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How to make fund-raisers more fun and less work
(NAPS) Back to school can mean back to raising money for school trips, uniforms and equipment. A few tips from the experts can help you make the grade when it comes to fund-raising safety. "The rules for safe fundraising are no different than the rules you follow every day to protect your children," said Judy Raddatz, president and chief operating officer of FundRaising.Com. Raddatz suggests the following fundraising pointers:
Door-to-Door Fundraising
No child should be allowed to go alone to the houses of people not known to your family. What is your neighborhood like? If there are mostly families, known to you through neighborhood events, social activities, church or community organizations, and if the area is generally safe and tranquil, you may feel comfortable with the door-to-door option. Otherwise, there are alternatives. Going door-to-door to people you do not know is the least effective and most time-consuming form of fund-raising.
New Alternatives
Many tech-savvy schools, churches and other charitable organizations have turned to the Internet’s online fundraising malls and fundraising bars to help them with long-term fundraising needs. These are safe, lucrative alternatives, but be sure to do your homework. Not all online fundraising malls and bars offer the same percentage return to the group.
The online shopping mall lets people who wish to earn money for their group log onto a fundraising mall Website, select their group, and then link to different e-commerce sites to make purchases. The e-commerce site awards affiliate fees --- a sales commission on the total purchase --- to the site through which their site was accessed. The fundraising site then gives a percentage of its affiliate fee back to the selected organization.
FundRaising.Com, for example, offers a "Shop" feature at www.fundraising.com, with more than 140 stores and gives 100 percent of its sales commission back to the individual’s school, group or charity.
Fundraising bars are customizable ad bars that let consumers earn money in the form of returned ad revenues. Surfers download a charitable ad bar, which scrolls banner advertisements and earns money for every hour of surfing.
More Alternatives to Door-To-Door
In-school fundraisers are particularly effective for sub-groups, such as the soccer team selling to other students during the day. Easily portable, non-perishable items like lollipops are inexpensive and popular in this situation.
Parent workplace. If it’s not against company policy, you can leave a product brochure in a common area for people to browse through.
Church or other religious centers may be the place to raise money for something that has a positive impact on the collective life of the community. Check with your minister.
Fairs, carnivals and community special events offer many opportunities to set up a booth and sell items.
Presentation is important. Have the children wear outfits to identify the group and set up a table with signs explaining who the group is and what the purpose of the fundraiser is. While parents should be there for safety reasons, children should do the signs and the selling.
CAPITAL DISTRICT REGISTER-STAR , Hudson, NY - December 12, 2000.
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