Each issue of The Fundraising Hotline includes a combination of new or unusual do-it-yourself fundraisers, fundraising product or event ideas, fundraising tips, news, trivia, book and/or software reviews, and maybe even a little humor.  We hope that each issue will contain information that is beneficial to you.  We keep the content brief to keep from slowing your email system so if there is nothing in this issue that interests you, the next one probably will!  Good luck on your fundraising efforts.  We know how much work it can be! 

Do-It-Yourself Fundraiser Of The Month

Trike-A-Thon: It is exactly what it sounds like.  Make it an athletic challenge where young children get donations per lap that they will ride on their tricycles on a given day or flat donations.  Paint a special trike path in your parking lot or use tape on a gymnasium floor.  Hold the ride on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and invite parents and donors to attend to cheer on their child.  Or it can be held during the school day and invite the parents to come at specific times to cheer for their child's class.  Variation: This can also be done as a fun contest for older children or even adults.  It's really funny to watch.  Maybe combine the two and end your Trike-A-Thon on a hilarious note with a race between parents using their children's tricycles! 

Comparison of National School Fundraising Programs

Many schools are taking advantage of the three largest national programs to supplement their budgets by collecting proofs of purchase from Campbell Soup, General Mills and Tyson's Foods. The comparison below was prepared by Newsweek (October 7, 2002) .

Adopt A Mascot

Cast-off mascots - humanoid creatures who once served as advertising emissaries in newspapers and magazines.  Most of these products are dead, leaving their mascots orphaned; in many cases, the mascots were cast off to satiate the public's taste for something new.  None of them were particularly successful, or even well-loved. It's hard to love the frightening face of Pepeco Pete, or want to be embraced by the razor-blade arms of Pal, the Shaving Boy.  But they tried hard, day in, day out.  Unlike live pets, they require no attention whatsoever; they never demand food or play or attention.  They simply want something to promote again.  Adopt one now at the Orphanage of Cast-off Mascots.

Flynn Fundraising is an honest and hard working family owned company with over 40 years of combined experience.  By allowing you to decide what retail prices work best with your group, we can adjust your program, enabling your group to make the most money possible without disappointing your volunteers and supporters.  The base costs remain the same for every group on every sale.  After all is said and done "you don't put percentages in the bank".  Whether you choose candy, cash donation cards, cookie dough, pies, pizza, or Christmas goods, our goal is to make every fundraiser the most profit possible.  Flynn Fundraising

Of all the symbols associated with Easter the egg, the symbol of fertility and new life, is the most identifiable. The customs and traditions of using eggs have been associated with Easter for centuries.  Originally Easter eggs were painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring and were used in Easter-egg rolling contests or given as gifts. After they were colored and etched with various designs the eggs were exchanged by lovers and romantic admirers, much the same as valentines. In medieval time eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants.  

Heinz Vinegar commissioned a survey of Americans' Easter-egg habits, and found that blue was the favorite hue of 35 percent of the respondents when dyeing eggs. Purple (18 percent), pink (17 percent), green (7 percent), and yellow and red (each 6 percent) trailed. After the egg hunt is over, 64 percent of Americans said they eat them and 22 percent throw them away. Ten percent don't color eggs, and 2 percent said they let them rot.

Location!  Location!  Location!

Many U.S. and Canadian fundraising companies will service groups located throughout the U.S. and Canada.  However, if you prefer to work with a company in your area, you can find a geographic listing in the All Fundraising Companies Directory.  They also have separate listings for Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom.
 

  Fundraising: Hands-On Tactics For Nonprofit Groups 

This hands-on operations manual remedies the funding crisis by showing nonprofit professionals and volunteers how to design and run successful fundraising campaigns for their organizations. Combines sound, cost-effective strategies for building better organizational, management, sales, and marketing practice along with insider tips for training solicitors, cultivating donors, and organizing small and large gift drives that capture the emotions and imaginations of potential supporters. Sample letters, scripts, invitations, pledge cards, acknowledgement letters, press releases, budgets, grant proposals, and action checklists guide readers every step of the way toward fundraising success.  You can find a copy at your favorite bookstore or on-line retailer.