http://ran.org/get_involved/resources/activists/

INTRODUCTION

What separates a good organizer from a great organizer? You guessed it—the ability to fundraise! You may dread the “F” word, but fundraising can actually be fun and quite rewarding.

If you think outside the box and get creative, you will be inspiring others to action and bringing in the bucks before you know it! Beyond just helping to pay for the materials and supplies we need to effectively achieve our campaign goals, fundraising actually helps us to “organize” by serving as yet another tool in our bag of tricks to bring together individuals and groups with a common purpose and vision for the future.

When first starting out with a new fundraising campaign, there are some important steps to take:

1. Determine how much money you need. Sketch out a workplan to determine what types of activities you’ll engage in over the course of the next 6 months or year. Then determine the types of materials, supplies, conference fees, research, and other costs will be associated with that work. You want to make sure that you know how much money you need before you start asking for it.

2. Set a fundraising goal. Just as with organizing, it is important that we keep ourselves motivated by setting a goal. Your goal should be to raise a specific amount of money in a specific timeframe, and should ideally meet or slightly exceed the needs you’ve identified in step one. It might be fun to put up some sort of barometer to measure success and motivate your team to meet their goal.

3. Develop a plan. Now that you know what types of supplies and materials you’ll need, and how much money they’ll cost, you need to figure out how to raise it! There are many different ways to raise money—house parties, bake sales, community auctions, tabling events…and the list goes on. We will go into some of these ideas further throughout the rest of the activist tool kit sections on fundraising. In the meantime, here are some helpful tips to remember when putting together a fundraising plan:

• Put the “Fun” in fundraising! Get creative and try to come up with activities that activists and supporters will enjoy being part of.

• Keep it simple. The more bells and whistles you add to the plan, the more things can go awry.

• Beware of hidden costs. Do your homework and make sure you’ll be making money, not losing it. For example, make sure that you can get enough food donations for an event before you decide on a suggested donation price, and make sure there’s no cost for that “perfect” community space you’ve scoped out.

• Know your audience. If you’re trying to target wealthy folks, perhaps a lemonade sale isn’t your ticket. Likewise, if you’re reaching out to students, a suggested donation of $50 might be a bit steep.

• Keep your fundraising goal in mind. Be mindful of how much you need to raise, and choose fundraising activities that can help you to successfully reach that goal.

WHAT TYPES OF FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES SHOULD I CONSIDER?

There are a variety of fundraising techniques—traditional and wacky!—that you should think about. Again, not all of these will apply to your campaign or situation, but here are some ideas that you may want to try:

1. Throw a House Party. House parties are a great way to get like-minded folks together and inspire them to give to a great cause. Here’s how the fundraising house party model works: an individual committed to your cause invites friends and contacts to his/her house for light food and refreshments. There’s a short program where individuals from your organization or community explain what you’re doing and why/how you’re doing it.

At the end of the program, an ask is made, and pledge forms can be handed out and then collected. When folks see their friends opening their check books, they’ll feel compelled to give money too! You can maybe even convince an individual or company to “match” the proceeds that you make at the event, which might encourage folks to give at a higher level. See How To Throw a House Party for more detailed information.

2. Organize a Tabling Event. Tabling at local events—such as concerts, street fairs, neighborhood block parties, green festivals, etc.—is a great way to get the word out about your campaigns, raise awareness about important issues, and of course, raise moula. Be sure to have lots of swag on hand (stickers, magnets, posters, t-shirts, etc.), a sign up list to capture contact information, a banner showing the name of your group, and a money jar to collect donations. Also, come up with some fun and creative ideas to entice folks to visit your booth—maybe you can have an organic apple dunking contest or face painting for the kids—whatever you can do to attract attention and set your booth apart from the others. Last but not least, brush up on your elevator rap—you should be able to communicate in 30 seconds what you do, why you do it, and why table-goers should support your work. When you’re talking with folks, try to stress the aspects of your campaign that will inspire them to give money such as your (and RAN’s) track record doing this work, the urgency of the threats facing our planet, the fact that we achieve big results on a small budget. And most of all, remember to smile! See How to Run a Successful Tabling Event for more information.

3. Canvass Your Neighborhood. Perhaps you’re already familiar with this tactic? While some might view canvassing as “nagging,” it’s actually a long-proven tactic to raise awareness about important issues and inspire them to give. Again, first and foremost, know that elevator rap well. Folks are busy and they’re not going to give you much time to explain why you’re interrupting game night or an exciting episode of American Idol. Next, choose your targets wisely. Start by going door-to-door to folks that you know, and then branch out to others. Be sure to record which streets/houses you’ve visited so that you don’t hit up the same people too often. If they’re giving you cash, they’ll probably want proof that the funds are going to be put to good use, so be sure to have a business card or petition or some other type of document that gives you credibility.

4. Hit Up Family and Friends. The people that are closest to you want you to succeed, so why not ask them for their support? Some easy ways to do this:

• Write a letter explaining the work that you’re doing and the fundraising goal you need to meet to achieve your campaign goals. See Sample Friends and Family Letters for some ideas on what your letter might include. Encourage 10 of your friends to write similar letters.

• Ask them to sponsor you for a walk or a run or some other “a-thon” type activity. (See below more info on “A-Thons.”)

• Be sure to set a goal and include that goal in your letters.

• After the letter drive is over, send follow up thank you letters to the family members that supported you, and be sure to include in the thank yous that you met (or exceeded) your goal!

• When all else fails…beg!

5. Host a Trunk Show. People love stuff made with love! Get your talented friends and co-organizers to donate their wares (such as jewelry, knitted goods, hand bags, artwork) “in-kind” to a trunk show at someone’s house or a local park or warehouse or business.

These kinds of events are super fun, not to mention that with a donated space and donated goods, all proceeds can go straight to your cause!

6. Share Your Favorite Flick. People love movies, and movies about current issues have proven a great way to organize, and to raise money. Choose a movie that’s connected to your cause—for documentaries or other “less hollywood” films, you may even want to invite the director to come and say a few words before the film starts and/or stay to answer questions at a reception after the film is over. You can also put together a list of discussion questions to otherwise engage folks in dialogue. See How to Organize a Movie Night for more information.

7. Coordinate a Raffle or Silent Auction. Raffles and auctions are fun and exciting ways to raise money. A raffle entails selling raffle tickets in advance of an event and then drawing prize winners from a hat. Raffle tickets are usually reasonably priced at $1 to $5 a piece, which makes this a good choice to appeal to a broad audience. A silent auction is slightly different in that folks bid on items the day of the event, and bid prices tend to be slightly higher, depending on the items you secure. The auction is “silent” because folks are given bid numbers to place their bids on certain items, rather than using their names. In both cases, you’ll need to ask local businesses (preferably sustainable businesses that share your group’s ideals) to donate prizes that would be suitable to give away to your supporters. Both raffles and auctions can be incorporated as part of house parties, benefit concerts, and other community events. See How to Organize a Raffle/Silent Auction and How to Get Stuff Donated for more information.

8. Lead an “A-Thon.” Bike-a-thons, dance-a-thons, skate-a-thons, etc. take a little extra organizing but can be extremely profitable. You can ask for a block pledge ($10 for the event) or ask for a dollar amount per mile you bike, hour you dance, etc. Be sure to collect the money up front. Also make sure you set a goal and you may want to let folks know how you’re coming in reaching your goal (by setting up a “thermometer” poster or something on that order).

9. Hold a Book Signing or Reading. Book signings and readings are inexpensive ways to engage folks on a particular topic while also raising money. You can charge a suggested admission price and/or have the author donate a certain number of books that s/he can sign and give away for a “donation.” (Be sure to distinguish selling the product from donating it—there are certain rules that apply to selling items, but as long as you ask for a “suggested donation,” you should be okay.)

10. Hold a Breakfast Benefit. A pancake breakfast in a local park or backyard is a fun and easy Sunday morning activity that the locals are sure to love! You can charge a suggested admission price and make some good money and connections with your community.

11. Comida for a Cause. Have local restaurant host a benefit dinner where some-–or all-–of the proceeds go to your group. You can put up flyers in the restaurant to publicize it, and maybe even come up with catchy menu item ideas like “Pea Soup for the Planet” or “Activist Apple Pie” to entice folks to dine with you. Your group can volunteer as wait staff, and wear t-shirts that promote the work that you do—your tips can add a little extra cash to the night’s revenue.

12. Throw a Benefit Concert. Like music? Try to convince a local band to throw a benefit concert for you. Warning: this is a very time intensive fundraising option, so be sure that it’s going to worth it. Make sure that there will be limited costs involved (band will play for free, venue is free or low cost, lighting and sound are taken care of by the band, etc.)

Also be sure you choose a style of music that suits the interests of the folks you want to attend. Send out personal invitations and create posters and flyers to get the word out about the event (maybe even get the graphic design services donated by a local star artist). Sell tickets in advance at a reduced price and at the door for a higher ticket price.

Set up a table with merch and information about your campaign. Perhaps have food vendors donate a portion of their profits as well. Have the band talk about why they support you and why other people should too.

13. Show Off Community Talent. Organize a performance or talent show and invite your community to attend. Again, you can sell tickets in advance, and have some food options available (baked goods, kids lemonade stands, etc) where proceeds will also benefit your cause. You might even have some sort of American Idol-style voting system through which there are judges and there’s audience voting and prizes are awarded to the top talent acts.

SOME GENERAL FUNDRAISING TIPS

Remember that people give to people. In the heat of your fundraising nervousness and excitement, don’t forget to ask questions like “how are you?” and “how did you first become interested in this work” to find out about a person’s/organization’s background and interest before you bombard them with information and asks for money.

Say thank you!! You cannot thank your donors enough. You may even consider sending written acknowledgment letters for larger gifts. RAN will send formal acknowledgment letters that include information about the tax deductible nature of such gifts, so you do not need to worry about that. But, if folks ask, the answer is yes, their contributions are fully tax deductible as long as no goods or services were purchased in exchange for their contribution. (Generally, goods and services are only “purchased” when folks buy tickets to events—you can get around this by asking for donations during the course of an event or activity.)

Have a persuasive elevator rap. Be able to tell people in 30 seconds or less what you’re doing (in language they can understand) and why you need their support.

Remember that you can’t get money if you don’t ASK FOR IT! The worst outcome is that the person you’re asking will say no. Don’t have preconceived notions about the level at which an individual can give.

Everyone has the capacity to give, regardless of income level. In fact, you may be surprised the high percentage of their income that certain folks are willing to donate.

Spend wisely. Every dollar should be spent wisely, not only because you will achieve more that way, but because you owe it to your donors, particularly those who can only contribute small amounts.

Explore other ways to give and other ways to fundraise: There is a wealth of information at the library and on the Internet. There are professional organizations devoted to fundraising of which you can become a member. There are newsletters and websites that you can subscribe to which offer current and relevant fundraising strategies, ideas and anecdotes. Look at other organizations online and see how they approach fundraising. A little research could turn up some new opportunities that will be within easy reach! Some resources for you to check out:

The Foundation Center: www.fdncenter.org Association of Fundraising Professionals: www.afpnet.org
Kim Klein’s Grassroots Fundraising Basics: http://www.grassrootsfundraising.org/howto/index.h...
The Fundraising School at Indiana University: http://www.philanthropy.iupui.edu/funds.html
Global Fund for Women:
http://tinyurl.com/2f4e4g

HOW TO THROW A HOUSE PARTY FUNDRAISER

What is a House Party? A house party (in the fundraising sense) is a gathering at someone’s home—or in a community space or restaurant—with the objectives of bringing like-minded folks together to learn about the work of a particular organization and to raise funds in a comfortable and enjoyable setting. Here’s how the model works: an individual committed to your cause invites friends and contacts to his/her house for light food and wine/drinks. There’s a short program where individuals from your organization or community explain what you’re doing and why/how you’re doing it. At the end of the program, an ask is made, pledge forms can be handed out and then collected. When folks see their friends opening their check books, they’ll feel compelled to give money too!

What are the key ingredients to a successful House Party?

Host. You want to choose a host that is well-connected to the type of audience you are trying to reach. Typically, your guest list comes directly from your host’s personal contacts. So, for example, if your primary objective is to target folks that are going to take action by participating in demos, etc. but you still want to raise some money, you’ll want a host that has connections to ‘active’ activists.

However, if your fundraising goal is a bit higher, you may want to choose a host that has access to major donors, or folks with higher net worth that may help you to more effectively reach your financial goal. Also, be sure that your host shares the values driving your organization or cause. RAN has found that our house parties are most successful when hosts are intimately connected to, and impassioned about, the work that we are doing. For example, hosts that have greenly built houses or have founded their own sustainable businesses have worked very well.

Invitations. Invitations are important not only to make folks aware of the date and time of your event, but to entice people to come with offerings like special guests, yummy food and drink, an exciting program introducing them to your cause, etc. Your invitation should go out no later than 4 weeks before your event.

Invitations can either be sent in the mail or electronically, or both ways if you’d like. The invitation should clearly spell out when, where, why, who, and any other special details about the event like food, drink, special guests, and brief program details. And don’t forget to mention that it’s a fundraiser. You don’t want to catch people off guard, and you want them to bring their checkbooks! As for your guest list, you should invite the host’s friends and contacts, as well as other friends, family, and allies to your work. You should post the event on community event listing pages and message boards. Further, RAN will send out the event to our lists if you’d like, and you can use the RAN event tool to manage and track RSVPs and donations. Further, be sure to include RSVP information on the invitation. RSVP information should include name of guest, names of any guests she/he will bring to the event, how they heard about the party. And of course, the invitation should have a professional and FUN look and feel

NOTE: keep a spreadsheet of the folks that RSVP so you know who to expect. You should also send those folks directions that you get from the host.

Registration Table. You should set up a registration table at the entrance way to the event. It makes sense for the contact person for the event to be working at the registration desk because folks will recognize that person’s name and feel at ease. However, any detail oriented, friendly volunteer will do. At the registration table, you should have name tags for your guests (you can either print name tags beforehand on a printer or write them by hand with a sharpie as folks arrive). As folks arrive, welcome them to the event, hand them a name tag, and explain any other relevant details about the evening. Also, have a sign in sheet or petition at the registration desk that is similar to the sheets used at tabling events.

REMEMBER: the registration table is your guests’ first stop, so be sure you are on the ball and have happy, dependable folks on the task that will help set the tone for the rest of your event.

Food and drink. Munchies and drinks are a great way to convince people to come to your event! Also, when folks get together, particularly if they don’t all know each other, it’s great to have some food and drink to help make them feel comfortable. Wine is a great way to help break the ice and set the mood, if you feel that alcohol is appropriate for your audience. In keeping with RAN’s mission, we try to keep the food at our events vegan or at least vegetarian, although the host might have other preferences. You may be able to get some food/wine/juice donated by local businesses, or have your host cover the food and/or drink. See How to Organize a Silent Auction for more information on how to get stuff donated.

Program and Pitch. The program is the “business” piece of the evening or afternoon. It gives a chance for you to tell folks about the work that you do and ask for their support. It’s also good to have more than one speaker to mix things up a bit—maybe one person giving the welcome, someone talking about the work, and someone else giving the pitch. This is how it typically works:

• Welcome remarks–-typically best given by the host (thanks for coming, welcome, hope you’re enjoying yourselves, etc.)

• Overview of your work and the work that RAN does. We can also send you a DVD about RAN and the work we do that you can show your guests.

• Pitch/Ask (in order to do all of this great work, we really need your support. Please take out your checkbooks, think about what you can give, and maybe even gift a little more than that…) It also helps to have testimonials. If an existing supporter in the audience is willing to speak up about why they give to RAN or to the cause you’re highlighting at the party, it provides incentive for others to give too.

• Entertainment component (video, musical guest, performance…if you have some kind of draw like this)

Right before you give the pitch for funds, pass out pledge forms inside of envelopes (RAN will provide the forms prior to your event). A pledge form gives a “string” of giving options ranging from low to high, usually based on a person’s giving history. (For example, if someone has been giving at the $50 level, his/her “string” might start at $75 to keep that person reaching higher. Generally at house parties when there are so many new folks giving, our string is standard and generally starts low. Again, no need to worry about this detail because RAN will provide PDF pledge forms with the string already indicated.)

Donations. Gifts collected at the party should be kept in a safe space and sent to RAN for deposit within a few days of the event. Please see Financial Guidelines for RAN Groups guide for more details about donation deposit procedures.

Follow Up. It’s always good to follow up after an event like this. RAN will send formal acknowledgments to donors after we’ve processed their gifts, but it never hurts to send additional, person thank you notes to let people know that you appreciate their attendance and support for the work that you are doing. It’s an especially good idea to send a hand written thank you to your host, and maybe even a note about how much money you raised at the event.

ACTIVIST FUNDRAISING TOOLKIT:

HOW TO…GET STUFF DONATED

What is an in-kind donation?
An in-kind donation refers to the gifting of a good or service which is worth its fair market value. For example, if a local organic bakery donates 60 loaves of bread each valued at $10, the fair market value for the total in-kind donation is $600. The donating business can then “write off” the $600 as a tax deduction, just as it would a cash donation of the same amount. How can getting stuff donated help you to fundraise? The answer here is somewhat obvious—in-kind donations help to keep costs down and improve the quality of your fundraising efforts and events. For example, food and drink donations can help offset catering costs of your fundraising events. Donation of other goods and services such as dinner gift certificates, spa packages, artwork, and jewelry can help to make your raffle or auction a big success! You can also cut costs by getting recycled copy paper or advertising space donated, and you can even think about getting pro bono services from a lawyer or other contractor—these types of services are also considered in-kind. (See How to Organize a Raffle/Silent Auction for more information.)

Who should you ask for in-kind donations?
Local, sustainable businesses, nationally recognized brands with strong values, restaurants, family, friends, fellow activists, artists, jewelers, children—anyone you think has a talent, product, service, or fun handicraft to offer and share!

How should you ask folks to donate? First, make a list of sustainable businesses, restaurants, artists, etc. that you’d like to approach. Your list should include the name of the establishment as well as mail, email, and telephone contact information. Next, draft a form letter to send out to the folks you’re seeking donations from. The letter should include: (1) a short blurb about your cause and/or event; (2) a case for why their participation in the event will be good for their business (good publicity and visibility, good opportunity for them to reach a certain target market—depending on the attendees, and the opportunity to give a 100% tax deductible gift); (3) a clear ask for a specific good or service that’s applicable to the business/person you’re asking for a donation; (4) your contact information so that folks can get you their items! Finally, you should follow up the letter with a phone call–-letters get lost in the mail and there’s nothing like a personal touch to help you secure great items!

Here’s an excerpt from a RAN silent auction donation letter to a local spa that you might find useful:

“The RAN XX event is a wonderful marketing opportunity for your business. The 500 guests that attend this event are your target market—they are progressive, conscious consumers that care deeply about the products they use and their impact on the environment. Guests will be given the opportunity to read about your company and product on the bid sheet and make a bid on your item. We will also list you with a link to your website on our site and list you in the evening’s program. And since we’re a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, your donation is 100% tax deductible! I hope that you will join us in celebrating and honoring our work by becoming a sponsor with a contribution of a spa package for our auction, or another gift that you deem appropriate.

I invite you to join all of us at RAN in making this a memorable celebration. So that we may include your donations in our upcoming silent auction, please return the enclosed reply form promptly. If you have any questions regarding this sponsorship, please contact our Event Coordinator [name] at [telephone]. I thank you in advance for your support.”

HOW TO ORGANIZE A RAFFLE/SILENT AUCTION

What is a raffle? What is a silent auction? Raffles and auctions are fun and exciting ways to raise money. A raffle entails selling tickets in advance of an event and then drawing prize winners from a hat. Raffle tickets are usually reasonably priced at $1 to $5 a piece, which makes this a good choice to appeal to a broad audience. A silent auction is slightly different in that folks bid on items the day of the event, and bid prices tend to be slightly higher, depending on the items you secure.

The auction is “silent” because folks are given bid numbers to place their bids on certain items, rather than using their names. In both cases, you’ll need to ask local businesses (preferably sustainable businesses that share your group’s ideals) to donate prizes that would be suitable to give away to your supporters. Both raffles and auctions can be incorporated as part of house parties, benefit concerts, and other community events.

What are the key ingredients to a successful raffle or silent auction?
RAFFLES AND SILENT AUCTIONS: Enticing and varied prizes. For both raffles and silent auctions, you want to secure a broad array of prizes with various price levels to ensure you have something for everyone. Inexpensive items might include CDs, gift certificates to casual restaurants, t-shirts, and ice cream cone vouchers. Pricier items might include gift certificates to fine restaurants, trip give-a-ways, jewelry, and artwork make better auction items. Remember: approach businesses that share your values! See How to Get Stuff Donated guide for more information.

RAFFLES: Ticket sales and drawing. With a raffle, sell tickets beforehand as well as the day of the event. It’s helpful to get the type of numbered tickets that include two tickets with each number—one for the person drawing names, and one for the raffle ticket purchaser. Have each ticket buyer write his/her name and telephone number on each ticket that you keep so that you can get in touch and also ensure that the right folks are claiming the right prizes. You can decide whether or not you want to allow folks not in attendance at the event to still be able to claim a prize.

If you decide that they can, you should hold onto their prizes and call them after the event. If you decide folks must be in attendance to claim their prizes, simply keep drawing numbers until you have a winner.

SILENT AUCTIONS: Simple and clear bid sheets are key. For a silent auction, you should have a bid sheet for each item. A bid sheet should clearly include the name and “make” (i.e., Backpack by Patagonia) of the item at the top, as well as a starting bid price which is typically 25% of the price that the item “goes for” on the market, even though it was donated to you. For example, if a local artist donates a photograph of an elephant in the wild and says it would sell for (or it is valued at) $50, then you’re starting bid price would be approximately $15. Similarly, if a local organic restaurant donates a gift certificate for $35, then your starting bid price would be around $10. Use Bid Sheet Templates as a guide.

You then would need to assign each person attending the auction a bid number that they can use to bid.

IMPORTANT: be sure to record which bid numbers have been assigned to which folks so that you know who wins each item. Items should be placed on a table at your event space with bid sheets taped in front of them accordingly. You can organize the events by category (i.e., artwork, restaurants, jewelry, etc.) to make it easier for auction bidders to find their way. Folks can then make their rounds and write in their bid numbers and bid amounts for the auction items they want to win!

RAFFLES AND SILENT AUCTIONS: Time’s up and announcing the winner! You should let folks know when raffle ticket sales are/will be closed, and also when the silent auction bidding will end. You must have a clear “cut off” time if you want your event to be successful—folks will be frustrated if they are “outbid” after time is up. To reinforce this, you may want to have folks collect bid sheets when time is up. It’s also good practice to announce raffle and silent auction winners at your event, if possible, because it is fun and exciting for winners to come up to the front of the crowd to claim their prizes!

RUNNING A FRIENDS AND FAMILY FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN

The people that are closest to you want you to succeed, so why not ask them for their support? Some easy ways to do this:
• Write a letter explaining the work that you’re doing and the fundraising goal you need to meet to achieve your campaign goals. See the sample below (it’s a couple years old) for some ideas on what your letter might include.

Encourage 10 of your friends to write similar letters.
• Ask them to sponsor you for a walk or a run or some other “a-thon” type activity. (See Fundraising 101)
• Be sure to set a goal and include that goal in your letters.
• After the letter drive is over, send follow up thank you letters to the family members that supported you, and be sure to include in the thank yous that you met (or exceeded) your goal!

Dear _______, Greetings!

PERSONAL BLURB/SMALLTALK GOES HERE

As you know, I’ve been working/volunteering/organizing at RAN for almost ______ now, and it’s been an incredibly wild ride! In just the past few months, we’ve gotten Boise Cascade, the largest logging company still converting old growth forests into toilet paper and two-by-fours, to produce an historic policy that makes Boise the first company to stop logging, buying, and distributing old growth wood anywhere on Earth. In just three years, we’ve transformed the “dinosaur” of the logging industry into a global leader in environmental responsibility! Now we’re turning our attention to Boise competitors, and getting ready for the endgame-–no more old growth forest destruction. Period.

At the same time, we’ve successfully brought Citigroup, the world’s largest financial institution, to the brink of a groundbreaking agreement that will limit the company’s investments in logging, mining, and oil and gas projects that degrade or destroy endangered forests worldwide. Going up against a trillion dollar corporation feels a bit like David going up against Goliath; it’s daunting, but feels great when you win! Of course, we’ve still got a lot of hard work to do to make sure we that the policy translates into real protections on the ground in pristine ecosystems from Indonesia to Ecuador, and that the rest of the financial industry adopts similar standards too. But Citi’s policy (and the protections it brings to the global environment) is something we can be very proud of.

And just recently, we’ve helped to launch the Jumpstart Ford campaign, calling on Ford Motor Company to confront its role in driving our oil addiction and the rain-forest destruction, human rights abuses, job loss, and war that are its side effects. Ford portrays itself as an innovator and an environmentally friendly company, but the company continues to churn out primitive, gas-guzzling vehicles, many of which get fewer miles per gallon than did the Model T 80 years ago. We’re pushing Ford to a fleetwide average of 50 mpg by 2010, and to exclusively produce vehicles with no greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

In this time of such overwhelming environmental and political disappointments, I can’t tell you how good it feels to be WINNING! RAN is one of the few organizations making real progress on the most pressing environmental issues of the day, shifting the balance of power away from multinational corporations, and pushing the global economy towards the ecological U-turn we all know is necessary to create a safe, just, and beautiful world in the 21st century.

As you know, RAN takes no money from corporations. We rely on the support of individual members to do our work. This year’s been challenging for us financially, and our successes, both present and future, depend more than ever on the support of friends and allies like you. Your tax-deductible contribution of ___ to become a RAN member will go a long way in helping us work to protect the last of Earth’s rain-forests and the rights of the people who call these places home.

Here are some examples to give you an idea of what your donation will help us achieve:

$35 membership-–Sponsor an intern’s travel expenses to and from the office for a month.

$50 membership-–Sponsor the design and production of signs and props for a grassroots demonstration at a Bank of America branch.

$250 membership-–Sponsor the food and supplies for a 50 person “Strategic Action Training”-–a weekend-long conference designed to give young activists the skills and knowledge they need to work for social change in partnership with RAN and in their communities.

$1000 membership-–Sponsor a banner-hang action and protest at the North American Wholesale Lumber Association annual conference, where we target Boise Cascade and other companies for their role in decimating the last of the world’s pristine old growth and endangered forests.

Okay, so 1000 bucks might be a bit much, but please, be as generous as you can! I’ve enclosed a brochure that shows you a bit more about what we’ve been doing at RAN, as well as a membership form.

Thanks so much in advance for your support!

For the Earth,

Dan
Global Finance Organizer
Rainforest Action Network

PRACTICE FUNDRAISING SCENARIOS

Here are some fundraising scenarios you can practice with your group!

Scenario: You are working a table at the county fair and you need to, with your best and most persuasive elevator rap, convince the person that approaches the table to support your work by making a donation today. You hear from an “inside source” that the person approaching the table is a wealthy progressive hippy originally from Berkeley who made his money as franchise owner of Ben and Jerry’s stores in the Bay Area of California. You know he gives away a good amount of money to other environmental groups.

Scenario: You are canvassing your neighborhood. You knock on the door of a house you are unfamiliar with. A thirty-something man answers the door, with one child on his hip and one child pulling on his arm. This is your last canvassing stop of the day, and you have only raised $20 over the last 5 hours. You are exhausted and dejected, and you really want to convince him to make a donation so you can go home on a happy note.

Scenario: You are hosting a house party at your wealthy family friend’s house in the Detroit, MI area. You become engaged in a conversation with one of her friends, who is a bit “snooty” but who you know has the capacity to give you some big bucks. You’re trying to raise $1,000 to place a clever full page ad in a local newspaper to get under the skin of Ford Motor Company. You think she can help you to reach your goal.

Scenario: You are attending an annual family reunion at Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Harry’s place in the mountains. About 50 family members will be there. Since you have reunions annually, you feel relatively comfortable with these folks. You ask Aunt Gertrude if it would be okay to address the group and ask for donations for your work. She says it’s cool. Grandma may ask some tough questions after you make your pitch, but nothing you can’t handle

Scenario: You are on a bus trip leading a group of 50 activists to do a body banner in the middle of a local park that you are trying to save from the wrath of a nasty developer. The developer wants to cut down the trees, destroy the playgrounds, and tear up the beautiful lush grass in the park—all in the name of cookie cutter houses made of wood ripped from the Canadian Boreal forest. In any event, while you want the activists to engage in the day’s demo, you also want to convince them that they can have an even greater stake in the game by opening their pocket books. You make an ask and then pass around your baseball cap to collect cash donations.

Scenario: You have convinced your third grade teacher to host a house party at your house, since she’s an environmentalist and the one who inspired you to do this work in the first place. You think the story will resonate well with the party-goers. You must give your best elevator rap followed by a strong pitch asking for support—bearing in mind that most of the folks in attendance have never heard of RAN nor are they familiar with the work that you do. On top of it all, you really want to impress Mrs. Weinstein and show her that you’re still her star pupil!

Attachment	Size
fundraising_101.pdf	178.67 KB
how_to_throw_a_house_party.pdf	133.11 KB
how_to_get_stuff_donated.pdf	108.48 KB
how_to_coordinate_a_raffle_or_silent_auction.pdf	116.16 KB
friends_and_family_fundraising.pdf	90.11 KB
practice_fundraising_scenarios.pdf	68.38 KB