Fundraisers

[Mr Wild]

What is the most successful fundraiser you have been a part of/ran?

 

What made is so successful?

[ChevyVanMiller]

2 minutes ago, Mr Wild said:

What is the most successful fundraiser you have been a part of/ran?

 

What made is so successful?

Circle the Wagons for Darryl Talley. $153,479 raised.

 

What made it so successful?  The people on this board, for starters.

[KD in CA]

-Connections to people/businesses who can/will donate stuff.  

-Lots of people in attendance who will bid on the stuff.

[Augie]

My wife used to run the Catholic Charities Ball for years, and was on the board at St Jude Children’s Hospital. Magical fundraising there!  The key, as always, is in the people with whom you surround yourself. I did small potatoes compared to that. 

[Augie]

40 minutes ago, KD in CA said:

-Connections to people/businesses who can/will donate stuff.  

-Lots of WEALTHY people in attendance who will bid on the stuff.

 

I hate the whole FTFY stuff, but I’m feeling lazy. My wife had it out with the Bishop about moving the Catholic Charity Ball to the Ritz. Other venues were cheaper. He felt it was a waste of money on the expense side. She argued people who would stroke the $10-20k check would not attend at Denny’s. She won, and raised revenue from the event by almost 1,000 percent. The Bishop came around..... He became a fan of our family. 

 

When we first moved to Atlanta there was a St Jude event at the home of a local restauranteur. After wine tasting and small plates, they convened in the living room. They started with “who wants to write a check for $25k?”. Then worked their way down. Hands kept going up, raised a fortune in 2-3 hours.  

 

 

. 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Augie

[Another Fan]

37 minutes ago, Mr Wild said:

What is the most successful fundraiser you have been a part of/ran?

 

What made is so successful?

Well I didn't actually run it but I ran in it twice..

 

Rutgers University hosts every December The Big Chill 5k run.  Instead of paying a fee you had to bring a toy to donate.  Over 3,000 toys were collected for Toys for Tots.  For a run that size with over 3,000 people it was very well organized. 

[Augie]

45 minutes ago, Mr Wild said:

What is the most successful fundraiser you have been a part of/ran?

 

What made is so successful?

 

Are you working with a particular event? Need ideas? Advice? 

[Mr Wild]

22 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

Are you working with a particular event? Need ideas? Advice? 

 Trying to figure out good fundraisers to make money.  Small town, not a lot of money here, need suggestions for future ones.

[Augie]

Just now, Mr Wild said:

 Trying to figure out good fundraisers to make money.  Small town, not a lot of money here, need suggestions for future ones.

 

My sister in Appleton, WI does a couple. There is a summer rummage sale which is a big deal, and a lot of work. Moving appliances, etc. She also collects about $20k/year with a book sale for some scholarship fund. They get books from all kinds of sources, and sell them on the cheap. Let me know if you want guidance. I’m personally worthless, but I have family members with a lot of experience. 

[BUFFALOKIE]

I sold 12 boxes of chocolate bars in the third grade.

[KD in CA]

1 hour ago, Augie said:

 

I hate the whole FTFY stuff, but I’m feeling lazy. My wife had it out with the Bishop about moving the Catholic Charity Ball to the Ritz. Other venues were cheaper. He felt it was a waste of money on the expense side. She argued people who would stroke the $10-20k check would not attend at Denny’s. She won, and raised revenue from the event by almost 1,000 percent. The Bishop came around..... He became a fan of our family. 

 

When we first moved to Atlanta there was a St Jude event at the home of a local restauranteur. After wine tasting and small plates, they convened in the living room. They started with “who wants to write a check for $25k?”. Then worked their way down. Hands kept going up, raised a fortune in 2-3 hours.  

 

 

. 

 

LOL....I was gonna start with that but figured it wouldn't be much help to the OP!  

 

To your point about the Bishop, you have to know your audience.  If you're fundraising from a Denny's crowd, go cheap and take what you can get.  If you are targeting people who will spend, you make it an appealing destination to get them to show up, and add an open (or partially open) bar to get them to loosen the purse strings.  A few years ago in CT my wife raised >$100k with a silent/live auction night ---- for our public elementary school.  No sob story cause there;  we just needed a new playground, ipads in the classroom, etc., etc.  Didn't hurt that the average household income in room was probably $200k and you got Type A guys into dick swinging contests bidding on someone's ski house for a week.

 

I'd always target the booze at those things figuring I'd do no worse than pay retail anyway and not look like a cheap ass.

[Gugny]

14 hours ago, Mr Wild said:

 Trying to figure out good fundraisers to make money.  Small town, not a lot of money here, need suggestions for future ones.

 

What are you raising money for?  Serious question.  The purpose will largely shape/define your target audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Gugny

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

In terms of outlays for prizes, the easiest is probably a cash raffle.  No inventory to keep track of, but do document total tickets out, sales, returns.  Transparency keeps the organization honest, and subsequent fund raisers are not shunned.  You can often find a local printer to print the tickets inexpensively if it is for youth sports or similar non profit.  I ran one for youth sports in our town back in the early 90s.  The printer donated the tickets.  Check local laws to see if you need a lottery license.  As Gugny said, know your audience.

*

A local youth hockey organization had a cash calendar one season, modest cash prizes once a week for an entire year.  Great fun, and something to look forward to weekly.  However, they only ran it one year, so success and support must have been less than other forms of fund raising.

Edited March 19, 2019 by Ridgewaycynic2013

[BuffaloBud]

Someone else mentioned it here - what is the fundraiser benefiting and who is the target audience?

 

Here in Columbus some organizations have connections that have OSU football or basketball tix.  Not upper deck nosebleeders, but really really good ones.  Some with suite access.  They raffle those off with good success.

 

The silent auction event is a good idea.  Check with your local patrons - they may be able to set up some sort of package deals.

 

I went to my HOA and offered to paint/stain all the street and sign posts in my neighborhood (70) as a donation to my Pelotonia fundraising effort.  For a little of my sweat equity, the HOA paid for the material / I got a nice donation, the neighborhood looked a bit better.

 

 

[KD in CA]

7 minutes ago, BuffaloBud said:

Someone else mentioned it here - what is the fundraiser benefiting and who is the target audience?

 

Here in Columbus some organizations have connections that have OSU football or basketball tix.  Not upper deck nosebleeders, but really really good ones.  Some with suite access.  They raffle those off with good success.

 

The silent auction event is a good idea.  Check with your local patrons - they may be able to set up some sort of package deals.

 

I went to my HOA and offered to paint/stain all the street and sign posts in my neighborhood (70) as a donation to my Pelotonia fundraising effort.  For a little of my sweat equity, the HOA paid for the material / I got a nice donation, the neighborhood looked a bit better.

 

 

 

That's the key to a good silent auction -- you need to understand what you can get to auction off (and what your audience can afford to spend), and especially identify the people/groups who can/will donate the marquee prizes.  Then fill in the volume from local businesses and others.

[Just Jack]

Not a monetary fundraiser, and not even an original idea, I saw another team doing it, but myself and a friend of mine, when we were involved in a professional organization that was looking for charity ideas, we proposed to our local hockey team about doing a Teddy Bear Toss. 15 years later, they are still doing it, after being hesitant to even try it at first....

 

 

[Mr Wild]

4 hours ago, Gugny said:

 

What are you raising money for?  Serious question.  The purpose will largely shape/define your target audience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High school football team

Edited March 19, 2019 by Mr Wild

[mead107]

 Raffle with only 250 tickets at $100. Top prize  $10,000 - 2nd $1,000 - 3rd $300 4th and 5th $100. 

 

Used to do thes 2 times a year at GE. 

[Augie]

2 minutes ago, mead107 said:

 Raffle with only 250 tickets at $100. Top prize  $10,000 - 2nd $1,000 - 3rd $300 4th and 5th $100. 

 

Used to do thes 2 times a year at GE. 

I’ll buy for a good cause. 

 

I’d also go for a good stromboli fest! 

[Just Jack]

59 minutes ago, mead107 said:

 Raffle with only 250 tickets at $100. Top prize  $10,000 - 2nd $1,000 - 3rd $300 4th and 5th $100. 

 

Used to do thes 2 times a year at GE. 

 

So, you're bringing in $25,000. But only giving out $11,500. So that's where your Stromboli fund comes from. 

Edited March 19, 2019 by Just Jack

[mead107]

11 minutes ago, Just Jack said:

 

So, you're bringing in $25,000. But only giving out $11,500. So that's where you're Stromboli fund comes from. 

I didn’t run it but , that gives me an idea for to run a raffle on TBD  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds to be donated.  

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

16 minutes ago, Augie said:

I’d also go for a good stromboli fest! 

Widda da onion?

[Gray Beard]

There’s a guy in my town that has a grill on a trailer.  He sets up in a school or church parking lot and sells grilled chicken dinners for take out.  Part of the proceeds go to the group that got permission and advertised for him. 

 

The different school sports or other organizations like to get him to set up in the parking lot on the day of the school budget vote.  Guaranteed steady stream of people stopping by to vote.  Cha Ching!

[Augie]

31 minutes ago, mead107 said:

I didn’t run it but , that gives me an idea for to run a raffle on TBD  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Proceeds to be donated.  

 

That’s awesome! By coincidence, I happen to accept donations! 

[Mr Wild]

1 hour ago, mead107 said:

 Raffle with only 250 tickets at $100. Top prize  $10,000 - 2nd $1,000 - 3rd $300 4th and 5th $100. 

 

Used to do thes 2 times a year at GE. 

What is the size of the location you do this at?

[Augie]

31 minutes ago, Mr Wild said:

What is the size of the location you do this at?

Sounds like you’d have to market that all over. If it’s for a good cause, I’d certainly do it. My wife bought a raffle ticket from her friends in a Zonta club. They tried to sell me outside my Rotary meeting too. They let me off the hook at the door saying my wife already bought the winning tickets. They were RIGHT! I don’t think it was rigged, but we won a trip to see the Bills play the Redskins in the Super Bowl. My wife wanted to sell the package to but a nice dining room set......but she’s better than that! 

[Gugny]

3 hours ago, Mr Wild said:

 

High school football team

 

Then you let the players play a large part in raising the money.  Great life lesson for them.  

 

Some ideas:

• Car wash - players can wash the cars.
• Chili cookoff - find a local establishment or rent out a pavilion; find a small band or a one man acoustic jam to donate services; do a silent auction at the same time.
• Get a local business to donate one big ticket item for raffle.  Maybe a grill or find a company that has season tix for a pro sports team that they'll donate.  Have the boys go out and sell tickets.

 

 

[mead107]

3 hours ago, Mr Wild said:

What is the size of the location you do this at?

1000 people 

[Augie]

Our kids HS did the old 50/50 thing at sporting events. I feel bad that I didn’t play along more, but usually didn’t stop to bother with it. My bad. 

[ExiledInIllinois]

On 3/18/2019 at 9:27 PM, Augie said:

 

I hate the whole FTFY stuff, but I’m feeling lazy. My wife had it out with the Bishop about moving the Catholic Charity Ball to the Ritz. Other venues were cheaper. He felt it was a waste of money on the expense side. She argued people who would stroke the $10-20k check would not attend at Denny’s. She won, and raised revenue from the event by almost 1,000 percent. The Bishop came around..... He became a fan of our family. 

 

When we first moved to Atlanta there was a St Jude event at the home of a local restauranteur. After wine tasting and small plates, they convened in the living room. They started with “who wants to write a check for $25k?”. Then worked their way down. Hands kept going up, raised a fortune in 2-3 hours.  

 

 

. 

I wonder how the new GOP tax law will have an affect on this?  Can't claim squat now.  

Edited March 20, 2019 by ExiledInIllinois

[Gray Beard]

Another fundraiser they do in my town is a Prince Charming event.  Elementary school boys and their mothers get all dressed up and go to a fancy event.  I think it’s more or less a buffet dinner in the school gym. The mothers love it.  Apparently the kids don’t seem to object. 

[Mr Wild]

So someone has announced doing the same raffle suggested.

 

We are having a can drive this weekend.  I am thinking like a spaghetti dinner later this year.  Gets the kids and moms involved. Hopefully

[Gugny]

17 hours ago, Mr Wild said:

So someone has announced doing the same raffle suggested.

 

We are having a can drive this weekend.  I am thinking like a spaghetti dinner later this year.  Gets the kids and moms involved. Hopefully

 

Moms ... hmmm ... how about a Mom Calendar?

 

I'll buy one.

[KD in CA]

17 hours ago, Mr Wild said:

So someone has announced doing the same raffle suggested.

 

We are having a can drive this weekend.  I am thinking like a spaghetti dinner later this year.  Gets the kids and moms involved. Hopefully

 

50/50 raffles are easy if you’re doing it in one night.

 

If you’re doing one with fixed # tickets and set prizes, you need to make sure the kids sell all the tickets so that usually happens over a few weeks.

[Mr Wild]

So we had a can drive and it went well.  We will probably have a few more later this year

[Augie]

On 3/19/2019 at 11:42 PM, Augie said:

Our kids HS did the old 50/50 thing at sporting events. I feel bad that I didn’t play along more, but usually didn’t stop to bother with it. My bad. 

 

In my defense, @plenzmd1, you were generally shamed into giving your half back to the school, plus we already paid non-Catholic rate despite being Catholic and attending regularly. That was an extra $2k/year per kid that went to tuition aid for those who needed it.

 

Oh, and I had a very strong dislike for the incompetent clown show who ran the school at that point. Sorry for burying the lead there. I guess I don’t really feel that bad.....but it was an idea that raised money. 

[KD in CA]

2 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

In my defense, @plenzmd1, you were generally shamed into giving your half back to the school

 

Yeah, that's always been my sense on those things when it's a school fundraiser.   I'd rather spend the dough at an auction and at least walk out with something for my $.  Or at the school fairs -- at least the kids have a good time while you're dropping $50 for a snow cone and a few rides, or buying another tee-shirt you don't need.

[plenzmd1]

26 minutes ago, Augie said:

 

In my defense, @plenzmd1, you were generally shamed into giving your half back to the school, plus we already paid non-Catholic rate despite being Catholic and attending regularly. That was an extra $2k/year per kid that went to tuition aid for those who needed it.

 

Oh, and I had a very strong dislike for the incompetent clown show who ran the school at that point. Sorry for burying the lead there. I guess I don’t really feel that bad.....but it was an idea that raised money. 

 

22 minutes ago, KD in CA said:

 

Yeah, that's always been my sense on those things when it's a school fundraiser.   I'd rather spend the dough at an auction and at least walk out with something for my $.  Or at the school fairs -- at least the kids have a good time while you're dropping $50 for a snow cone and a few rides, or buying another tee-shirt you don't need.

KD, i know him..he is just cheap and doesn't like kids!!!!

[Augie]

2 minutes ago, plenzmd1 said:

 

KD, i know him..he is just cheap and doesn't like kids!!!!

 

You left out puppies! I hate those nasty puppies too! All fluffy and cute, full of love.....who needs that crap around??!!?? 

 

Bah! Humbug! 

[Gugny]

1 hour ago, KD in CA said:

 

Yeah, that's always been my sense on those things when it's a school fundraiser.   I'd rather spend the dough at an auction and at least walk out with something for my $.  Or at the school fairs -- at least the kids have a good time while you're dropping $50 for a snow cone and a few rides, or buying another tee-shirt you don't need.

 

I attended a fundraising event for a friend of mine's son who suffered a serious neck injury.  There were multiple items in a silent auction.  Someone donated a basketball signed by Oscar Robertson.  A guy one it ... then publicly gave it to the family so they could auction it again.  So after that, everyone who won felt awkward.