Gwb Fundraising

WHAT IS INTELIS?

Intelis is Global Brigades’ official module that helps you accelerate fund-raising for your Brigade with the support of others.

WHY USE INTELIS?

Intelis enables you to accept online donations, gain support from friends and family, and track all your donations and campaigns in one place.

WHEN SHOULD I USE IT?

The earlier the better. Regisitration with the Intelis site is proof of registration before your Brigade. All students and affiliates going on the brigade must be registered and fully paid for no later than 2 weeks before their brigade.

HOW DO I REGISTER?

Follow along this visual Step-by-step guide and you’ll be one step closer to your brigade.

Go to www.globalbrigades.org

Click the ‘support now’ hyperlink on the left-hand side

Click the ‘support Global Brigades or donate directly to one of our university clubs’ hyperlink in the middle of the screen

Click on the correct brigade organization and season

Click on ‘Join a Brigade’ to register as a Brigader

Select your institution from the pull-down menu

Verify you are signing up for the right institution

Fill out your personal information accurately

Create a login account to manage your fundraising site after you are done

Download and read the ‘Global Brigades Waiver and Release of Liability’

Click ‘I agree’

STARTING OUT

Fund-raising can be a great way to bring your club together and for members to get to know each other before your Brigade. It also helps ensure that any person who wants to come on a Brigade is able to, and money does not become a limiting factor. View all fundraising as an opportunity to share your passion and get other people to join with you in your vision. However, without support from everyone in your group it can also be a daunting task. Elect one person to be fund-raising chair and oversee all fundraising activities. Be sure to develop a strong team to support the fundraising chair and delegate responsibilities throughout the group. This will remove the stress from falling on only one person, ensure better participation by your club members, and make your clubs ability to raise funds much more effective.

DEVELOP A VISION FOR YOUR FUND-RAISING

Set specific goals, timelines, and deadlines from the very beginning. In general, try to conduct fewer and more effective programs. This will help maintain motivation and avoid “fundraising fatigue.” Decide which, if any, funding will go to cover a specific person’s expense versus being split evenly among all group members. Begin by having each member of your club list every person and organizations that they know and trust. These people will be the first to help in achieving your goal. You should ask everyone you know (and even some you do not know) to support to your cause - you never know who will be willing to donate. Write your goals, hopes, and reasons for participating in a Brigade. When talking with anyone, explain how their contribution will make an impact by allowing you to meet these goals while helping a community in need. You don’t need to include too many extra details as it is better to be clear, precise, and to the point. This will help donors to understand about your motivation and passion. Perfect your introduction for all presentations. Never start with the question “Would you like to buy/donate..?” because the standard answer is ‘NO.’ Students should introduce themselves, their group and their group goal with major emphasis on the GOAL. What’s the money going to provide? Student volunteers who communicate the organization’s purpose make better ambassadors.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THANKING SUPPORTERS

Following your Brigade it is important to acknowledge all contributors with a thank you letter, which recognizes and praises their help. As people often appreciate public recognition, you may want to include a printed list of all your supporters’ names.

SHARE DIRECT EVIDENCE

Like pictures and stories from the community that you worked with or of the children that you taught, to help people to better understand and see where their contributions have made a difference. Some volunteers like to host a small open house before or after their Brigade to publicly recognize and thank supporters. Offer to share with your supporters a follow-up presentation about what occurred during your volunteer work. Offering to give a presentation upon your return is a great way to secure repeat funding from religious organizations, civic groups, alumni associations, educational institutions, etc.

CLUB FUNDING

Starting a University organization usually entitles you to some funding from the schools, but can vary widely from University to University.

TALK TO YOUR SCHOOL’S OFFICE OF STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

Many schools have funds specifically assigned to charitable student giving. It is especially helpful to have the support and backing of a faculty member, particularly a department chair, if possible. Network using your faculty advisor’s contacts.

SPONSOR LETTERS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS

By far the most effective means of raising funds is talking to those closest to you and asking for their financial support. See the Global Brigades website (www.globalbrigadesbrigades.org) under the “How to Start a Club” section for an example letter that you can download and modify. Be sure to explain what this trip will mean to you personally and why exactly it is that you want to be part of a Brigade. It is also helpful to include any pictures you or your friends may have taken on previous Brigades. You may find that asking for a specific amount of money is the most successful approach. Let them know the total amount that you are hoping to raise. You may even want to outline the specific cost, perhaps daily expenses, of your program. Some schools choose to have their friends and family donate to each students’ fund-raising accounts personally, while groups have people donate to a general fund which is then eventually distributed between all group members.

FACEBOOK

Spread the word through Facebook and other sources of information on your campus (school paper, flyers etc).

GRANTS

Use University resources, Internet, word-of-mouth, etc., to research grants pertaining to the work your club is doing, and start writing.

CHURCH/RELIGIOUS GROUP COLLECTIONS

Although Global Brigades is a secular organization, our vision and the nature of our projects is in-line with many religious groups. Some students approach their local congregation and request that a special collection be made or all the collections from a particular week go to their Brigade. It is most effective to meet directly with your clergy or congregation leaders and explaining the mission of Global Brigades and why you want to participate.

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL APPLE STORE

Each Apple store is required to participate in charitable giving. They may be able to help provide funds or donate items to raffle.

SEEK MATCHING GRANTS

Approach larger locally-based corporations and seek out matching grants. Essentially, they agree that, if you raise a set amount of money, they will match it. Be sure to explain how their corporation will be recognized for their support. Meet with them personally to give a presentation.

CONTACT LOCAL MEDIA

Share with local newspapers, radio stations, and TV news stations both where your university is located and your hometown the projects you will be involved with and bios of your group members. Be sure to include a way that people can contribute and advertise any specific events you may be planning.

CONTACT LOCAL BUSINESSES

Reach out to local businesses by meeting with them directly and giving a presentation on your Brigade and why you want to go. It is much more effective to meet personally with a representative of the business rather than just calling or writing. Explain how you will recognize their support (for example: advertising on your website, their logo on t-shirts you will make etc). When approaching companies, express a sense of urgency. This limits their time to decide as to whether or not to donate - you will find this easier because you will be forewarned as to whether you should keep trying with other organizations or not.

ONLINE SOURCES OF FUND-RAISING IDEAS http://www.bluecross.org.uk/web/site/Fundraising/AZFundraising.asp http://www.fundraising-ideas.org/DIY/index.html http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/fund-raising.htm http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/events-1.htm www.freethechildren.com/we/images/pdf/101_fundraising_ideas.pdf

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER POTENTIAL DATES

. Take into consideration planning time. A rushed event put together at the last minute can be stressful and decrease quality of the event. . Would it conflict with other events on campus? Many events in one day might cause a low turnout. . Should you avoid or encourage a time during or between midterms/finals? Event for students to take a break from finals would be a good idea but may cause strain on brigaders’ own finals. . Special holidays and breaks. Would they correlate or conflict with the potential date?

LOCATION

. On campus . Off campus . Transportation offered/available

TARGET AUDIENCE

. Students . Educating students about Global Brigades for future support. Also can use event as way for recruitment for current or future brigades. . Event fees will have to remain at affordable prices but can then expect for much more participants. . Faculty/Staff . Good way to gain faculty support and collect donations. A sophisticated and well planned event may gain better recognition from university and support for future brigades. . Community . Family and friends, local businesses. Might be best to use in combination with student or faculty/staff audiences. . Can use event as further outreach and gain a network of support.

QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER START-UP FUNDING

. Get sponsors from the community. Prizes or free food to offer as incentive for participation in the event would be ideal if items were donated from corporations. Many have websites at which you can request donations. Or, a let ter explaining event and Global Brigades as an organization hand delivered to the manager would suffice. . Some corporations require submission for donations requests several weeks in advance, therefore it is always important to plan ahead. . While some universities won’t give grants or sponsor students to travel on a Brigade, support can come in the form of funding for fundraising events. Check what your student organization policies are regarding event funding requests . A poorly planned and rushed event can also lead to lacking sponsors or prizes, causing a decrease in donations and an increase in out-of-pocket start-up costs.

SPLITTING THE PROFIT

. This must be made clear to all participants of event. . Towards supplies/brigade . If so, this would encourage more donations and event planners can use clever advertising techniques (i.e. “$15 admission fee = 6 meters of piping to carry clean water to a village in Honduras.”) . Towards brigaders’ flight and in-country costs . Only to those brigaders who participate/ attend event. . Only to those brigaders who organize event on the committee. . Would it be fair and split evenly among all brigaders – this might lead to unmotivated participation and help with event planning. Also not ideal for large brigades.

PLAUSIBILITY

. Do you have enough time? . Too many conflicts to work around? . Enough support from fellow brigaders? . The biggest reason why fundraising event planning fall apart or a low revenue is because of poor commitment to event organization and all responsibility thus lies upon one person.

BAGEL/ BAKE SALE ITEMS TO SELL

Preparation Time Needed: 1 week Members Needed: 3-5 members Target Audience: Students, Faculty/Staff Expected Initial Costs: $20 Expected Revenue: $100-200

Get donated bagels from business (Einstein Bagels, Panera Bread, etc.) to donate left over bagels. All big businesses throw out bagels from days’ production at the end work day. Call ahead and find out whether local business will need reservation or to call back day of pick up. Sell items for set price or by donation. (When sold “By Donation” encourage any amount donation as the donor feels appropriate). For bagels, offer different flavors of cream cheese, juice or coffee. Bake goods can be donated from businesses such as Jewel Osco or Dominick’s although homemade items are more appealing. Have Brigades make bake goods to sell. Only start up costs should be $0 - $20 depending on whether cream cheese is donated. Make yourself aware of university policies regarding selling of baked goods.

LOCATION/ TIME

Choose a high traffic area on campus where students can buy items before or after classes (student lobby or building entrance). Start early in the day, before first classes and offer donated coffee from DD or Starbucks. Make sign/banner for table advertising Global Brigades.

EVENT POSITIVES

Good way to promote organization and recruitment of other students. Table can be good point place for fellow brigades to meet and socialize between classes. Easy to set up and low start up costs can be on a bi-weekly or monthly basis depending on university policies.

EVENT NEGATIVES

One or two volunteers need to staff table at all times. Will cause problems if not many volunteers and one person is at the table all day.

DONATION CONTAINERS

Preparation Time Needed: Members Needed: Target Audience: Expected Initial Costs: Expected Revenue:

4 weeks 3-5 members Community $20 $100-200

This is a straightforward cash collection fundraising at local merchants. Save old coffee cans and cover them in bright color paper with your organization’s name and logo prominently displayed (a catchy slogan never hurts). Visit all local merchants and ask if you can leave a can at their cash register. Don’t forget to visit all participating local merchants once a week and collect all proceeds. Your organization gets 100% of the profit. Advertising Global Brigades with your contact information. Develop relationship with local owners for future donations or events. Easy and isn’t time consuming. There would be needed committed and trusted members to regularly check on containers and develop relationships with owners.

VIDEO GAME TOURNAMENT

Preparation Time Needed: 4 weeks Members Needed: 3-5 members Target Audience: Students Expected Initial Costs: None Expected Revenue: $200-300

Host game for teams or individuals to play. Create competition for teams to play for prizes (Halo, Mario Party, Guitar Hero, etc.). Offering free food and refreshments would be incentives to attend. This is an easy way to raise money that one person can set up themselves with their friends. The only problems may be getting a space to play that is comfortable and easily accessible. Also, games should promote team playing and would need numerous of systems and screens. Open game night could also be promoted with a wide variety of types of games and systems. Participation could be an entry fee or general donations accepted, although host would need to clearly advertise event is a fun way to raise money for their trip to Honduras with Global Brigades.

MOVIE NIGHT/ MARATHON

Preparation Time Needed: Members Needed: Target Audience: Expected Initial Costs: Expected Revenue:

4 weeks 2-5 members Students $20 $200-300

PLAY POPULAR MOVIES FOR FREE AND ACCEPT DONATIONS

Many organizations rent a movie and hold movie night fundraising events. This works especially well if you have a large room and projection/large screen TV. Make money by charging a single price for the movie and refreshments; provide the movie free but sell refreshments; or charge nothing and just ask for donations. Make sure you select a movie that will be of special interest to your group. Allow plenty of time for socialization before and after the movie. Some groups have held all-nighters where movie-goers bring their sleeping bags and blankets and have a movie marathon. Fun and relaxing event for socialization and break from studying. MAKE SURE MOVIE IS LEGAL AND APPROPRIATE FOR VIEWERS

3 ON 3 SPORTS TOURNAMENT

Preparation Time Needed: 4 weeks Members Needed: 5-10 members Target Audience: Students Expected Initial Costs: None Expected Revenue: $200-300

Host a tournament for volleyball, soccer, basketball, etc. This kind of fundraising event has no limitations on how it can be hosted or played. Teams sign up for fee either online or at a common area where a sign up sheet can be left. Singing up online or via a list would give the committee a good idea of expected outcome. Simple websites can be made at www.weebly.com where students can sign up. Teams could keep track of their own scoring and play up to a certain amount of points or can be maintained by a referee and/or have a time limit. Incentives could include prizes as well as free food/refreshments. Biggest problems that may occur is reserving space on campus far enough in advance as well as renting of equipment.

LETTER WRITING PARTY

Preparation Time Needed: 4 weeks All Members Needed: Target Audience: Community Expected Initial Costs: $20 Expected Revenue: $500-2000

Host party with food and refreshments for brigaders to address letters to which would include a pre-stamped return envelope. Have each brigader bring at least 10 addresses of friends and family. This event would be better to get Brigaders motivated about finding individual donations and sending letters, also good time to meet and have Brigaders get to know each other.

50/50 RAFFLE

Preparation Time Needed: Members Needed: Target Audience: Expected Initial Costs: Expected Revenue:

4 weeks 5-10 members Students/ Community None $200-300

Sell raffle tickets at $1 or $2 each. At the end of the raffle the winner will get half the pot. For example, if 300 tickets were sold at $1 each then the pot would equal $300. Winner claims $150 and the other $150 go towards the fundraiser. If the committee can get access to raffle tickets, there is no start up costs. Selling tickets at big event like university sports games is best way to find participation. If so, announcing winner at half time or near end of game would be ideal. Additionally if you can get many members to walk the bleachers and crowds is a surest way to find large participation. Reserving rights for the raffle for highly viewed games is best but would need to be booked far in advance.

ICE CREAM NIGHT

Preparation Time Needed: Members Needed: Target Audience: Expected Initial Costs: Expected Revenue:

4 weeks 5-10 members Students/ Community None $200-300

Contact local ice cream parlors of yogurt shops to see if they would be willing to give you a portion of their profits for every customer you bring in on a given night as a fundraising event. The members of your club can have fun socializing and the shop will gain publicity and name recognition on the university campus. Make sure you have contacted the mangers will in advance to fill out appropriate paper work.

HOME RUN DERBY

Preparation Time Needed: Members Needed: Target Audience: Expected Initial Costs: Expected Revenue:

6 weeks 5-10 members Students $20 $300-600

Have individuals pay an entry fee to play. Each player would get 10 pitches and attempt to hit the most homeruns. Finding a field or park close to campus and offer free food, refreshments, and a raffle for those who don’t want to hit. Start up costs could potentially involve reservation of the field and/or bats and tennis balls. This kind of event is a easy and good way to bring students and the community together.

BOWLING NIGHTS

Preparation Time Needed: Members Needed: Target Audience: Expected Initial Costs: Expected Revenue:

6 weeks 10-15 members Students/Community None $500-1000

Find package deals at local bowling alley and sell tickets for groups of students or families to play together. This brings the community and students together and is a fun and easy event to host. Be sure to keep contact with managers frequently and well in advance.

SILENT AUCTION

Preparation Time Needed: 8 weeks Members Needed: 10-15 members Target Audience: Faculty/Staff/Community Expected Initial Costs: None Expected Revenue: $500-1000

Auction off donated items such as souvenirs from Honduras or artwork by students. This kind of event would be best combined with another big event where a quiet setting is appropriate, i.e. Benefit Dinner.

5K RUN

Preparation Time Needed: Members Needed: Target Audience: Expected Initial Costs: Expected Revenue:

8 weeks 20-30 members Students/Community $300-400 $1000-2500

The 5k run is a one-day event that involves students and community members giving a donation in order to participate in a 3.1-mile race. It is a low cost event that can raise $2000 or more with a good number of participants. This event is relatively easy to plan and great for publicizing your brigade. A key strategy for the success of this event is a very strong publicity tied clearly Global Brigades. Door-to-door publicity would be best in promotion and involving the community. Starts up costs are higher although expected for higher profits. Charge admission fees and find donated prizes from local business. This event can generate large profits if member involvement is high and planned far enough in advance.

BENEFIT DINNER

Preparation Time Needed: 9 + weeks Members Needed: 15-20 members Target Audience: Depending on scale Expected Initial Costs: $1000-1500 Expected Revenue: $5000+

A benefit dinner is a fund-raiser that serves dinner to community members and students in exchange for a charge or a donation. This event works best as a high cost and high revenue fund-raiser. However, it is possible to hold the event at a smaller cost with free venues and inexpensive food. Organized successfully, a benefit dinner is a good way to raise money for your fundraising campaign while making long-lasting connections with the local community. Benefit dinners can generate many donations, although would have be planned well in advance and with many member commitment with great organization. Committee leaders would manage each committee but all brigaders would be encouraged to aid in looking for sponsors and donations from local businesses. Consider food options to accommodate vegetarians. Also consider whether to do event on or off campus. If offcampus, would there be transportation available for all to access venue. Provide entertainment by local band or DJ and have extra activities such as raffle or silent auction. If dinner is sit down versus buffet style, it would be a good idea to haveBrigaders dress similar and serve the tables as a way of introducing Global Brigades as an organization and its mission. Additionally, inviting speakers and/or making a PowerPoint presentation during dinner would be best in explaining and education guests on global health issues in Honduras and Global Brigades.