Fundraising News From Around the World

Salt Lake City, UT: Rotarians hold classic car show fundraiser to provide coats for children whose parents are unable to afford winter clothes; Tuscumbia, AL: Former middle school basketball players create an "Old School Weekend," in an effort to raise funds for a variety of local causes; North Myrtle Beach, SC: ‘Paws Across the Water Duck Race’ with over ten thousand yellow rubber ducks held to benefit humane society; White Plains, NY: Homeowners open their gardens for tour to raise funds for Girl Scouts; Calgary, AB: Council members kick off 'Tough Enough to Wear Pink' campaign as they donned their own pink checkered shirts to raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation; Hanover Township, IL: 24-Hour Marathon to support troops collects fly swatters, socks, batteries, toothbrushes, sun block, nail clippers and lip balm to be donated to soldiers serving overseas; San Diego, CA: Actors present performances of really bad one-person shows designed to annoy and enrage. Instead of suffering in silence, the outraged audience is encouraged to pelt the performers with rolled-up socks. The first 10 socks are provided free with admission to the piece, and ballpark-style vendors stroll the aisles hawking more; Toronto, ON: 11-year old asks friends attending his birthday party to donate the money they would have spent on his present for an orphanage in Ecuador building a playground for the children it cares for; Murrieta, CA: “Race for the Ribbon” go-kart race to be held as breast cancer fundraiser; Bergen County, NJ: "American Idol"-style competition held to raise funds to build specially equipped homes for severely injured Iraq war veterans; Stafford, VA: Beagle wins in Fido fundraiser election as part of annual Take Your Dog to Work Day; Lawrence, KS: Internet site for fans of the show “Supernatural,” which features a fictional family from Lawrence, generates donations for community shelter and SOS Children’s Villages; Bellevue, NE: Community members "locked up" in mock jail to raise money for the March of Dimes.

DigiLabs offers two unique fundraising programs. 1) Set up a private online storefront for photo cards, calendars and photobooks. Link this storefront to your web page and/or send out emails to your members with the storefront web address. From every fully customized photo product ordered via your site or email, your organization will make up to 25% of proceeds; or 2) Make fundraising calendars with your groups images, events and information with our free calendar software. Add text and images within dates (holidays, events, schedules, games, etc) and add sponsor info and logos to offset the cost of printing.

Do-It-Yourself Fundraiser Of The Month

The Greenland (Maine) Women’s Club came up with a Punkin Chunkin to raise funds for the Red Cross-Great Bay Chapter and dispose of left over pumpkins and jack-ó-lanterns at the same time.  Volunteers built a medieval-style catapult, called a trebuchet. One person would pull the long, catapulting arm to the ground, while two others pushed the 215-pound weight on the other end of the arm up in the air. The arm was then secured by a rope and the pumpkin put into a large sling. Participants paid $5 per pumpkin to give the rope a good yank, the trigger let loose and the arm swung the sling - and the pumpkin - through the air. Most of the pumpkins destroyed were either left over from Halloween pumpkin sales or brought in by the bystanders. The club received a large donation from a local Pumpkin Patch sale.

“Love That Smell” Candles: Free shipping and complete fundraising start-up packet for your school, church, team, individual fundraiser. Premium quality, triple-scented jar candles to max out high profits. Order brochure sales or risk-free 30 day “consignment” plan includes return of any unsold candles for 100% credit. “Easiest fund-raiser my students have ever done.…so very easy to work with. I would highly recommend this as a fundraiser!! Wonderful service!!” (Sandra-Sullivan South High School) Call: 866-585-3638 or visit www.lovethatsmellcandles.com.

Non-Profit In The Spotlight

DonorsChoose, Inc. offers a simple way to provide students in need with resources that our public schools often lack. Teachers submit project proposals for materials or experiences their students need to learn. These ideas become classroom reality when concerned individuals, whom we call Citizen Philanthropists, choose projects to fund. Proposals range from "Magical Math Centers" ($200) to "Cooking Across the Curriculum" ($1,100). Any individual can search such proposals by areas of interest, learn about classroom needs, and choose to fund the project(s) they find most compelling. Since 2000, we have grown from an experiment at a Bronx public school to a thriving organization serving over 4500 public schools.

Is this you? You’re the new fund raising chairperson.  You need to raise big money for your group.  You have lots of people that say they will help, but only a handful that you can count on.  We need something “different” and safe, a project where we don’t risk our own money.  It needs to offer our customers value and be profitable for us.  (100% profit would be nice since we are doing all the work)  And, it would be great to raise the money and have fun doing it. Check out the “Your Town”-Opoly program at Pride Distributors.

Interesting or Fun Facts

Invented by Cassidy Goldstein at the age of eleven, The Crayon Holder solved a common problem: how to grip crayons when they are broken and too small to use. Confronted with a bucket of broken crayons, Cassidy pondered a way to make use of them to finish her drawing. Inspired by the plastic tubes used to keep roses fresh while being transported, Cassidy created a holder that would grab the small pieces of a broken crayon. The crayon holder also benefits children who find the small crayons hard to handle, and it helps keep fingers clean. The Crayon Holder packaging features Cassidy and her story as an inspiration to other kids that they too can invent and turn ideas into profits. Cassidy was awarded U.S. patent number 6,402,407 and has another patent pending.
 

  Digilabs offers two unique fundraising programs, fundraising calendars and online fundraising. Fully customized fundraising calendars with your groups images, events and even sponsor information. The online fundraising program is simple to set up, no risk, automatically managed, viral spread. Valuable to users and works year round.

  Silver Jangles has 50% profit with no upfront costs. All sterling silver keepsake charms, bracelets, necklaces, earrings with sport, patriotic, dance, church and cheerleader themes. Email at info@silverjangles.com for your free info packet.

 Fun Pasta Fundraising: Unique, healthy, & fun. Pasta in “fun shapes” including cheerleading, music, collegiate, sports, & more! Incentive program for the sellers, Friendly customer service, no minimums, free brochures, free shipping, Up to 50% profits. Click here for free info. Have a successful and positive fundraising experience! (1-800-247-0188 x205).

  Ranch House Candles offers 50% profit with free shipping on soy candles available in 20 fragrances in 4 sizes. We provide all supplies at no cost to your group. Call toll free 1-800-693-8610 or visit our website to request a brochure.