The Fundraising Factory - Archive for the ‘Fundraising Products’ Category

Your Wish Is My Command

Thursday, April 19th, 2012

The Play it Forward Lulu cube has been launched!  It happened in the small town of Peoria, Illinois on April 17th.  That’s the day that the YWCA’s Leaders Luncheon was held.  The YWCA is the largest provider of homeless services in the community.  The average age of a homeless person in Peoria is 10 years old; a hard truth to accept.

It was my privilege to be the keynote speaker.

Not only was I excited about being able to share my personal story of homelessness but I was also able to revisit how Designs by Lucinda was born in 1989 as the creator of pins with purpose that helped the homeless.  The YWCA had 3 wishes.  More volunteers, more people talking about their cause and more donations.

As the keynote unfolded it became clear that the audience held the hope for changing the lives of the homeless in Peoria.  They learned that they are part of the solution.  As the speaker, I wanted to give them MORE than something to think about as a take away.  I needed to give them some thing to do, a simple and easy call to action.  An action step that would satisfy the 3 wishes  of the YWCA.  Ah!  I knew just what to do.  I would give them a physical take away,  something they could actually hold in their hands.  My newest fundraising idea, LULU Cubes would be perfect!

The Play It Forward LULU Cube is designed as a fundraising donation bank to be passed along from one person to another until the bank is filled with coins or bills.  As the cube is passed along the organization also gains exposure and visibility.  The donors become engaged with the organization.  YWCA, all 3 wishes are your command!  As the final note to my keynote the LULU Cube was launched right then and there!

The audience left with LULU Cubes in hand and I wondered how many other hands they will reach, how many new people will learn that the new homeless, 10 yr olds and about the services the YWCA is providing to those children and their families.  I said a silent little prayer “let the LULU Cubes be filled”.  As I watched my ever so attentive audience depart one by one toting their LULU Cube, I smiled as I realized that was my applause!

You can see what happens and follow the LULU Cubes in Peoria on this Facebook Page.

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Posted in Fundraisers, Fundraising Events, Fundraising Products, Giving, Personal, Speaking Engagements, Uncategorized | No Comments »

Cupcake Fundraising Recipe

Monday, April 9th, 2012

It’s always a challenge to come up with a new and unique fundraiser. Looking at trends can inspire creative thinking and get you jump started.

Cupcake Pins

Have you noticed that Cupcakes are the hottest new sweet sin? So popular that TV shows are being created around the Cake. Now who knows why some things that have been around forever become the latest kick but why not jump on the Cupcake bandwagon and make a sweet fundraiser out of a new fascination, the Cupcake. Let’s call it a contemporary version of the good old bake sale.

Here’s the recipe:

Declare a Cupcake Day
Make it a family event
Pastry Makers present Cupcakes
Have Cupcake Contests
Have a Cupcake Decorating Station for kids
Create a marketplace and sell cupcake related items
Charge at the door or by the cake or by the activity

I am sure you can come up with some great ideas around this. Myself and other readers would love to hear your ideas so please feel free to leave a comment. Thanks and let them eat Cupcakes!

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Posted in Contests, Fundraisers, Fundraising Products | 2 Comments »

Is there a Pattern in your Fundraising?

Wednesday, April 4th, 2012
It’s seems I have been living in the dark ages until I found Pinterest.  It is a content sharing service that allows you to pin images you like to so called boards and share them.  Fair warning, let me tell you first hand it is addictive and more likely so if you possess the creative gene.
So I got to doing searches on the Pinterest site for patterns.  Looking for some inspiration and ideas I wanted to see if anyone had pinned any pattern designs to boards and sure enough hundreds immediately popped up on my screen.  Talk about an IV drip of inspiration.  Wow I was as I would say out of my mind.
To my surprise bazillions of pinners are into patterns just like me so I thought it would be fun to share a few of my own.  We have been designing patterns for 20 years and using them as part of the many fundraising pins we make.  The patterns shown here will be used as the sides to LuLu Cubes and also for the dresses on some of my Women Pins.  Coming up with new patterns and designs is so much fun.  My secret desire?  Sometimes I wish to turn them into fabric and wear them!

Cactus Tile

Marble Kaleidoscope

Watermelon Soup

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Percolate Donor Relationships

Tuesday, March 20th, 2012
With the rise in popularity of gourmet tea, specialty tea shops have popped up everywhere and with that has also been a renaissance of the tea party.

More and more is being said about the importance of building relationships with your donors these days.
So why not take an elegant pastime,  the Tea Party and make it a contemporary fundraiser?  It sets the perfect stage as a get to know you event and it’s simple and easy to do.

The most important ingredients in a successful tea party are creativity and quality.

For quality, it is a good idea to offer some “classic” teas, such as English Breakfast, Darjeeling or Earl Grey.  But be sure to also include some exotic teas that your tea connoisseurs  may not have tried before.  If  it’s  summer fundraiser think about an Ice Tea Party theme, using peach or mint tea.  Just brew it, cool it and pour it over ice!  Pretty it up with fruit on toothpicks and straws!  Make sure there’s some sweetener on the table and Walla!  Love simple fundraising ideas!
If creativity is not your thing fear not!  I’ve made it easy for you when it comes to decorating.  We have created LuLu Cubes that can be used as centerpieces and  sold as part of your fundraiser to the guests as a take home. No clean up! Watch my video to see how easy it is to do!
I even have made the place cards to match the LuLu Cubes.
Here’s what one of our customers has to say about how she plans to use LuLu Cubes as a fundraiser.

“I received the LuLu Cubes yesterday.  I absolutely love them. The Tea Pot Place cards are so adorable. I can not wait to display them.  My plan for the Tea Pot Cubes with the Place cards is to host a private Tea Party.  The fundraising proceeds from the sale of all the LuLu Cubes will be used by Sisters Network Greater Metropolitan Detroit Chapter (SNGMDC)”.
“In October SNGMDC will host our 5th Annual “Tea and Conversation” Event.  I will use the LuLu Cubes as centerpieces for the tables that I sponsor, and I will perhaps personalize the Place cards with the names of my guest.”

Cecilia Pope
Sisters Network Greater Metropolitan Detroit Chapter

This is an easy fundraiser you can do on your own but if you want less work we can help you brew up this fundraiser that builds donor relationships.
As always Happy Fundraising!
Lucinda

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Fundraising Products That Tell a Story

Friday, March 25th, 2011

If you are involved in fundraising and have sold a product as a fundraiser then you know there is an endless supply of products to choose from.  Of course, the internet is a fabulous place to search for the perfect product to utilize to raise funds for your organization.  Well, curiosity took over and we wanted not only to see what products are available but what products provide a lasting impression and tell a story.  One that has a message, a reminder, and a meaningful take away each time the donor sees it.  So we began the search.  Granted we did not search every query that would generate results for meaningful fundraising products but let us share our findings. 

Okay, the first try included ‘fundraising with powerful products.’  The results included a powerful pasta fundraiser, gourmet cookie dough, scratch cards, magazines and of course the good ole standbys candy, popcorn and candle fundraisers.  But the most interesting was the powerful liquid vitamin supplement fundraiser.  Okay, perhaps the query wasn’t the best….

 So we tried again. This time we Googled ‘fundraising with cause related products.’  The results were closer to what we were hoping to find.  Yes, the cookies and popcorn made it into the top results but here are a few others that we found.  The Green Light Project.    Their mission is to raise awareness and funds for organizations that help child victims of terror, war, natural disaster or illness.  The GLP’s unique promotional items help to achieve their goals, as the products themselves help to increase awareness of how various funds address the needs of child victims.  One of their featured products is a “How Are You Feeling” poster.  This is pretty creative and fun stuff.

Our search also unveiled Products for the Cure.  They develop custom packaging and awareness campaigns for local and national organizations.  A bit boring but at least you know what it’s all about and it does have staying “reminder” power.

On the third try a heavy hitter surfaced.  The Gap.  You may know of their affiliation with the RED Campaign.   Cool shirts worn by cool actors to support HIV/AIDS prevention leaving a cool lasting impression and stories to be told.  

As mentioned, the queries did not uncover every meaningful fundraising product.  One that you would think would appear is Soles4Soles.  Even Designs By Lucinda, a company that has been involved in cause related fundraising for over 20 years, leaves a lasting impression and has a story to tell didn’t make the show either.  This leads us to believe that there are impressionable fundraising products out there but they aren’t always easy to find. 

We’re curious what has your search turned up?
Lucinda

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The All Inclusive Fundraising Diet

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Too many times I hear from executive directors, volunteers, and development staff that they are restricted by board approval to move forward with fundraising ideas.  It is always a board’s responsibility to ensure that a non profit has the funds to provide services.  So what’s the hold up?  I have no idea but there is a fundraising diet that all non profits can use for maintaining a healthy,  balanced social network and financial foundation for their organizations. 

Gala events, annual dinner, and auctions.  These are a tremendous amount of work and the ROI has been proven to be poor.  However, there are benefits such as the relationship building opportunities that can be developed in the planning of the event and at the event as board members mingle and work the room.  These venues are usually a fantastic platform for story telling which,  as we know,  is one confirmed way to connect with the donor.  The monetary ROI may not be great but the PR, marketing, and networking is.  I give these events a thumbs up.  I’m also a bit of a party girl! 

Then there’s the physical activity fundraiser.  The bike-a-thons, walk-a-thons and tri’s for this and that are a staple fundraiser.  However,  not everyone wants to get up off the couch to support a non profit so it might be a good idea to include a lounge-a-thon in your line up.   ”Thons” are very effective for increasing community exposure especially through social media.

Bring on the ask letters, annual appeals,  and the death bequest category.  These are great because if you are asking for money through a letter it isn’t your first contact with the donor.  If it is, you should be ashamed of yourself.  The up front relationship development will have been done, therefore, the ask and appeal letter is like a maintenance donation. 

Grant writing cannot go unnoticed.  I will call these “bonus bucks” since grants need to be found and re-written in most cases year after year.

Finally a fundraising revenue stream must include the selling of products.  This is a category that is overlooked.  Products can be sold year round and generate more than %100 ROI.  In the case of fundraising products the donor actually gets something for their contribution and believe it or not they like that.  Their take away from a donation is long lasting.  Depending on the product you choose to sell, each time the donor sees their purchase they are reminded of your non profit.  See my post on (choosing the right fundraising product).   
Out of sight out of mind does not apply here!

 Happy Fundaraising,
Lucinda

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The Real Green in Fundraising

Wednesday, March 2nd, 2011

The first of March brings thoughts of spring and St. Patrick’s Day.  We begin to think of warmer weather and greener surroundings.  A pleasant thought given the amount of snow and cold weather that we have endured this winter.  It’s the perfect time to start thinking about the change in season and what better way than with Clover and Flower Pins.  Clover Pins are perfect for the Irish lovers or for those looking to find the elusive lucky leaf.  Each clover is uniquely designed in different shades of green so no two are alike.  Some even have a little glitter…as if they were touched by a pot of gold.  They can be pinned onto a shirt or worn as a lucky charm.  They come with a pin/bail combo that provides for versatile wear.

For those who are looking for an additional splash of color, our Flower Pins are a must have.  We came up with the idea of a Flower Pin 2 years ago and since then over 7,500 have been picked by our customers.  Not only are the colors vibrant but the flowers are designed in beautiful shapes.  No matter if you are trying to raise money and awareness for a housing shelter or a domestic violence organization, Flower Pins are something that everyone appreciates and add a nice mix to your fundraising selection.  We have displayed them at tradeshows and just like a real garden, the more flowers you have, the more eye-catching the arrangement becomes.  Individuals can’t just pick one.  They are a fantastic way to fundraise no matter what your organization’s mission may be.  The reactions to the beautiful designs stimulate conversations with strangers.  It’s an easy way to start a dialogue and to share useful information about your Non profit.  Like the Clover Pins, the Flower Pins come with the pin and bail combination.  

So with spring and St. Patty’s Day just around the corner, think about how these pins can add more green to your organization.  Plus they may just add a little luck…

Purchase 40 or more Flower Pins and we will include 4 Free Four Leaf Clover Pins.

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Fundraising with a Healthy Heart

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Mothers.  Sisters.  Daughters.  Wives.  Aunts.  Caretakers.  Mentors.  Lovers.  Friends.  The list goes on and on… In the end, they have one thing in common.  They are women.  Women that have impacted our lives.  They have brought us into this world.  Every day is a day to think about the women in our lives but in particular, we think about the special women in our lives during the month of February.  Why?  Because February is Heart Disease Awareness Month.  Heart Disease is the number one killer of women.  Losing someone we love that has impacted our life in one way or another gives reason to celebrate their life. 

We have celebrated women in many ways throughout the years.  Love songs have been written, photographs have been snapped, movies have been produced, and novels have been penned.  They have inspired so many people to capture their essence in some way.  We at Designs By Lucinda have also been inspired by women.  Over 10 years ago, we crafted a pin of women.  Like the women of our lives they came in all shapes, sizes and color and were dressed in the clothes of the times.  They were the perfect way for women to recognize their mothers, sisters and best friends. 

Fast forward 10 years.  Today we continue to handcraft women pins wearing knee high boots, pencil skirts, skinny jeans, and red dresses.  The times have changed and are reflected within the new designs but the reason remains the same- we continue to recognize and celebrate the women in our lives.

Not only have we acknowledged and celebrated the lives of women but we have also been able to help raise money and awareness for causes that affect women throughout the world.  From heart disease, breast cancer and homelessness, we have provided pins to raise money and consciousness for many women related causes.  We have sold over 491,000 women pins since crafting the first design over 10 years ago. 

We have partnered with several non profits including  Abby’s House,  Emma Norton Residence and Daughters of Zelophehad in the name of women.  Daughters of Zelophehad has raised over $100,000 from Designs By Lucinda pins in addition to raising vital awareness for their organization.

We make it a point to keep our women pins vibrant.  We continue to capture the look of the times and the many roles that women fulfill each day.

So today and everyday, let’s celebrate the women in our lives.
Here’s to Women!
Lucinda

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Making Giving Easy

Monday, November 1st, 2010

Overall contributions to churches are expected to fall to $104.18 billion in the final three months of the year, down 1 percent compared to the same period last year, according to a new forecast.

Regardless of the predictions for year-end giving, whether they are strong or weak, churches still have to compete with the more than 1.2 million nonprofits for the attention and resources of the person in the pew.

Donors make gifts to missions that tug at their heart-strings and they are more generous with gifts to causes about which they are most passionate.

Giving is often a mirror of our spiritual maturity and a reaction to a message that encourages “necessity, meaningfulness, recognition, and gratitude.”

Giving also depends on the capacity to give.  Challenging people to be mindful of a behavior of giving spurs people to progress to a more meaningful engagement with their faith.  That involves their time, aptitudes and resources.

It is possible to create a giving movement when there is a shared sense of purpose, vision, and mission among the church staff and leadership.  Sharing the possibilities and hope of accomplishing community missions can compel donors to give.  During these stressful financial times why not help the donor as they help you by incorporating the donation in the purschase of a product.

Fundraising by selling products has been around for a long time and can make giving easier for those strapped for extra cash.   With difficult economic times, this type of giving is good common sense since it helps the donor simultaneously.   Offering a meaningful product that a donor can purchase for themselves or give as a gift allows them to give AND to receive.  It strengthens the spirit, and spreads the word.

Wishing you properous fundraising,

Lucinda

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Finding the Right Fundraising Product is…..

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009
Like a good pair of shoes…I am talking about selecting the right product that “fits” your organization when it comes to fundraising with merchandise.  The primary goal in selling products is to raise money for the campaign/fundraiser. Although that may be the first thing that comes to mind, it is also important to think beyond the immediate sale.  Sure, you can make a few dollars with the sale of consumables such as candy or popcorn but consider whether the impression and the payoff has longevity.  That is one of many questions for contemplation when deciding on merchandise.  Here are a few more:

Is the fundraising product compatible with your organization’s mission?  By selecting a product that compliments your non profit and its mission you create a clear and direct brand through association.  Marketing and promoting the product becomes seamless and transparent.

Are your volunteers, supporters and board members behind the product that you have chosen to use as a fundraiser?  It is critical to have complete “buy in” and belief from those that you rely on to make the fundraiser a success.  The more agreement and excitement you have from your organization, the more successful your fundraiser will be.

What about competition?  Are other non profits in your area using product to raise money for their organization?  Take the time to research what others are using for fundraising and differentiate yourself from them.  Customers don’t want the same old same old.  Sure they want to help a good cause but remember, there are many good causes and only so much money to go around ,so give them something that excites them and makes your non profit stand out.

Do you have access to your audience?  Visibility, easy access, and awareness of your fundraising efforts are critical in executing a successful fundraiser.  Use the 3 P’s.  Plan, prepare, promote.  Market your events and product so people know what you are selling, where you are selling it, and how they can buy it.  Finally, create a powerful marketing message that explains the services your non profit can provide from the proceeds of their purchase.

Have you chosen a quality product that will leave a lasting impression in addition to generating a solid return on investment?  Keep in mind that selling products is an investment; a monetary investment to acquire the product and an investment in volunteers and staff to sell it.  Be sure you are generating solid profits from your investments.  Look for products that have a %100 markup.

Have you identified the selling points of the fundraising product?  Is it made in the US?  Is it green?  What makes it distinguishable?  Is there anything special about the fundraising company or product that can be shared with the customers that will enhance the shopping experience?  Products that are merely consumables are “out” these day.  Customers expect more for their money.

Have you looked at Lucinda Pins?  Couldn’t help but throw that in.  Of course you have.

Cheers folks!  As always Happy Fundraising!

Lucinda


PS…Next week on the agenda…How to choose the right fundraising company for merchandise fundraising.

 

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