like this.

Bridgit

From: Cash-and-Caring [mailto:cash-and-caring-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Michelle Clark via Cash-and-Caring
Sent: Friday, December 16, 2016 11:48 PM
To: 'Fund-raising assistance for Chapters and Affiliates' <cash-and-caring at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Michelle Clark <mcikeyc at aol.com>
Subject: Re: [Cash-and-caring] ideas

1.       What are the most successful fundraising ideas you employ?  Every other year we have an Anniversary Dinner and Dance along with a speaker. Of course from the NFB and an auction. We can make around $2,500 or more on this. We happen to be celebrating our 7th on Feb 4, 2017.

2.       2. What has not worked or is no longer working? We had a Yard Sale in my front yard. It was a bust. It turns out my street is not as busy as I thought. The only money we earned was from buying from one another and from the para-transit drivers bringing the members to my house. LOL!

3.       What precipitated you signing up for this listserv. We do a lot of activities and we need funds. It is also good to see what others are doing and share.

Michelle Clark 

President

National Harbor Chapter/NFBMD

I will start by answering these myself.

Over time the best fundraiser our Illinois affiliate has employed is gift certificate sales. It has run its course in Illinois for now but it works like this. A not for profit buys gift certificates from a broker like the Manna Group (888) 272-1952. The entity pays less than the face value of the certificates. You sell them at face value and keep the difference. There is a minimum order to avoid fees. The percentage is generally low in terms of what you make on each order but overtime this is amazing. It also goes to core funding which is awesome. 

We also do something called “15 for funds” which Dr. Jernigan taught us decades ago. The legend proclaims that Illinoisans were lamenting our lack of funds at a convention and Dr. Jernigan promised that he could fix that problem in fifteen minutes. He made the direct ask for contributions during our state convention banquet by starting at $500 and working his way down. We have done this every year since. It illustrates the point that you must make the ask before people will contribute. 

AmazonSmile is not doing well. We have never gained more than $30 in a quarter. It is a nuisance to sign up for and we already have many NFB affiliates on the system. 

I signed up for this listserv because I serve as our Director of Outreach and one of the things I am tasked with is helping our affiliates to fundraise in an efficient manner with an eye towards the longer term and plans to cultivate those who give to NFB.

Hope this good start is helpful. 

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