Charitable fundraising help!?

Question

hi, i've bee volunteering for a local charity for the last 7/8 months and im getting more and more involved and i love it. after the boxing day tsunami a friend of mine went to sri lanka and built an orphanage for around 90 orphans, the problem is we need at least 1000 gbp annually just to pay for basics like food clothes and power, the further away we get from the tsunami (time wise) the less people seem willing to give so iwas wondering if the yahoo community can help me come up with some ideas to raise the funds we need and inform me of any legal problems anyone has come up against. thanks everyone for taking the time to read this!

Answer 1

HI Bluebella!

What a GREAT cause!  I've been heavily involved with nonprofit fund raising for years....so here are some ideas I have that could be relatively low in cost for you and your friend's organization:

1) Consider a mail campaign - depending on how many mailing addresses you have, you never know how many people might respond to your cause and just write you a check!  This works amazingly well for several organizations that are short on time AND resources.

2) Consider running an online auction - this is an AWESOME way to get to the people whose mailing addresses you don't have (ie you've got their EMAILS)...your email base can feel like they're using their expendable income on great stuff AND its going to charity at the same time!  I've included a link of one of the online auction companies that I've worked with...cMarket.  They also have another website, BiddingforGood.com, that opens your auction up to all their members so that people who you don't even know can donate to your cause and bid on your items!

3) Have a fundraising event - give people something to look forward to, and host a gala....you can sell tickets, have an auction, raffle prizes, etc that will give you plenty of money to use on the orphanage!

Answer 2

Backrubs for a donation

Sri Lankan food night