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By
Kimberly Reynolds
I don't want this
article to sound like a Dennis Miller rant, but we really need to focus
some of our fundraising energies on doing the right thing.
What exactly is "doing the right thing" anyway?
Think about it. When
you conduct a High School Fundraiser, you are sending a message to your
volunteers and your supporters. That message contains a value statement
about your organization.
Doing the right thing
means putting your organization squarely behind a bigger need than just
your own cause. That doesn't mean that your group necessarily gives up a
portion of the net from your fundraising efforts, but rather that you
direct those efforts to also accomplish a greater good.
After all, what type
of message are you subconsciously sending your community if the only cause
your organization advocates is your own group's monetary need?
Your fundraising
activities should periodically give something back to the community. You
can support another worthy local cause or support something larger by
being "earth friendly."
What are some
examples of Earth Friendly fundraising?
1) A product sale
fundraiser where a portion of the proceeds is earmarked to accomplish a
noteworthy environmental goal.
2) A recycling effort
that raises funds on an ongoing basis while reducing landfill waste.
3) A cleanup effort
that produces visible, tangible results that benefit your community.
Recycling printer
cartridges is another way that your group can raise money on a year round
basis. Keeping the plastic parts and the toner/ink residue out of your
local landfill may not seem like much, but Americans dispose of more than
100 million laser printer or inkjet cartridges each year.
It's easy to set your
organization up. Participation is free. Collection boxes are supplied at
no cost and prepaid shipping labels are already attached to boxes. Your
group's name, address, and account number are included on labels.
Your group places the
collection boxes at local businesses and other convenient locations such
as at retailers that sell new printer cartridges. Many times a person
buying a new cartridge brings in the old one to ensure a perfect match.
Every time a box is
full, call UPS and arrange for the box to be picked up. Then you replace
it and start the process all over again. Your group can collect cash or
earn technology prizes for your recycling effort, demonstrating once again
that "doing the right thing" pays handsomely.
The third type of
Earth Friendly Fundraiser, organizing a community cleanup project, is yet
another way to fundraise and send a positive message at the same time.
This type of one day
or weekend fundraising event is very similar to the Athlet-A-Thon or
Fun-A-Thon concept. Here your group's participants solicit pledges from
the usual suspects - family, friends, and neighbors.
Pledges are tied to a
specific attainment goal such as the number of pounds of trash collected
or the number of road miles cleaned of debris. You'll need to create a
one-page overview of your cleanup program and a pledge signup sheet.
It works best if your
overview specifies a suggested range for donations, say anywhere from a
penny to a dime a pound for a large project. An amazing amount of garbage
can be collected from a local stream or illegal dumping area, so it's not
a bad idea to also put a maximum limit on a pledge
amount of say, $20.
Do the math and
you'll be surprised at how much money you can generate. Assuming 100
participants, each of whom has five pledges of a penny a pound, if you
collect a ton of garbage, then your group will raise $100 per participant
or $10,000.
That's not bad money
for "doing the right thing!"
Give some serious
thought toward inspiring your group to put together an Earth Friendly
Fundraiser this year. You'll be proud of what your volunteers' hard work
will accomplish and you'll have plenty of proceeds to put to good use for
your own cause.
Earth Friendly School
Fundraising!!
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About The
Author: Kimberly Reynolds is
the author of
Fundraising Success, a
best
selling ebook on fundraising. You can read
more of
her
fundraising
ideas on her website, FundraiserHelp.com. |
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