The Fundraising Factory -
Posts Tagged ‘fundraiser’
Sunday, July 15th, 2012
At my fundraiser brunch to benefit the Maine Cancer Foundation I promised I would let you in on a few of the recipes and also the results of my fundraising efforts. It’s probably not the best idea to experiment with new recipes on guests but I have been known to be a risk taker and rule breaker. Is anyone thinking Pat Benatar right now? No, Okay. Anyway, I tried a few new recipes out on my friends/guests and this one was definitely a hit so I knew I needed to share it with you. By the way I raised a few thousand dollars from that brunch. Now that’s some sweet! If you are interested in how I did that just click this link. I am not finished fundraising for MCF yet but you can be sure that I will let you know the final tally when I am done.
Meanwhile, here is the recipe for this cute little finger dessert. What you will love about this besides for the fact it’s chocolate is that it is super easy to make and can be done a day in advance.
Chocolate “Salami” for Fundraising Brunch
What you need:
1 (12 oz.) pkg. semisweet chocolate chips. I used Godiva but Hersey’s will do just fine.
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla extract
1/2 Cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, sliced into 6 to 8 pieces
2 Cups (1/4 of a 12 oz. pkg) vanilla wafer cookies crushed into crumbs 1/3 Cup sliced almonds. I bet you could try walnuts and also add dried fruits cut up into small peices as well if you wanted to get a little creative. I am thinking dries cherries would be good. I mean chocolate and cherries. That’s a YES!
raspberries and mint for garnish
What you do:
1. Melt the chocolate using a double boiler or a metal bowl or saucepan that will rest on top of another sauce pan. Fill the bottom pan half way with water. Put the chocolate and butter in the top pan. Heat the water over med/low so the water is barely steaming. After about 1 minute, gently stir the chocolate and butter. Every minute or so stir. Once about 80 percent is melted remove from heat and continue stirring until the mixture is melted and smooth. It should be just warm to the touch.
Add the vanilla, cookie crumbs, almonds. If you went the creative route now would be the time to add dried fruits.
2. Put the pan in the freezer until the mixture is slightly firm.
3. Spray a large sheet of plastic wrap with vegetable cooking spray. Spread the mixture evenly along one long side. Roll to form a log shape about 21/2 to 3 inches in diameter and 10 to 12 inches long. Place the log in the freezer for at least an hour until firm or overnight for use the next day.
4. Remove the log from the freezer about 2 hrs before plating and cut into 1/2 inch slices. Garnish with raspberries and mint.
5. Watch them disappear!
Tags: brunch, chocolate, dessert, fundraiser, Fundraising, Maine Cancer Foundation, Tri for the cure
Posted in Fantastic Food, Fundraisers, Fundraising Events, Personal | No Comments »
Thursday, May 31st, 2012
These days everyone seems to be on a different diet. This is a vegan-gluten free dish I made for my recent fundraising brunch. You don’t have to be vegan to love this salad. It’s so simple to make, incredibly healthy and wildy delicious.
What you need:
1 clove of garlic, peeled
2 1/2 to 3 cups cooked quinoa
A sprinkling of sweet grape tomatoes- I use both yellow for sweetness and red for color
1 carrot, grated
4 scallions, sliced (white and light green parts)
1/4 cup Kalamata olives chopped. I have substituted Greek but used less since the flavor is so much stronger.
1/3 cup toasted slivered almonds or pinenuts
Sea salt and pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint leaves
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Juice of 1-2 lemons or limes.
What you do:
Rub the clove of raw garlic inside a non metal salad bowl.
While the cooked quinoa is still warm spoon it into a bowl and fluff with a fork.
Halve the grape tomatoes and add them to the bowl. Add in the grated carrot, sliced scallions, Kalamata olives, and toasted slivered nuts. Toss lightly to combine.
Season with sea salt and ground pepper. Add the chopped fresh herbs. Drizzle the salad with extra virgin olive oil- enough to moisten. Toss again. Squeeze a lemon or a lime all over the salad and give it one final toss.
Cover and chill until at least one hour before serving. Serving chilled can stifle flavors so I prefer to serve at room temperature.
Before serving, adjust seasonings if needed.
Makes 4 to 6 servings.
Enjoy!
Tags: brunch, fundraiser, Quinoa, summer salad, vegan
Posted in Fantastic Food, Fundraisers, Personal | No Comments »
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 »
Thursday, April 12th, 2012
An annual major fundraising event can be a time when a non profit has a chance to turn attendees into donors and ambassadors for their organization. I went to two of them last week. Here’s what happened at one.
The first was a $150 a plate fundraising dinner. Looking forward all week long to a great evening and a good meal I went shopping for a new dress.
Here’s the shakedown. The evening started with a cocktail hour and then a sit down meal. I chose vegetarian. It was average at best. The keynote speaker presented during the meal. Since I am a speaker at events like this I watched closely and in my book this is a BIG no no. This causes people in the audience who are trying to eat to have to turn around in their chairs to see the speaker. It’s uncomfortable for the guests AND it’s rude to the speaker to be honest. Then, sadly the executive director missed the opportunity to speak passionately and with authenticity about the non profit. Instead she told us she had adjusted well in her new position as it was her first full year on the job. Ho hum
The icing on the cake?… and no pun intended here but get this…finally the tiny cupcake wrapped in cellophane that had been sitting on the table in front of me all evening to my astonishment was dessert! It was donated by a discount wholesale food club and the E.D. thought it worthy enough to be mentioned aloud! Good Lord who knows how long that thing had been sitting in a warehouse somewhere!
I can live with an average meal, however I would have liked to have been able to respectfully give my full attention to the speaker. Most importantly, I wished the ED inspired me to make an effort to become a serious donor. Come on it was a fundraiser! Lastly, and I am no snob but seriously for 150 bucks I expect more than a twinkie.
You can dress me up AND you can take me out but unfortunately next year when this event comes around I’ll enjoy the best part; shopping for the new dress and just skip the rest.
Tags: fundraiser, Fundraising Tips, rants, speaker
Posted in Fundraisers, Fundraising Events, Non Profit Profiles, Personal, Rants, Speaking Engagements | 1 Comment »
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 »
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, 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 »
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 »
Monday, April 11th, 2011
This week we are highlighting a wonderful non profit not too far from us located in Montpelier, Vermont- Prevent Child Abuse (PCAVT). The organization was founded over 35 years ago and continues to help kids by educating parents and bringing to light child abuse issues.
Proactive education is a key to the organizations success in preventing child abuse. PCAVT invests a significant amount of resources both human and financial into Shaken Baby Syndrome training. Training is offered to nearly all parents of newborns in Vermont. PCAVT provides information on how to safely handle stressful moments with infants and the dangers of shaking a baby. With knowledge the organization feels that their will be less cases of shaken baby syndrome. Given the number of training courses that are required (in 2010 they held 169 courses); a large percentage of their budget is dedicated to this cause. PCAVT has formed a powerful partnership with Designs By Lucinda. They sell our Little Pal Pins to help fund the Shaken Baby Syndrome program and to raise recognition for children. They are an ideal image that connects the organizations cause to a pin that is not only worn by women but by men as well.
It is a great communication vehicle that has outreach to both genders. Men love the Little Pal Star pins as they associate them with wearing a sheriff’s badge. Both men and women think the pins are unique and increase visibility for PCAVT. When we inquired further into how the pins have helped their organization, they noted that because of Lucinda’s story, the pins have much more impact and have led to more support for their organization. PCAVT said that there is greater connection between their donors when they hear how Lucinda was once homeless and went on to create an organization with a mission to give back. The organization says that the people who wear the pins become ambassadors for Prevent Child Abuse Vermont through the conversations they start. One teacher even said that “The Kid Pins are getting to be Vermont’s jewelry of choice.” Given this, we asked what outlets they use to sell the pins. PCAVT said they use several distribution channels including stores, restaurants, conferences, schools, through volunteers, at their physical location and on their website www.pcavt.org.
One final statistic that the organization left us with was the number of Vermonters who have been impacted through their training programs in 2010- 37,532. Quite a substantial number of people share their stories and life experiences so the trickle effect was far greater. Thank you PCAVT for your good work and for partnering with us so that we can help in growing the number of people helped by your program.
Tags: fundraiser, Fundraising, fundraising ideas, Fundraising Products, kids, Lucinda Pins, non profits
Posted in Fundraisers, Non Profit Profiles, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
