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.

Where's the most value? In the boxes or in the people?

I follow Volunteer Match on Twitter.  In one of their recent tweets a link was provided that made me stand up and take notice to ponder that question.

It took me to a study provided by The John Hopkins University Center for Civil Society Studies. The research determined that volunteers create 400 billion dollars to the world economy!  The study also concluded volunteer work is worth DOUBLE the value of donations and valuables given by individuals, businesses and foundations combined.  Would you ever imagine that a volunteer is more valuable than a donor?   This important research has a downloadable manual available.  Its use is for determining volunteer value for your organization.  Knowing the specifics about volunteer impact will help you encourage public policy that is favorable to volunteer work.  I would love to hear if you have done this kind of evaluation with your organization and your thoughts.
Imagine if volunteers are used for fundraising.  Does that make them worth triple the donation?

Happy Fundraising!
Lucinda

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

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.

Since it is National Volunteer week, I decided to do some quick research.  Don’t you just love Google?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics report,  issued 1/26/10 indicates that there were 63.4 million volunteers or 26.8% of the population between 9/08 and 9/09.

Here are some must know characteristics of volunteers that caught my eye.  

1.  The people who were more likely to volunteer have kids under 18 and work fulltime.  This surprised me.  With the current economy the way it is,  I assumed the unemployed would be contributing more time in communities.  This goes back to the old adage.  If you want something done ask someone who’s busy.

2.  Men volunteer more hours per year than women, although less men volunteer than women.  Volunteer placement by gender seems odd, but consideration as to the number of hours required for specific positions might minimize volunteer burnout and maximize volunteer happiness.

3.  Of people who volunteered, 44% did so because they were asked.  This business 101.  “You have to ask for the sale” .

Given this data, would it make sense to qualify board members and volunteers based on the above findings?

This target group is more willing to join and put in the time to get the job done.  Best of all; the only thing you have to do is ask!

Recruiting volunteers and board members that have kids, jobs and are gender specific may yield better results. 
Here’s my question.  What ways can the target audience described be mined?  Would love to hear your ideas.

Lucinda

PS.  If you are one of the 56% of the people who don’t need to be asked to volunteer and want to do so,  the Volunteers of America can help you locate a non profit in your area needing help.  

20 years ago, I believe I was cutting edge, hip, even a pioneer because I was one of the very first businesses to offer a fundraising product that was handmade. Every Lucinda pin carried a message that was as important as the money that these pins raised for the non profit. Designs by Lucinda stood out from companies that were pushing candy bars, magazines and popcorn.  Now, I’m certainly not knocking the latter but I must say I was proud to present a product that stood out from the crowd. 

I could digress, or show my bias on why one should find a niche, create an original product that is memorable, sustainable and timeless, but I want to focus on how to fundraise with a product.  It very well may be the candles or candy.  But I want to leave you with some food for thought as you determine which product(s) you should use to raise awareness, generate commitment and to fund your cause or interest.  So here are my “2 cents”:
Fundraising through product sales is pretty simple on the surface. Your organization sells a product such as candles, candy, magazines, gift wrap, or Lucinda pins and keeps the proceeds from the sale.  This type of fundraising can be successful, profitable and generate enough money to become a line item in your budget; or it can leave the organization and its volunteers weary and rethinking if it was worth their time. Excess money and energy can be expended if certain considerations and planning are not explored ahead of time. In order to maximize your investment in fundraising products to generate revenue and recognition consider the following:

■Select a quality product that will help you achieve a solid return on investment. I personally believe that you should generate a 100% profit. There are companies that can give you both.

■Locate unique products that are desirable to the customer and reasonably priced.  People love original fundraising products and affordability broadens your market. 

■Train and support your volunteer network.  Your success often is tied to the enthusiasm of your volunteers. Customers feed off positive energy and enjoy working with a knowledgeable staff person.  A solid product coupled with an informative volunteer increases product sales.

■Develop a plan that will allow you to execute a successful fundraiser. It is critical to have the details addressed from taking orders to answering questions and fulfilling each order.  Remember, donors have endless non profits to choose from! Make their experience with your organization personal and unique – each contact should be smooth, enjoyable and memorable from start to finish.  This will result in repeat giving and priceless word of mouth.

In next week’s blog I will talk about how to select the right products for your organization.  If you have any questions or comments, please leave them and I promise to respond as soon as the next batch of pins comes out of the oven!

Happy Fundraising!
Lucinda