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Fundraising Ideas

  • 1.  Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-17-2023 02:40 PM

    Hello!!!

    What do you guys do for fundraising/donations? Our main impound facility is in desperate need of an upgrade, but we don't have it in the budget. We're looking into grants, but we all know how those go. We don't adopt out through our agency, so we only get revenue through impound fees and citations. We work a huge county (2200 square miles!) and our budget is just not cutting it. We've also had a ton of cruelty cases lately, and our cost of care fees have been less than ideal. Just looking for any clever ideas other agencies have done, or any advise!


    #CommunityPartnerships*
    #FundraisingandDevelopment

    ------------------------------
    Heather Fiero
    Animal Control Officer
    Park County Sheriff's Office
    ------------------------------


  • 2.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-18-2023 09:39 AM

    Hi Heather. Since you are a government facility, check into your area Planning Commission (you must have one). They usually are pretty good at getting state or federal grant money.  Otherwise, I would start by  taking photos of the areas that need upgrading, so you can show people why you need money. Then start a publicity campaign with area newspapers and TV stations to educate the public.  Set up a special bank account for donations, so people will know their donations will not get spent on soft drinks and chips or raises for the staff.  Start a social-media solicitation campaign (if you don't have a Facebook account, start one).  You can hold special events, too. Hallowe'en is not far off; maybe something connected to that?  



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    Charlotte W Craig
    Animal Welfare Alliance
    Poplar Bluff, MO
    ------------------------------



  • 3.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-18-2023 01:05 PM

    Hi Heather!

    How about an on-line auction. I did one back in April for the rescue I volunteer with and I got people to donate new and like new items. I had some businesses donate services (salon donated a facial, massage, gift cards) . I collected 130 items and auctioned them off and raised almost $4700. All the things were donated so it was all profit.

    Laurie



    ------------------------------
    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Volunteer
    UPS
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-18-2023 01:56 PM

    That is wonderful!  Did you use one of those auction platforms, or facebook, or what?  Did you set a minimum value on donated items?  What was the hardest thing about it?
    I want to do one.

    Thanks for any advice you can give me.



    ------------------------------
    Cindy Eby
    Jackson, MI
    ------------------------------



  • 5.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-18-2023 03:46 PM

    Hi Cindy

    I created an event on Facebook. Most of the items donated i set the minimum value at $5 or $10...The higher ticketed items were more. For instance i had someone donate their tickets to a pre-season NFL football game so I started that item off at $100. I think the hardest part for me was getting all the items delivered after they were auctioned off.  People wanted me to meet them places or at the shelter and that was 30 miles away. I had a blast doing it though, It was fun taking pictures and loading into Canva and writing up descriptions. I am doing another one in October. I did learn some things and will do some things a little differently like offer shipping so that more people can participate. I hope to get double the items this next time too.  Any other questions you have, just let me know



    ------------------------------
    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Volunteer

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  • 6.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-19-2023 01:44 PM
    I was thinking to have the donors keep the items and ship them or arrange for pickup.  Do you think that would discourage donations?


    On Friday, August 18, 2023 at 06:48:30 PM EDT, Laura Buckland-Fitzberger via Maddie's Pet Forum <mail@maddiesfund.org> wrote:


    Hi Cindy I created an event on Facebook. Most of the items donated i set the minimum value at $5 or $10...The higher ticketed items were more.... -posted to the "Animal Welfare Professionals" community
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    Re: Fundraising Ideas
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    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Aug 18, 2023 3:46 PM
    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger

    Hi Cindy

    I created an event on Facebook. Most of the items donated i set the minimum value at $5 or $10...The higher ticketed items were more. For instance i had someone donate their tickets to a pre-season NFL football game so I started that item off at $100. I think the hardest part for me was getting all the items delivered after they were auctioned off.  People wanted me to meet them places or at the shelter and that was 30 miles away. I had a blast doing it though, It was fun taking pictures and loading into Canva and writing up descriptions. I am doing another one in October. I did learn some things and will do some things a little differently like offer shipping so that more people can participate. I hope to get double the items this next time too.  Any other questions you have, just let me know



    ------------------------------
    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Volunteer

    ------------------------------
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    Original Message:
    Sent: 8/18/2023 6:46:00 PM
    From: Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Subject: RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Hi Cindy

    I created an event on Facebook. Most of the items donated i set the minimum value at $5 or $10...The higher ticketed items were more. For instance i had someone donate their tickets to a pre-season NFL football game so I started that item off at $100. I think the hardest part for me was getting all the items delivered after they were auctioned off.  People wanted me to meet them places or at the shelter and that was 30 miles away. I had a blast doing it though, It was fun taking pictures and loading into Canva and writing up descriptions. I am doing another one in October. I did learn some things and will do some things a little differently like offer shipping so that more people can participate. I hope to get double the items this next time too.  Any other questions you have, just let me know



    ------------------------------
    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Volunteer

    ------------------------------

    Original Message:
    Sent: 08-18-2023 01:55 PM
    From: Cindy Eby
    Subject: Fundraising Ideas

    That is wonderful!  Did you use one of those auction platforms, or facebook, or what?  Did you set a minimum value on donated items?  What was the hardest thing about it?
    I want to do one.

    Thanks for any advice you can give me.



    ------------------------------
    Cindy Eby
    Jackson, MI

    Original Message:
    Sent: 08-18-2023 12:36 PM
    From: Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Subject: Fundraising Ideas

    Hi Heather!

    How about an on-line auction. I did one back in April for the rescue I volunteer with and I got people to donate new and like new items. I had some businesses donate services (salon donated a facial, massage, gift cards) . I collected 130 items and auctioned them off and raised almost $4700. All the things were donated so it was all profit.

    Laurie



    ------------------------------
    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Volunteer
    UPS

    Original Message:
    Sent: 08-18-2023 09:39 AM
    From: Charlotte Craig
    Subject: Fundraising Ideas

    Hi Heather. Since you are a government facility, check into your area Planning Commission (you must have one). They usually are pretty good at getting state or federal grant money.  Otherwise, I would start by  taking photos of the areas that need upgrading, so you can show people why you need money. Then start a publicity campaign with area newspapers and TV stations to educate the public.  Set up a special bank account for donations, so people will know their donations will not get spent on soft drinks and chips or raises for the staff.  Start a social-media solicitation campaign (if you don't have a Facebook account, start one).  You can hold special events, too. Hallowe'en is not far off; maybe something connected to that?  



    ------------------------------
    Charlotte W Craig
    Animal Welfare Alliance
    Poplar Bluff, MO

    Original Message:
    Sent: 08-17-2023 02:20 PM
    From: Heather Fiero
    Subject: Fundraising Ideas

    Hello!!!

    What do you guys do for fundraising/donations? Our main impound facility is in desperate need of an upgrade, but we don't have it in the budget. We're looking into grants, but we all know how those go. We don't adopt out through our agency, so we only get revenue through impound fees and citations. We work a huge county (2200 square miles!) and our budget is just not cutting it. We've also had a ton of cruelty cases lately, and our cost of care fees have been less than ideal. Just looking for any clever ideas other agencies have done, or any advise!


    #CommunityPartnerships*
    #FundraisingandDevelopment

    ------------------------------
    Heather Fiero
    Animal Control Officer
    Park County Sheriff's Office
    ------------------------------


  • 7.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-19-2023 03:20 PM

    I guess it really depends on the person donating. Some may not mind but others may feel like hey  I donated this item and I really don't have time to get a box, package it up and get it to the post office , pay the shipping with insurance just in case it gets damaged. You probably could do a poll and see what people think. I would also worry that the person doesn't ship it out timely and the winner may get frustrated. I personally like to see all the items to be sure nothing is broke, cracked, torn, etc. Also if you do it that way you have no control of making sure the winner gets their items unless you have the donor send you tracking...lot to keep track of in my opinion but it's a personal preference



    ------------------------------
    Laura Buckland-Fitzberger
    Volunteer
    UPS
    ------------------------------



  • 8.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-18-2023 12:31 PM

    You seem to be writing off the idea of grants, but they are relatively less work than fundraisers and possible to get large grants.  In Michigan, the ag dept has grants for shelters.  



    ------------------------------
    Cindy Eby
    Jackson, MI
    ------------------------------



  • 9.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-20-2023 12:22 PM

    I believe that if shelters/rescue would post a "WISH LIST" on their sites that they would see some action here.  Folks can then easily go to Amazon, order, and be done.



    ------------------------------
    ANDI ELLIOTT
    Founder/President
    FOR THE LOVE OF PETS FOUNDATION INC
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-21-2023 12:16 PM

    We have wish lists on Amazon and Chewy, would say both get utilized, but Chewy does not tell you who sent the items.



    ------------------------------
    Nada Grodek
    Adoptable Friends nfp
    ------------------------------



  • 11.  RE: Fundraising Ideas

    Posted 08-22-2023 06:36 AM

    Hi Heather! 

    I would definitely look into grants as there are many for improvement projects. I would also look to other city departments for help (ask Parks & Rec). As far as fundraisers, some ideas: 

    • T-shirt fundraiser via Bonfire.com.  - You upload your shirt design, select the margins, and start advertising the sale. They do all the printing and shipping for you. Then, you can easily cash out the funds in your bank account. The fundraising campaigns also have a lot for space to talk about why you're raising money. I will say these aren't successful without advertising them via social media to your supporters. So, be sure to do that as well. Our last Bonfire campaign raised about $3,700, but the first one we did raised $7,000! If you don't have someone who can do the design, consider asking for volunteer design help on catchafire.org
    •  Go fund me - Classic way to get donations and showcase the areas of your shelter that need improvement. 
    • Partner with other city departments to host an event - Does your city have a parks and rec department? Do they have a city pool or dog park? Host an end-of-summer splash for dogs in your community pool. Sell tickets to the event to raise money. If you don't have a pool, organize a "Bark in the Park" event with fun activities for pet parents. Depending on the activity, you may be able to sell tickets to this or send a representative to ask for donations. 
    • Organize a 5K - organize a 5k that benefits your facility via the revenues generated. 
    • Partner with a local business - partner with a local business for a "Pups and Pints" night or "Mutts and Margs," where a portion of the sales generated that night benefit your shelter. This is a win-win for the business as you help them get more customers and more revenue for the night, and you get some funding. 

    -----------

    Tiffany Ditto
    Director of Marketing & Communications 
    Texas Coalition for Animal Protection 
    tditto@texasforthe.org



    ------------------------------
    Tiffany Ditto
    Director of Marketing and Communications
    Texas Coalition for Animal Protection
    ------------------------------