Fundraising for a Service Trip, from WePay.com
Hey y'all! Earlier this week, I was contacted by Jennifer Escalona, a professional blogger for WePay.com, a website dedicated to helping students plan service trips. She asked me to post a message about the website on our blog, so here it is! Take some time to read it, for the information it contains is very valuable. Thank you so much, Merry Christmas, and go deacs!
-Chris
Each year thousands of university students from across the US look forward to one special week in March. Spring break- the most wonderful time of the year. Bodacious babes and brawny bro’s all ditch the monotony of class and the tundra of campus for a week of sun, fun, and – service?
Yup.
More than ever, “alternative” spring breaks are seducing students away from beaches of Fort Lauderdale and margaritas of Cancun in favor of the rugged cold in the Appalachians or the moonshine of Mississippi. As a result of their weeklong experience, students develop community with their fellow volunteers and hosts, work closely with worthy causes such as Habitat for Humanity or Pax Christi USA, and return back to campus transformed with a firsthand account of the struggles faced by those on the margins.
Sound like something you might be interested in? That’s great, but you may want to consider a few things first. Like most good things, these trips require some serious funding. But don’t fear. The WePay blog has got you covered. Follow these steps to ensure that your experience is as successful (and more memorable) than that of your friends, who just got back from a tour of the Cuervo factory.
1. Be creative, but be practical If you’re anything like me (a handsome and charming lad with a hint of mystery), when someone says fundraising your mind immediately jumps to bake sales and car washes. These traditional methods can be dressed up a hundred different ways. There’s the classic “bikini wax” or “suds and studs” event for our four-wheeled chariots, or one could go with creative cutouts for baked good that reflect the holidays of season or pride for the local team.
Not to knock the classics, but these don’t tend to be the big income-generators that you’re looking for. Know your audience. If you’re fundraising from a bunch of college mates, host an event at a bar. Contact the manager to secure drink specials on a weeknight; he or she will be happy to oblige in exchange for the increased customer traffic, and all your friends have to do is pay $x to get their wristband. Using WePay’s ticket selling feature makes collecting money in advance easier than ever, and you can bring extra bands for people who want to purchase at the door.
2. Pride is your enemy; smite him Look, it’s tough asking for money. Haven’t you ever noticed how sad your landlord or credit card companies seem when they sent you an invoice? It kills them. But you’re on a mission to transform yourself and the world around you, so excessive pride isn’t a luxury you can afford. Still, you can salvage some of it by asking for donations with respect. One approach is a letter writing campaign. Come up with a template that you and your group members can use, but make it personal. If Aunt Suzy is active at her church, mention the ways your trip embodies “love of neighbor.” Uncle Al doesn’t believe in “handouts?” Include a paragraph that explains your work as a hand-up. You giving of yourself is something a lot of people can get behind if you present it to them in the right way. Additionally, how cool is it to get a letter these days? While writing an email certainly speeds up the process on your end, the extra time and cost of sending a physical letter could bear great fruit down the road.
3. Eliminate obstacles You’ve got the bar reserved, your raffle prizes ready, and your letters are ready to be sent out. Great, but don’t expect donors to jump through hoops to get their fund to you. Make the process as streamlined as possible for those wishing to donate. Facebook might be nice to get the word out about your raffle, but it’s a lousy way to distribute ticket chances. Avoid the need for making individuals meet up with you somewhere on campus using WePay. If you write a letter, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for donors to return their checks. And whether by email or hard letter, include a link to your online donation site (you do have one by now, right?) to enable fast, traceable, and secure delivery.
There’s a lot of good to be done out there. Don’t let antiquated approaches to fundraising stand in your way.
-Chris
Each year thousands of university students from across the US look forward to one special week in March. Spring break- the most wonderful time of the year. Bodacious babes and brawny bro’s all ditch the monotony of class and the tundra of campus for a week of sun, fun, and – service?
Yup.
More than ever, “alternative” spring breaks are seducing students away from beaches of Fort Lauderdale and margaritas of Cancun in favor of the rugged cold in the Appalachians or the moonshine of Mississippi. As a result of their weeklong experience, students develop community with their fellow volunteers and hosts, work closely with worthy causes such as Habitat for Humanity or Pax Christi USA, and return back to campus transformed with a firsthand account of the struggles faced by those on the margins.
Sound like something you might be interested in? That’s great, but you may want to consider a few things first. Like most good things, these trips require some serious funding. But don’t fear. The WePay blog has got you covered. Follow these steps to ensure that your experience is as successful (and more memorable) than that of your friends, who just got back from a tour of the Cuervo factory.
1. Be creative, but be practical If you’re anything like me (a handsome and charming lad with a hint of mystery), when someone says fundraising your mind immediately jumps to bake sales and car washes. These traditional methods can be dressed up a hundred different ways. There’s the classic “bikini wax” or “suds and studs” event for our four-wheeled chariots, or one could go with creative cutouts for baked good that reflect the holidays of season or pride for the local team.
Not to knock the classics, but these don’t tend to be the big income-generators that you’re looking for. Know your audience. If you’re fundraising from a bunch of college mates, host an event at a bar. Contact the manager to secure drink specials on a weeknight; he or she will be happy to oblige in exchange for the increased customer traffic, and all your friends have to do is pay $x to get their wristband. Using WePay’s ticket selling feature makes collecting money in advance easier than ever, and you can bring extra bands for people who want to purchase at the door.
2. Pride is your enemy; smite him Look, it’s tough asking for money. Haven’t you ever noticed how sad your landlord or credit card companies seem when they sent you an invoice? It kills them. But you’re on a mission to transform yourself and the world around you, so excessive pride isn’t a luxury you can afford. Still, you can salvage some of it by asking for donations with respect. One approach is a letter writing campaign. Come up with a template that you and your group members can use, but make it personal. If Aunt Suzy is active at her church, mention the ways your trip embodies “love of neighbor.” Uncle Al doesn’t believe in “handouts?” Include a paragraph that explains your work as a hand-up. You giving of yourself is something a lot of people can get behind if you present it to them in the right way. Additionally, how cool is it to get a letter these days? While writing an email certainly speeds up the process on your end, the extra time and cost of sending a physical letter could bear great fruit down the road.
3. Eliminate obstacles You’ve got the bar reserved, your raffle prizes ready, and your letters are ready to be sent out. Great, but don’t expect donors to jump through hoops to get their fund to you. Make the process as streamlined as possible for those wishing to donate. Facebook might be nice to get the word out about your raffle, but it’s a lousy way to distribute ticket chances. Avoid the need for making individuals meet up with you somewhere on campus using WePay. If you write a letter, include a self-addressed stamped envelope for donors to return their checks. And whether by email or hard letter, include a link to your online donation site (you do have one by now, right?) to enable fast, traceable, and secure delivery.
There’s a lot of good to be done out there. Don’t let antiquated approaches to fundraising stand in your way.