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 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!

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.”

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.

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.

Lydia’s House has been providing transitional housing to survivors of domestic violence for over 15 years.  The organization was founded in 1995.   A year later, Designs By Lucinda and Lydia’s House established a relationship to help bring to light the number of people affected by domestic violence using our House pins.   Since then they have offered other pins to increase awareness and raise money for their organization including Domestic Violence Ribbons,  Angel Pins,  Inspirational Window Pins , and Cross Pins. In our interview, Debbie Kroeger, financial director of Lydia’s House stated that the pins truly do start conversations.  “They provide the perfect opportunity to share the mission of Lydia’s House.  In fact, individuals in Missouri actually refer to the pins as Lydia’s House Pins”.

The visability that the pins have brought to their organization is certainly a very important benefit.  They have and continue to create awareness about domestic violence along with the help that individuals need to escape from their abusive environment.  Since 1996, Lydia’s House has ordered over 54,000 pins and have raised over $350,000.  The money goes towards housing that can be as long as 2 years depending on the need of the individual.  In addition, they provide education and training for the victims of domestic violence in order for them to develop the skills and confidence to live on their own.

Given Lydia’s House huge success with the pins, we had to ask what methods they use to promote the pins.  Debbie noted that they rely heavily on their large volunteer base which ranges from 35-40 people.  A key component to this relationship is training and being open to each volunteer’s commitment and passion to the cause.  They make it a point to ask about the volunteer’s interest in order to harness their passion.  Many volunteers carry bags of pins in their purse to share with friends and co-workers.  One of the volunteers is responsible for managing the pins at 33 different store locations.  Lydia’s House maximizes all of their human resources from volunteers to board members.  They encourage them to wear a pin to start a conversation and to carry them so that they can take advantage of any opportunity to sell a pin and raise awareness for their organization.  This strategy has worked for 15 years and continues to provide a sizable amount of revenue to the organization.  In fact, they saw an increase in pin sales in 2010 despite of the lull in the overall economy.

In wrapping up our interview, Debbie said “If you are an organization looking to differentiate yourself, the pins will certainly give you the exposure you need.”

Kudos to Lydia’s House!
Lucinda

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

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

HHC uses Designs By Lucinda pins to raise money and awareness.  Funny how they were turned onto our pins.  A woman by the name of Virginia Tinsley (the Executive Director of HHC) was working for another organization passing out pens and candy to grab the attention of the UMC conference attendees.  The attendees would walk by, grab a few writing gadgets and their chocolate fix for the afternoon.  No real conversation instilled.  That is when Virginia noticed a table engulfed by attendees handing money to the exhibitor.  Yes, the table was covered in Lucinda pins and the attendees of the event couldn’t part with their money fast enough to secure the one of a kind pin that caught their eye.  Virginia left the position she held then and became the director of HHC

Virginia and HHC have sold over 14,000 pins and has raised over $100,000.  HHC first started selling pins back in 1996 to raise enough money to purchase a computer.   Today “pin money” provides grants to help shelters, feeding programs, transitional housing, Habitat for Humanity builds, domestic violence shelters and other services.  The Housing and Homeless Council has given out more than $3.7 million in grants since 1990.  She says, “the real success isn’t the money but the exposure the pins have created for us.” Priceless…

Asked what’s her secret to selling so many pins?  She relies on the help of the churches, volunteers, craft shows at Christmas time and exhibiting at the annual UMC Conference.  She says, “You can’t sell them if you don’t have them” and explains that sticking with the pinl theme of what their Non Profit represents is important but she also must offer occasional variation and add new pin designs to her inventory since they are favorable to her loyal customers who continue to buy pins supporting the HHC ministries.   Smart…  After all, we are a society that expects instant gratification and choices.

It was great to hear about HHC’s positive experience and long lasting commitment to selling Lucinda pins.  We figured that after 15 years of fundraising with our pins, Virginia must have witnessed memorable events.  Many stories revolved around individuals who had made substantial pin purchases.  One gentleman fell in love with our colorful butterfly pins and wanted to buy 30 on the spot.  It showed that even men can’t resist the pins and find them to be the perfect gift for the people near and dear to their hearts.  The other story that really jumped out at us was one of a woman who collected Lucinda pins.  Sadly she had passed away but because of her love for the pins, her family donated the pins back to HHC so that they could continue to raise money and awareness.  It was a sentimental journey about the impact of the pins and how they touch people’s lives.

We asked Virginia about the custom pin Designs By Lucinda created for UMC’s 50th anniversary in recognition of the full rights of clergy women, a huge milestone that was honored by one of a kind artwork.  She told us it was quite successful and they still have a few left of the 2600 pins they acquired.  Then we got a heads up.  They are considering having another new design produced!  Virginia is awesome to work with and we are more than excited about creating a new pin design for HHC.

Looking ahead, we wanted to know what the plans are for 2011.  Coming right up Feb. 27th is Homeless Offering Sunday which is a big fundraiser for HHC.  Virginia also shared concerns about the North Georgia Conference budget funding cuts this year and said she will be relying more on pin sales to help cover operating costs.

Finally, we had to ask “Virginia, how many pins have you sold off your body?”  “Oh I don’t know but I sold one yesterday” was the reply of the woman who has dedicated over 20 years to helping the homeless one day at a time.

Thank you Virginia and God bless.

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