Fundraising ideas

Some of our fellow teammates and I were discussing some fundraising ideas on Facebook, and I wanted to clue you all in. If there is any ideas you can think of besides the ones posted here, please comment with them! Many hands make light work, after all… (or rather, many brains make light thinking. . . hmm. Maybe that’s not the best analogy…)

 

1. Sponsor Letters – Of course, the one aspect that Adventures in Missions REQUIRES us to do is Still probably the most effective. There are many resources on the web (besides the ones the World Race provides us) that can help you in writing an effective sponsor letter. I’m also sure that if you’re struggling to write a letter, that there are MANY Racer Alumni that might be willing to help you. (I am! I’m not an Alumni Racer, but I’ve written my fair share of Support Letters with the other trips I’ve been on..) I will probably be posting a copy of my letter on my blog soon, just to give you a better idea.

 

2. Facebook – I’m not talking about using the “Cause” application for facebook, rather I’m talking about using Facebook for what it was made for… SOCIAL NETWORKING. Plaster WORLD RACE 2010 ALL OVER your Facebook Page. Include regular status updates that let people know how much you still need to raise. Divide the number you need to raise by the number of friends on Facebook, and that will let you know how much each friend will have to give you to raise the funds. For example, if you have to raise 14,300, and you have 494 friends (I’m using my list as an example..) Then 14,300/494=$28.94. (Wow.. is that all? I need to jump on my own bandwagon…) $30 is a much easier amount to give then $100.. and some people will be like, “Only $30? I can give you at LEAST $50!”

Then write a note (sort of like your sponsor letter) and include a link to your support page, or your address. Then send it to EVERYONE ON YOUR FRIEND LIST. And I mean EVERYONE. You will hopefully be plesantly surprised at who might donate. Even people you haven’t talked to in awhile may drop a check in the mail for you. Facebook also shows up on other people’s pages… so someone might see your status on your Aunt’s Wall, and decide to help. (It’s happened! To me!! )

 

3. Talk to EVERYONE.  – and I mean everyone. People at Church. People at Starbucks. People at the Bank. People on the side of the Road. People at Taco Bell. Everyone. I consider this not only good networking, but also GREAT practice for getting you out of your comfort zone. It is SO hard for me to do this, because I am an introvert in nature, and have a tendency to be Shy. It is much easier for me to NOT talk to people. . . but then I miss out on the blessing of Sharing what God is doing in my life. If we want to be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ, then we need to actually talk to people. If we are going to be doing this on the World Race, then we should probably start practicing this now. I have forced myself to talk to people, and every now and then they ask for my information. I have become Facebook friends with them, and now they are available for my cool facebook note (see numero dos above. 🙂

 

 

 

6. Eat Mor Chikn- Chick-Fil-A baby! – That’s right, never underestimate the power of your favorite, not open on Sunday Fast Food Resteraunt. Chic-Fil-A specializes in helping non profit organzations. Chick-Fil-A has a plethora of ways to raise money, any where from spirit nights, (where your friends and family bring in a flier with your cause on it and 20% of the proceeds go towards your trip) to selling Calendars with food coupons on it. I do not work for Chick-Fil-A, but I know a current world racer who held a Spirit Night and apparently it was pretty succesful. (I’ll let you know how I do, but I’ve been told that you get as much out of the spirit nights as you put into them.)

 

 

8. Host a live/silent Auction at your church – Another really successful event for me, Get people to offer services, art, photography, timeshares, or whatever else you can get your hands on and host a silent auction or a live auction (my Head Pastor at my chuch used to do Live auctions when he lived in Texas, and man does he make it fun!) These are really fun and are a great way to get the word out about your race. (and sell your bookmarks and bracelets here too!)