Fund-raising

[jbaysinger]

Has anyone ever used SU for fund-raising? Is it allowed? If so how did you go about it?

Thanks for any help or ideas.

[BatonMom]

I am thinking about doing a fundraiser with SU! I am a demo and it would be for my girls' dance studio. There are two ways that I was thinking about doing it. The first is to pick out 10-15 popular items and put them on an order form. Pick items that are not readily available at stores such as Michaels, etc. The other way is to just sell out of the book and then I was just going to give the girls my 20% for their profits.

If anyone has any other ideas, please share.

Thanks,

[edith199]

My demo just sent out invites.... she's doing a fundraiser by holding an afternoon workshop... make 10 Christmas cards for $25.

[kborg]

My best fundraisers have Midnight Madness. I rented a gym (the fundraiser was for the school so they gave it to me free). I charged $15 per person to get in and they had full access to all my stamps and ink pads. I did a demo every 1.5 hours and I have 63 people come. SU sent a box of stuff to auction off and the money all went to the school. I had other people help, bring food, set up chairs etc. I would suggest getting non SU people involved to do some of those task so you don't have to do it all yourself. Alltogether at the end of the night we had made $1500 for the school and had alot of contact with new potential customers that has led to a broader base of customers. It was a win win situation.

[MICHELLE WOODERSON]

For the amount you charged for the workshop type fundraiser, did you keep all the profit, donate half? Or did you just give part of your earnings? Would love more information.

[kborg]

Since it was my kids school I gave the whole $15. and all the profits but if someone ordered I kept that. It is all about how you advertise it. As long as the customers know what is what and how much and you are honest about it that's all that matters.
I have midnight madnesses about once every 2 months. I have on coming up Friday Dec 10. I only do the fundraiser once a year and the rest of the year I do it for me as part of my business. I usually make $150-200 for the night which is really good money. It is usually abit of work but well worth it $$. People don't usually order much at these nights but it promotes fun and me.

[BiscottiMaker]

What a great idea! Can you tell us more about the details? Like what time does it start and end? Did the other parents look after or sell snacks or do people bring their own? Did you do a "catalogue walk through"? How many people attend? Is it advertised beyond the school -- or just "bring a friend"? What is the student population of the school (so I can guestimate how many people might attend from my kids' school)?

I am assuming that the set up is tables with garbage bags and you have a display baord showing some samples. Let us know any other advice you may have. Thanks!

[kborg]

To answer some of your questions.. The evening runs 7-midnight. For the fundraiser I had someone bring snacks and told her she would be reimbursed but at the end she gave it as a donation and I didn't charge her for coming for the night. We had the snacks out as self serve and a bucket asking for donations. We made about $100 in donations just at the snack table and then I didn't have to pay for any of the snacks so it was straight fundraiser money. People are welcome to bring their own snacks. I didn't do a walk through. I just had catty people could pick up and look at. I trusted that they didn't steal them.
I had one table with all the stamp sets and another with all the ink pads and paper that people could buy for .50 per sheet. ( I kept that money to replace what I sold) I didn't have anyone manning any of the tables its all self serve. I do one or two demo's during the night just demo no make and take. They just stand around a table and watch me for the demo and if they want to copy it they can go to their seats and do the same thing.
I only have one garbadge pail out and it doesn't seem to get too messy. People clean up after themselves. I don't have a display board that I put up but I have my scrapbooks to look at and my cards are displayed in a photo album and I allow the customers to take a card out and copy and put it back in when they are done. I also bring all my swap cards from convention (still in zip lock bags) and they can take them to their seat and go through and take out whatever they want to copy. I ask people to put the stamp sets back on the stamp table when they are done so others can have a chance to use them and it seems to work well. If someone is looking for something and it's not on the table (stamp set) then I tell to go and ask and look for it. I usually have a couple of people that stay and help me put away tables and chairs. For a fundraiser I ask people in advance to be in charge of that. I try and keep it as simple as possible. I don't know how many people you could expect since I just invited the school (in the weekly newsletter) and then I emailed all my customers and invited them. Most don't know anything about the school but come because they like my midnight madness nights. I would invite any and all people interested. no limit except for what you can hold in a gym! HTH

[Marian Forrest]

What a great area of intrest! I've read the entire post. I got alot of info.
I also have a question- I have a 14 year old daughter who is diabetic, last year was the first year she wanted to go to diabetic camp, her insurance pays every other year the $400 for the one week of camp and the years inbetween it's up to us to come up with the $$$. Any sugestions for fund rasing ideas for this situtation? I would appriciate any input. Thanks!
Marian

[kborg]

Well, You could call it Stamp Camp for Camp. There are 2 ways I would suggest for a fundraiser, one is charge $25-$50 per ticket and have them all stamp the same things you supply all or do like a midnight madness find a place to hold it that won't charge you lots. You could maybe even check with the Juvenile Diabetes and see if they have a suggestion for venue. You could make it really big and partner with them and raise $ for your daughter and other kids. Put them in charge of advertising and use there logo etc.
With a midnight madness just run it like I suggested and let people know where the money is going. I am sure 1 or 2 midnight madness and you should have all the money for camp. You could do mother and daughter or just mom's.
Good luck.
Kim

[Marian Forrest]

WOW! Thanks for the great idea's. I ran them past my daughter and she thought it was cool. I could probably ask the Pastor and his wife if the church could be used in any way. Their son is 19 and has been a diabetic for a long time. Also, up until a few years ago they were neighbors and close to Tiffaney. Thanks again. Camp registration is May or June so I need to figure things out soon.
Marian