Source: EGAD! Ideas - www.egadideas.com
Submitted By: Shellie Jordan

Larry Barkdull

1. Get the reader’s attention.
2. State the cause and/or credentials of your charitable organization.
3. Solicit a contribution.
4. An incentive offer.
5. Additional insert.
6. Thank you.
7. Conclusion.
8. Sign the Letter.

That’s why it’s so important to go “above and beyond” when it comes to showing your gratitude for their generosity. You really can’t thank them too much. It helps to reaffirm to them that they made a good choice in supporting your cause and it also greatly improves the chances of them contributing again then next time you run a fundraiser.

Here are some ways that you can go the extra mile in thanking your donors:

• When preparing your participants/volunteers before your event, stress the importance of thanking the donors with a warm, sincere smile.
• Give free tickets to your dinner/event to sponsors who contribute food, printing promo materials, etc.
• Put a special note in your church bulletin.
• Have a special featured article in your organization’s newsletter.
• Post Thank-Yous on your group/school/church’s website.
• Follow up your event with a Thank-You note and survey card asking for their feedback on how they felt about the event.
• Print up Thank-You cards with a photo and a ton of signatures from those who benefited from the fundraiser.

Have more ideas? Post them in the comments section below!

This program also offers some great incentives as your group members can earn free movie tickets redeemable online and a chance for the top seller to win an iPhone and/or a 42″ flat screen TV!

Great reasons to consider the online magazine fundraiser: Free & easy way to raise funds online No door-to-door & no inventory Personalized & secure online magazine store Over 650 magazines at up to 85% off cover prices A way to reach supporters nationwide Monthly profit checks for 40% of all sales Great Top Seller Prizes

How does the Online Magazine fundraising program work? It’s so fast and easy to run an online fundraiser:

1. Personalize your online magazine store with your colors, message and image once you’ve signed up.
2. Tell your network across the US (group members, friends and family) about your online magazine store by emailing them the link.
3. Watch friends and family order or renew their favorite magazine subscriptions online (with over 650 magazine titles at up to 85% off newsstand prices).
4. Collect 40% of all subscription dollars generated on your store through monthly profit checks!

World’s Finest ® Chocolate has a large assortment of chocolate bars and boxed chocolates. There’s lots of flexibility here as they offer a variety of price points and flavors. Unlike other brands, these chocolates are not available in most retail stores.

What’s even better… All $2 and $1 items have a $2 OFF coupon from Pizza Hut on their labels!

$2 Items The $2 chocolate bars have proven to be the most popular - and most profitable – chocolate fundraiser. You can even personalize some bars for better results!	King Size Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bars	King Size World’s Finest Crisp ® Bars
	Continental ® Almonds	Fund Raisin’s ®
	Mint Meltaways ®	Caramel Whirls ®
	Chocolate Shop Variety Pack
$1 Items Traditional $1 chocolate bars from World’s Finest ® Chocolate are always popular. Personalize them with your group’s name, logo and picture to better support your fundraising efforts!	Milk Chocolate with Almonds Bars	World’s Finest Crisp ® Bars
	Fund Shop Variety Pack (Kids Variety)	Chocolate Shop Variety Pack (Classic Variety)
Click here for more information!

]]> http://egadfundraising.com/worlds-finest-chocolate-fundraising-program/feed/ http://egadfundraising.com/hebert-chocolate-fundraising-program/ http://egadfundraising.com/hebert-chocolate-fundraising-program/#comments Sun, 27 Apr 2008 15:40:25 +0000 Chris Fane http://egadfundraising.com/?p=56 Hebert chocolate has been around since 1917, making it one of the oldest brands in fundraising today. There are several chocolate fundraising programs to choose from, now featuring dark chocolate. All Hebert fundraising products are manufactured in a peanut-free facility.

Hebert $1 Variety Packs Each $1 variety pack features the most popular Hebert chocolate bars in fundraising. And each Hebert $1 bar is 2 oz., making it one of the biggest $1 bars in fundraising!
Hebert $2 Variety Packs These chocolate fundraising packs include all your favorite Hebert products that will make your supporters beg for more!	.
Hebert $1 Straight Packs Hebert straight packs feature your favorite flavors by the case. Each bar is a full 2 oz., and at just a dollar each, they’re easy to sell for fast profits!
Click here for more information!

]]> http://egadfundraising.com/hebert-chocolate-fundraising-program/feed/ http://egadfundraising.com/unique-scratchcard-fundraiser/ http://egadfundraising.com/unique-scratchcard-fundraiser/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 21:52:07 +0000 Chris Fane http://egadfundraising.com/?p=70 Scratchcard fundraisers are easy ways to raise money because there is no product to sell, nothing to deliver, and almost all of the donations you raise go directly to your group

Supporters are offered special coupons from national retailers including Pizza Hut, A&W, major movie theatre chains and others to motivate them to help your group have a successful fundraising campaign.

How It Works: 1. Order 1 scratch card for each fundraising participant. 2. The participant asks family and friends to scratch off as many scratch dots on the card as they like to help support your cause. 3. The supporter donates the sum of the amounts revealed beneath the dots they scratched. 4. Supporters receive a valuable coupon sheet as a thank you. 5. Your group keeps the profit (you only pay the cost of the cards)!

Each scratchcard includes your group’s name on the front cover and there are over 30 different themes/designs to choose from so you can find the right one to match your organization. Click here to see them all!

Professional benefit auctioneers (different than traditional auctioneers) will become involved with the planning and spend time with you to get to know your organization, your cause, and the audience who will attend the auction. They know how to sell, they know how to motivate and encourage bidding, and they are passionate.

Check your local Yellow Pages or perform a Google search for a professional benefit auctioneer in your area and arrange for a free consultation to see how they can help make the most of your next charity auction!

If you’re hosting a fundraising dinner, take it to the next level and make it extra special!

Here are some ideas:

• Make sure you have people opening doors for guests arriving and leaving. Don’t let anyone leave without a “Thank-You!”
• Provide a complimentary coat-check room. It’s fun and may bring in an extra couple of bucks in tips at the end of the night.
• Have someone fill the role of maître d’ and provide hosts/hostesses to escort people to their seats.
• Go with candlelight and low level lighting.
• Play classical music or jazz in the background for some delightful ambiance.
• Hosting a spaghetti dinner? Have some fun and go with an all-out Italian theme, speaking in over-the-top Italian accents and fake mustaches for all staff.  Make it a playful caricature… ensure that you don’t offend any of your guests.
• Don’t overlook the details… nicely folded napkins, mints, flowers on tables (that guests can take home), waiters floating around refilling glasses, etc.
• Fun for the kids: learn how to make some basic balloon animals and travel around the room making them for the kids attending.