[Cash-and-caring] ideas

[Chang, Patti]

Keep these ideas coming. Does anyone have a favorite fundraising listserv or a page on the internet that is helpful?



From: Cash-and-Caring [mailto:cash-and-caring-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eric Guillory via Cash-and-Caring
Sent: Monday, December 19, 2016 4:32 PM
To: Fund-raising assistance for Chapters and Affiliates
Cc: Eric Guillory
Subject: Re: [Cash-and-caring] ideas

Hi everyone. Sorry for being a bit late to the party, but it has been great reading about and carefully considering all ideas. Jerry Whittle is our state fundraising chairperson here in Louisiana, and his proactive, creative mind has resulted in great ideas through the years.

Our state convention is a time of strong fundraising. Our energetic, somewhat raucous auction generates approximately $3000 in revenue, with items being donated by individuals as well as businesses of all sizes and types.

Over the past five years, each chapter has also been asked to contribute a basket of items for auction, with moneys going to the affiliate. As is true in most states, Louisiana has significant regional differences, and chapters deftly capitalize on these in the creation of baskets filled with snacks, beverages, and memorabilia of all sorts. As would be expected, our North-Central Chapter basket, which encompasses the city of Ruston, generally commands quite a high price given its ties with the Center.

Thanks to an idea proposed by Meleah Jensen several years ago, it has become a tradition for our student division president to ask our national representative to the convention to sing at our Saturday evening banquet. We make a big show of it, telling the audience that he or she will not do so unless we raise a predetermined minimum. People give generously and have heard some truly wonderful and not-so-wonderful vocal stylings over The past decade. It is a great time, and the students can generally expect to raise $500 or thereabouts to help with our Student Seminar expenditures.

At the chapter level, yours truly is president of the North-Central Chapter, and we have had significant success selling the calendars the Federation uses in its national mailouts. We buy them for a dollar each, selling them at a couple of local grocery stores for three dollars each. What we have found over the past three years is that, given the proliferation of technology, fewer and fewer people want a calendar in hardcopy, though there is still a significant market. Often, people will give us five dollars or more and tell us to keep the change. Our chapter spends $300 on the calendars and can expect approximately $1200 profit. Our chapter also does a certificate sale with a local car wash wherein we buy certificates for five dollars each, sell them for 10, and the value of the car wash is a $12 value, so we make five dollars profit on every sale and the bearer of the certificate receives a good deal on a quality car wash. The North-Central chapter also conducts a candy sale, with all profits going to the state affiliate. Other chapters host dinners, barbecues, and other fundraising endeavors including candy and T-shirt sales.

I am confident there have been ideas which have not worked, but I feel this post has gone on long enough LOL.

I am part of this list because I was asked to participate on the committee by Pam Allen, our very able affiliate president, and I'm happy to serve. I hope these ideas are useful, and I wish you all a great evening.



Eric Guillory, Director of Youth Services
Louisiana Center for the Blind
101 South Trenton Street
Ruston, LA 71270
Voice: 800-234-4166
Fax: 318-251-0109
Twitter: ericguillory
Skype: brllovingdad
www.louisianacenter.org<http://www.louisianacenter.org/>

“Together, we are changing what it means to be blind.”

From: Cash-and-Caring [mailto:cash-and-caring-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chang, Patti via Cash-and-Caring
Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2016 6:27 AM
To: cash-and-caring at nfbnet.org<mailto:cash-and-caring at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Chang, Patti
Subject: [Cash-and-caring] ideas

I would like to see this group get a little more interactive. Toward that end I am asking people to answer a couple of quick questions:


1.       What are the most successful fundraising ideas you employ?

2.       2. What has not worked or is no longer working?

3.       What precipitated you signing up for this listserv.
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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