The Fundraising Factory -
Archive for the ‘Fundraising’ Category
Friday, May 25th, 2012
Recently someone asked me if I had any ideas about how they could run their own personal fundraising campaign. Of course I do because this is something I am in fact doing right now. Non-Profits take note – this might be an idea you could share with your potential donors as well.
So, here’s my own ‘one person’ show fundraising plan.
This year I am in Maine’s Tri for a Cure event that benefits the Maine Cancer Foundation. It’s a swim, bike, run triathalon. Besides having to get into shape, I mean get into training mode, I also have a responsibility to fundraise for this charity event.
Cash Mobs – have you heard of them?
- A variant of crowd funding, cash mobs entail rallying people to a local business to have a good time and spend some money. Here’s how I am capitalizing on this concept. I held a fundraising brunch in my home to kick off my efforts. I invited lots of people from all walks of my life. I prepared all kinds of great foods (don’t worry I will share some of those recipes in future posts) and about 40 people showed up.
- Once everyone arrived I made a pitch for the Maine Cancer Foundation. I asked my guests to help me raise $5000! Yowza! By my calculations each of my guests would need to contribute about $125 each for me to reach my goal. That’s seems like a lot to ask of one person, I mean my cooking is good but is it worth 125 bucks?
- However, I made it really easy for them to help me. I introduced them to LULU Cubes. You can read about how they work in a past blog post or get the how to do it details on my website. Each person took one with them when they left.
- I invited them to come back to another party July 4th, which would give them 6 weeks to fill their LULU Cubes with donations. They loved the idea for a variety of reasons. It’s social, it’s fun, it’s easy and they can be a part of something bigger when they come together again at the July 4th party and see the results of the entire group!
Engaging Donors in my Campaign
To engage my ‘friends mob’ in the efforts of the group, I created a LULU Cubes Facebook page where everyone can upload and share images of their LULU Cubes as they get them filled with donations. I will also send a weekly e-mail to all the LULU Cube owners sharing ideas of where to take their cubes and inspiring them to be the best fundraisers they can be. This really does speak to my saying. “Your One Choice Away From Changing the World!” It’s true, anyone can give something, even if it’s only a nickel to their LULU Cube!
Hey if you want to follow along with how we’re doing go to facebook.com/LULUCubes.
Tags: brunch, cash mob, crowdgiving, friends mob, fundraiser, fundraising ideas
Posted in donations, Fantastic Food, Fundraisers, Fundraising, Fundraising Events, Fundraising Tips, Giving, Personal | No Comments »
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
Tags: Fundraising, Patterns, pins, pinterest
Posted in Fundraising, Fundraising Products, Patterns, Personal, Pins | No Comments »
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
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
Tags: donor realtionships, fundraiser, fundraising ideas, Fundraising Products, tea party
Posted in Fundraisers, Fundraising, Fundraising Products, Fundraising Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, February 23rd, 2012
How important is building a strong brand and increasing your name recognition?
Successful companies invest a significant amount of resources in branding. Look at Nike and Apple. When people see the “Swoosh” or the “Apple” an immediate impression of the exceptional comes to mind. The Nike brand sells motivation and Apple sells innovation.
It is possible for Non Profits to enjoy the same success and name recognition that big companies have too.
Investing in branding and arousing the recognition of your cause and its importance is done not only in messaging but with images. They play a vital role in stimulating a connective state of emotional branding with consumers/donors.
Using your logo on products is one of the fastest way to gain exposure to new audiences.
Becoming visible to hundreds and even thousands of new donors is accomplished by pushing the use of your logo or image to it’s fullest potential along with powerful messaging. Apple and Nike sell quality products and every one of them have the visible marker of their logo. But, your brand is more than your logo. Brands live in the minds of your donors. It’s the personality so to speak of your organization. Your brand achieves the social, emotional and a purposeful need.
Consumers talk.
They share through word of mouth and now through social networks information about their choices. They are posting pictures and spreading the word and their opinions about companies, non profits, products and brands that they like and dislike.
Your Non Profit can be part of the conversation and social sharing when you have a unique brand and product representing you! Would love to hear how you have you used your brand visually and emotionally to stay in the minds of your donors?
Lucinda
Tags: Apple, branding, fundrasing, Nike
Posted in Fundraising, Marketing, social media | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
Did you know that October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month? Designs by Lucinda is honoring that month in several ways. First, you’ll notice that this blog is posted in purple, the symbolic color for domestic violence. Also, we are highlighting a great nonprofit that has been a long-time customer and powerful advocate against domestic violence–Turning Point of Lehigh Valley.
Turning Point is a place where victims of abuse and their children can find emergency shelter and support services. Annually, the agency assists over 5,000 victims of domestic violence. In addition to providing support to domestic violence victims, Turning Point’s mission includes working toward ending domestic violence through education and increasing community awareness.
Designs By Lucinda is proud to say that we have been able to work with this great agency since 1992 to help reach these goals. All of Turning Point’s services are free, so in order to provide shelter and related services, the agency relies heavily on fundraising. Designs By Lucinda pins and earrings have been a staple in these fundraising efforts. In the last 19 years, Turning Point has utilized these custom pieces of art to raise over $100,000. Quite a chunk of change for a product that sells for around $16 per item!
But just as important is the continued conversations and awareness that the pins spread. In fact, when we asked Anne Mayer, our contact at Turning Point, how the pins have helped her organization, she was quick to acknowledge that the uniqueness of the pins creates intrigue and conversations. It’s the perfect opening to share the mission of Turning Point. Anne also noted that fundraising with the pins is easy because volunteers often handle the pin sales either through their workplaces, at various other venues, or as walking advertisements when wearing the pins. It is a hassle-free way to spread the word about domestic violence while generating revenue to provide needed services.
As with so many nonprofits, Turning Point experiences ups and downs in donations and fundraising revenue. We asked about the challenges that they experience, and Anne mentioned that sometimes turnover at the volunteer level or within the various businesses where they are sold, can effect pin sales. This shows the importance of keeping in touch with the offices and salons to make sure someone is dedicated to promoting the pins and ensuring that a variety of pins are on display.
We wanted to know what has made the pins a success for Turning Point for over 19 years. Anne’s insight was to have a good selection of pins. Whether you are a domestic violence organization or a housing organization, you should offer a variety of pins to your customers. The traditional pins are important to have on hand, but seasonal pins are also beneficial and increase fundraising revenue. She also follows many of our mottos that have proven to be successful: Wear One and Carry 10 in Your Purse! Point out the fact that each pin is unique. People love things that are original. Lastly, look for easy venues such as doctors’ offices and hair salons because so many women visit these places regularly. These simple techniques have worked for Turning Point since 1992. Designs By Lucinda looks forward to working with Turning Point for many more years.
How you can help.
The beneficiary of Fundraising Friday on October 21st is Turning Point of Lehigh Valley. Turning Point will receive 30% of all individual sales placed on Designs By Lucinda’s website this Friday. Please share this with everyone you know. Let’s all do our part to help! Together we can Change the World One Pin At A Time! Please Share, Care & Give!
Tags: Awareness, domestic violence, Domestic Violence Ribbons, fundraiser, Fundraising, fundraising companies, fundraising ideas, Fundraising Products, Lucinda Pins, merchandise fundraising, non profit
Posted in Fundraising, Non Profit Profiles | No Comments »
Thursday, August 4th, 2011
July 31, 2011 wasn’t designated as a day to collect food for the South Portland Food Cupboard. But it was the day that I felt compelled to give back to my community. Something you would think would come quite easily for me since I have spent over 25 years helping non profits through my company, Designs By Lucinda. There was uneasiness about approaching strangers and asking for a food donation… How would I be received and what if they said no? There’s safety in numbers so I decided to recruit my Mother and 2 sisters to join me. My Mom, has cared for my sister Kim who has been confined to a wheelchair since birth due to Cerebral Palsy and my youngest sister Jane, happens to live on the same street as my Mother so it was a perfect location to go door to door. The game plan was for Jane and me to approach the homes while Kim, in her electric wheelchair and Mother waited at the end of the driveways. With my family beside me my nerves were calmed. The first doorbell was rung and the door opened. With a warm hello, a brief introduction of my family and an explanation for our calling it was without hesitation that the individual rushed off to their kitchen and returned with an armful of canned goods. All remaining nervousness vanished and replaced with excitement and pure joy. Doorbell after doorbell I introduced my family, collected food and laughed with my sisters and Mother as we reminisced growing up on that very street. As Kim wheeled the box of items from home to home it continued to fill. Not one person said they could not donate. Even a single Mother searched her cupboards for something she could part with. As she handed me organic baby food she said that she hoped it would be able to help another Mother with a young child.
At the end of the day I reflected on this entire experience. What started out as wanting to do a little something for a local food cupboard turned into an overwhelmingly satisfying experience. I was able to enjoy meaningful time with my family. I was able to see the faces of the people as they were asked to help and I witnessed that people really do want to help one another and were grateful that we had made it so easy for them to do that. My original purpose of providing the Food Cupboard with much needed food was accomplished. In hindsight, I could have easily gone to the local market to purchase all the items, but I wouldn’t trade my experience for all the convenience in world or anything else for that matter. It was a day full of grace!
Here’s to peanut butter!
Lucinda
Tags: Family, Food Cupboard, fundraising ideas, Good deeds, Peanut Butter, Volunteering
Posted in Fundraisers, Fundraising, Personal, Volunteers | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, June 22nd, 2011
Have you heard of the latest epidemic? It’s infecting a large number of people over an even larger area. Word has it that it has spread to 90 countries. Luckily, they have identified the source; it’s called Positivity Nation™. A Maine based non-profit, Positivity Nation™ was established just over a year ago by Lanette Pottle. The mission of the non-profit is to create a world-wide epidemic of positivity…one small act at a time.
For Lanette, positive action takes many forms. She shares positive thoughts on her website (http://www.positivity-nation.com) and Facebook page but she is also very active in her community. She has a particular passion for working with youth and has taken Positivity Nation™ into her local elementary school. In 2011, in celebration of the one year anniversary of Positivity Nation™, Lanette announced the creation of The HAPPY Grant (Helping & Acknowledging Positive, Purpose-led Youth) a funding program for youth ages 12-17 in Washington County, Maine who desire to make a difference in their communities.
To kick start The HAPPY Grant program, Lanette turned to Designs By Lucinda. She discovered Designs By Lucinda while visiting a local business that had the pins on display. She was quickly drawn to the beauty of the pins but more so, she was moved by the story included on the pin card. She thought it was brilliant marketing to attach the pin to a card that shares Lucinda’s story from homelessness to successful entrepreneur, helping thousands of non-profits worldwide. After reading the story, Lanette thought that the pins were a perfect fit for her cause – the same values and a very similar mission to make a change, one small act or pin at a time. She placed an order for 40 Butterfly Pins to help raise money and credibility for Positivity Nation™ and specifically The HAPPY Grant program.
The HAPPY Grant was launched following a pilot classroom program where students were asked how they would use $10 to make the world a better place. With financial help from her facebook friends, she facilitated the execution of 15 student-led projects that helped veteran homes, nursing homes, food banks, animal shelters and the Special Olympics fund for The Beckett Center , a day program in a neighboring city. (…a must read article on two passionate 8th grade boys who developed a basketball event to raise money for the Special Olympics Beckett Bombers Link).
Lanette relies not only on monies raised through pin sales to support this program, but from donations that are made to Positivity Nation™. She receives a great deal of exposure through her website, word of mouth and her Facebook page. In a year’s time she has over 4700 fans! We asked Lanette if she had ever thought about what would happen to Positivity Nation™ and The HAPPY Grant if every Facebook fan purchased just 1 pin to support her program. There was a pause on the other end of the phone and then she replied “that’s an interesting thought”. Perhaps in the moment of hesitation, she was processing what over $75,000 would do to create Positivity….
How you can help.
The beneficiary of Fundraising Friday on June 24th is Positivity Nation™ and The HAPPY Grant. Positivity Nation™ will receive 30% of all individual sales placed on Designs By Lucinda’s website this Friday. Please share this with everyone you know. Let’s all do our part to help! Together we can Change the World One Pin At A Time! Please Share, Care & Give!
Tags: Facebook, Fundraising, Giving, Lucinda Pins, POSITIVITY
Posted in Fundraising, Giving, Non Profit Profiles, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
Changing lives through education and housing…concepts that we often don’t think twice about. We take for granted a high school education. We can find ourselves being less than content with the place we call home. Oftentimes it takes a tragedy like the overflowing Mississippi to remind us just how precious our home is in its current condition. The Catherine McAuley Center (CMC) never needs to be reminded of the things that we take for granted. It is their daily mission to offer transitional housing and learning services to those in need. They have been helping people since 1989 and partnered with us shortly thereafter in 1993. They have raised over $100,000 in profits from pin sales that have helped support the center’s Transitional Housing for Women and Adult Basic Education programs. Like many of our customers, CMC loves the money that is raised from the pins, but is quick to note that the pins have greatly increased awareness of the Catherine McAuley Center which no price can be attached.
Catherine McAuley's Custom Pin
CMC’s success with Designs By Lucinda pins is the result of tapping into several outlets. Sure, they use the good ol’ standby- wear one and carry a handful in your purse so that you are ready to sell when someone comments. But they also utilize space in their lobby for all to see upon entering the building, a website store Catherine’s Comfortable Tea. They maximize their staff including board members and the executive director. CMC attends fundraising events, craft shows and farmers markets in order to target different customer bases. We asked for advice on not only where but how to sell the pins. They noted that it is critical to connect the pin to your organization. If you are a shelter, house pins are a must. Education groups should certainly have read pins in stock. They also pointed out that it is important to brand your organization with Lucinda pins. CMC ensures that their organizations mission/story is given to everyone that purchases a pin along with how they can be reached. They have printed stickers that they affix to the Lucinda card, as well as print their own cards. Another bit of advice is to switch things up. Customers love a new look. If you have promoted the same types of pins for a long period, the market will saturate. They experienced first hand how a new fresh look will increase the number of pins purchased by individuals who had purchased in the past.
We ended our interview with a feel good story. Here is what Andrea of CMC shared: “Perhaps the most memorable pin story occurred while selling pins and gifts at a women’s conference in 2010. A woman stopped at our table and immediately was drawn to the Fourth of July pins. She got tears in her eyes and proceeded to tell me how one son had shipped over to Afghanistan the day before and another son and son-in-law were shipping out together the next week. She wanted to buy a pin for each daughter-in-law and her daughter. We talked for quite some time and we were both crying by the end of her visit. Later in the afternoon she returned to purchase several more, one for herself and to give as gifts to others. I’m used to touching other people with the story of the Center and Lucinda. This time, I was the one touched.”
Tags: Custom Pin, customers, fundraiser, Fundraising
Posted in Fundraisers, Fundraising, Non Profit Profiles | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 11th, 2011
It hump day so let’s get over the hill with a true feel good story. The story comes from the ABC Project (Abundant Books for Children) based in Turlock, California. The ABC Project, in conjunction with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, distributes books to children from birth to age 5. ABC Project was organized less than 10 years ago and since that time they have provided over 30,000 books to over 3,000 children.
Now the story… Dr. Susan Neufield, the Director of the ABC Project was participating in a local farmer’s market fundraiser, selling our pins and sharing the organization’s mission. A little girl around the age of 11 approaches Susan’s table with her Mother and says, “These books are mine! They’re the same ones I got.” The little girl was in the ABC Program over 6 years ago. When the little girl saw the pins she turned to her Mom and said, “I want to buy a pin so I can help give someone books.” The Program had left a lasting impression on such a young person. It had taught her the power of reading and the importance of ‘paying it forward.’ Both the little girl and her Mom purchased a pin that day.
The ABC Project began using Designs By Lucinda pins in 2009 to raise money and awareness for their program. They have ordered 320 pins including Read, Heart, and Inspirational Window pins. The sale of just 2 pins results in the organization being able to offer books to a children for a year. When you break it down, 320 pins provides 160 children with books for an entire year! As with the majority of our fundraising customers, the money that is raised is only a portion of the positive impact of the pins. It’s the story behind the pins that is as important to spreading recognition of the organization. Susan noted that she oftentimes hears people talking at the table about the program and how the pins came about. She witnesses firsthand how individuals that have purchased a pin, become the voice of the Program.
As we typically do, we asked Susan to wrap up the interview by sharing her experiences and what have been successful methods in her fundraising undertakings. She said she relies on the Turlock Farmer’s Market, a regular venue from August to November. She also attends area reading council conferences. In the spring of 2010, she also participated in the Children’s Book Tea event. It was such a huge success that they posted a YouTube video ABC Project: Turlock Spring Tea 2010 and plan on doing it again in 2011. A great video…check it out and pump up the volume!
If you would like to know that you are helping a child learn to read and appreciate books, place an order this Friday 5/13. Your purchase will be a go directly to the ABC project.
Posted in Fundraising, Non Profit Profiles | No Comments »
Monday, May 2nd, 2011
It is always prudent to research the topic you are writing about. So I went to the Harbor House Crisis Shelter (HHCS) website http://www.harborhousecs.org/. An impressive shelter with a very useful website. What I found to be very relevant was the content of the website’s “needs.” On the top of the need’s list is a powerful request for volunteers. A perfect tie into last week’s blog (Whose valued more? Volunteers or Donors?).
The organization’s mission is to provide shelter and transitional services for homeless women and families. Not only do they provide safe shelter, food and clothing but they dedicate much of their financial and personal resources to educating and preparing their guests to live independently.
We interviewed Rev. Barbara Certa-Werner to gain an understanding of their experience with Designs By Lucinda pins. Keep in mind, HHCS just started selling pins in 2010. They have already purchased 660 pins including Crosses, flowers, hearts with houses and butterflies. Barbara noted that the pins are a great additional revenue source. She noted that the pins open the doors for them to discuss their organization’s accomplishments, goals, needs and the range of services they provide. They are able to leave a bigger impression of the organization’s work and the customer leaves with a beautiful reminder of HHCS.
Barbara noted that although they have only been fundraising with the pins for 1 year, they are already a line item in the budget. The revenues from the pin sales are used wherever they are needed. Whether it is to run the shelter, purchase food, diapers or pay for case workers to ensure that all guests receive transitional assistance. HCCS sells the pins at several different venues including the Wisconsin United Methodist Women’s Annual Conference, the Women’s Expo and craft shows. They rely on board members to promote the pins and they highlight the pins on the front page of their website.
HCCS also taps into the pins cause- related marketing aspect. Barbara noted that they use the pins to draw a connection between Lucinda’s story of homelessness to successful entrepreneur to the very goals of their organization. They even use the pins to honor a guest that has achieved a considerable goal while at the shelter.
In wrapping up our interview with Barbara, we asked if she had a really good pin story. A woman came to the booth at the Annual Conference for Wisconsin UMC, she saw the pins and was so excited about them but she didn’t have her checkbook. She called her husband who drove 2 hours to bring her checkbook. She ended up purchasing 18 pins as Christmas presents for her family and friends. Truly a great story….
The Harbor House will be the beneficiary of this weeks Fundraising Friday. HHCS will receive 30% of all individual sales placed on our website on Friday May 5th.
Tags: fundraiser, Fundraising, fundraising ideas, Lucinda Pins, nonprofit, Tags, Volunteers
Posted in Fundraising, Non Profit Profiles, Uncategorized | No Comments »
