Fundraising in the Green
A Fast Changing Arena with New Products and Ideas by F&EG Staff -9/2009-
Keeping up with the ‘Green Fundraising Crowd’ may seem like a hard task for your organization to follow but it’s really much easier than you think and in the long-run more benefical for your school or organization, your students, and the environment.
With almost $2 billion being raised each year, it makes more sense to utilize fundraising programs and products that not only earn your school, club or group the most, but can also provide some kind value added benefits in the green arena.
Now our definition of a ‘green fundraising program’ is not necessarily limited to directly saving the earth and electricity or programs like inject/cell phone recycling that save landfills, though those are definitely great ones. We are giving a little slack to the term to include various levels of energy efficiency.
In fact to meet our qualifications as a ‘green fundraising program’ we are including programs that also directly or indirectly save you space, paper, time and energy, all benefits of ‘energy efficiency. Enjoy our picks for ‘energy efficient fundraising programs’ that offer more value and benefits including innovative, healthier and practical options for your school, booster club or non-profit organization.
Green Opportunities for Your School
Currently in place, there are school bonds and various tools and programs leading the way for schools and students to become more healthy and green.
Already ‘Proposition 1D’ is knocking at your playground door with green buildings and renovations. In 2006 a $10.4 billion ‘Kindergarten-University Facilities’ school bond was authorized and $100 million of that allocated for incentive grants to use towards new construction and modernization in K-12 schools.
To keep you on your green toes, the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) is releasing what they call their, ‘Operations Report Card’ (OCR). With the OCR in place, administrators are expected to become more aware about the actual energy efficiency performance in their particular school. According to the CHPS, “This new affordable online tool inspires schools and benchmarks it’s current performance, analyzes existing conditions and recommends green and healthy improvements for existing school buildings.”
A higher score on your Operations Report Card is attributed to using designs and materials that promote energy and water efficiency, maximize the use of natural lighting, improve indoor air quality, the use of recycled materials and materials that emit a minimum of toxic substances, and employ acoustics that aid in teaching and learning.
‘Green Test’ your Programs
Evaluate your current fundraising programs by running them through a ‘green test’ of your own. Make a list of criteria that you want to set up as your ‘green guideline’ for programs. Perhaps utilizing more value added programs and products is the way to go. These fundraisers may be packaged with edutainment, nutrition or safety. Maybe you want to be more energy efficient by using programs that require less paper and electricity or will your criteria simply require the program to be simple and less time consuming while saving you time and energy?
Decide which programs pass or fail your ‘green test’ and which ones fall into the specific set of criteria you have created for your school or program.
Now that you have determined the criteria for your green fundraising program list, keep in mind that ‘Green’ doesn’t necessarily always mean that everything in your closet has to be cleaned. In fact a little housekeeping may be all that you need as most of the newer fundraising programs, not to mention many of the older ones, already provide enough green savings to meet your needs.
These days you can buy just about anything online that you can buy off-line. Online fundraising for k-12 schools and booster clubs, have substantially improved and increased its userbase worldwide. Programs that are extremely online savvy can save you time, energy and paper while offering you enhanced value, quality and practicality including time saving no cost programs like the Microsoft-Scholastic ‘Search and Give’ fundraising program that allows you to make money just for searching on the internet.
Value and Simplicity
While some fundraising companies have revamped their programs to meet your ‘green’ needs, others have been pretty efficient‘ from the beginning.
For the past 15 years Educational Marketing, Inc., has been offering their ‘Value Card’ program with a more convenient online approach, allowing for less time and energy. This proven and successful program has virtually remained the same, other than updating their website and adding more selections and discount cards. “We work extremely hard to ensure school fundraising success by securing the best possible discounts from merchants that are actually in your area,” says CEO Phil Dattilo.
Customized with logos, these cards contain up to 20 various local and national merchants. Take a look at their great selections of Value Cards at www.emicards.com
Incorporate Education, Enrichment and a Dose of Self Esteem into your Fundraiser
As the face of fundraising continues to change, many academic and organizational fundraising programs have begun to evolve into something more than just selling. PTA/PTO’s are turning to fundraisers that can be fun, innovative and have a positive impact on the kids and their education– while still bringing in the funds they need. Instead of simply peddling high margin items to reach a specific dollar goal, some kids are raising money through programs that educate, enrich, and directly align with the school or organization’s mission.
Raising money in a way that offers academic benefit or enrichment to the children along with some fun is an undeniable win-win experience for the kids and their school, organization or club. Parents and teachers who continue to explore ways to maximize children’s school experience love the ability to build brainpower through a fundraiser. Choosing fundraisers that can enhance children’s reading or writing skills or creative abilities creates a balanced approach that produces the needed funds but also helps the kids in the process. Creativity allows self-expression and builds communication skills that are an essential building block to academic advancement for children. Reinforcement of reading and writing skills improves articulation, literacy and boosts kids’ self- esteem.
ArtStamps, a program that allows students to design their very own official U.S. postage that can be sold to family and friends to raise funds for schools and organizations, was designed to incorporate an invigorating educational experience into fundraising. This fundraiser encourages the student’s creative abilities in the drawing and design of the stamps. It also promotes writing, as the children are anxious to write letters and thank you notes in order to use the stamps they designed.
The sense of pride and self-esteem that children experience when their parents and relatives use their postage creations on mail during the holidays or on special occasions is invaluable. To add to that sense of accomplishment, every child who participates in the ArtStamps program is eligible to win a National Artistic Achievement or Literacy Award. All winners receive their own artwork in a custom frame and it is displayed on the ArtStamps website for all to view and purchase.
By offering fundraisers with underlying merit, schools and their students benefit from the supplemental value and parents are thrilled with the learning enrichment opportunity.
Leveraging the inherent creativity of youth to create unique and extraordinary fundraising experiences fosters support of both school programs and a strong education.
A Cure for “Fundraising Burnout”
ClickFundraising.org is an online fundraising engine which provides a better way for organizations to raise the money.
The Click! team has over 25 years of experience in fundraising product development and features high quality product at a fair price, certainly not the ‘same old catalog stuff.
They understand the challenges of fundraising and have “broken the mold” to bring fundraising into the new millennium.
The Click! program improves the product fundraising process at all 3 levels:
Organization
- No Cash Collection
- No Product Distribution
- Up to 80% Profit Families
- Real-time Results
- No Door-to-Door selling
- No Product Distribution
- Eliminates Geographic Boundaries
- Option to participate w/selling product Supporters
- Option to purchase product or make a contribution
- High quality product at a fair price
- Product delivered to home in two weeks
Click! also offers the option of both product sales and monetary contributions. Program set-up is simple. First, the administrator walks through the fundraising campaign set-up to identify the goals and timelines.
When complete, she starts the process with an email and letter to parents explaining the process. In just minutes, participants personalize their Click! web page and upload the email addresses of potential sponsors.
The system generates an email invitation, asking for support, and a link to the personalized web page of the student or teacher. The supporter even has the choice to help by making a contribution or purchasing product (shipped to their home).
Click Fundraising.org realizes the goal is to get support for your organization; it isn’t about selling ”stuff”. The custom website and email marketing for your organization creates a better connection between the organization and the supporter. The campaign goals and message are delivered consistently regardless of participant’s age or ability. We even send a “Thank You” to your supporters.
Click! is sure to be one of the most convenient and valuable tools at a fundraiser fingertips.Make sure to visit clickfundraising.org today for a demo. Click! That’s it.
Practical Solutions
A great concern for most fundraising directors, PTAs and PTOs is the time and energy that goes into fundraising. Many schools choose to simply ask for a donation from the parent rather than asking them to buy a product. One example is Park Dale Lane Elementary in Encinitas, Ca. This PTA group asks for a donation from parents and throws a couple of ice cream socials to make up the difference.
This plan makes practical sense to some parents as they believe that by donating money they will save themselves time and money because they have previously bought products they didn’t really need in the first place.
Others feel the opposite way as they believe it just isn’t practical to give a donation without getting something for it. So the story goes.. practical for one person is not necessarily practical for another. You might say that practicality is really in the eye of the beholder.
Contrary to the belief of the donation supporters, many fundraising products have a lot of practical options available to parents. They really can purchase something they actually need, find useful or simply want for themselves anyway.
One example of a practical fundraiser is a stadium seat fundraiser. It will make you more comfortable and help your back while you sit in a bleacher at a sport or performance event. This idea actually has 3-way practicality:
- It earns money for the school;
- Saves a person time and energy without having to go looking for a bleacher seat;
- It’s good for your health. Even if you hadn’t thought of buying one it is actually a great idea to help your back and posture while at the same time earning money for your school.
“Our stadium seats help people get more enjoyment out of the sporting event and other bleacher sitting events they are attending,” says Randy Fletcher of ‘Bleacher Features.
For more information on this fundraiser go to www.bleacherfeature.com
The Easier the Greenier
This fundraiser is perfect for any group of any size and there are NO hidden costs! Their goal is to help you make as much money as you need for your organization with their superb specialty Jungle Beans roasted coffee sales.
Fundraising Is Easy is a leader in the fundraising industry because of what they have always done…offered a high quality product with great profits that will leave your customers wanting more! Receive free fundraising materials and their specialty Jungle Beans coffee samples at no charge.
Alongside their brochure fundraiser, they also offer an online option to continue to earn 50% on each bag sold. For FREE samples and more information call one of our fundraising consultants at 888-884-5282 or visit us online @ www.fundraisingiseasy.com.
Healthy Food & The Carrot Machine
By now most schools have added healthier fundraising food items to their lists like nutrition bars, sports drinks and real fruit like RIver Royal’s delicious fresh fruit fundraiser. And if you like pickles, there is a great new product called, ‘Bobs Pickle Pops,’ a frozen pickle popsicle made with pickles, vinegar and other healthy ingredients.
The latest healthy surprise on the school block is the all new all carrot vending machine provided by Bolthouse, Farms. The machines have been installed in two different school test sites, one in Cincinnati, Ohio and the other in Syracuse, N.Y. The machines stock about 300 bags of baby carrots and they are sold for 50 cents a bag. So far they are off to a good start while they are working on marketing campaigns for the vending machines.
The IOM recommended trimming an excess of the following in school foods and beverages: dietary sugars, added sugars, non-nutritive sweeteners and soda, flavor, fortified and carbonated waters and sports drinks and banning caffeine in schools. They also recommended limiting after school snacks to 200 calories per portion.
Gourmet Food Fundraisers
Gourmet food is still at the top of the list in nationwide fundraising purchases. Many PTAs, PTOs still want to offer these tasty items as part of their repertoire, in spite of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations to add more healthy fundraisers to their agenda.
What’s good for some is not always good for everyone, so if your school or club still allows it, adding a couple of ‘gourmet’ food items to your fundraising selections might please those who miss the treats. ‘Let them eat cake,’ (This quote is believed to have been stated by Marie-Antoinette, the Queen consort of Louis XVI, 1755-93. It is believed that she said this when she was told that the French populace had no bread to eat.)
There’s nothing like gourmet food when it comes to eating. When you hear the word ‘gourmet,’ one envisions a private chef at your home or a fancy restaurant preparing a perfectly delicious and indulgent meal.
If you are going to indulge in gourmet food fundraising, than the key is to offer healthier gourmet foods. What are healthy gourmet foods you might ask? They are usually made with fresher ingredients and manufactured by more health conscience companies. Unhealthy food products are made with unhealthy food additives, like hydrolyzed protein and lard, that contribute to disease and obesity.
One really popular food fundraiser is gourmet popcorn and Popcorn Palace is one of the best because they take pride in what they do. They use the finest and freshest ingredients available and the popcorn is packed in its bag within minutes after it is cooked. With no minimums you’ll earn up to 50% profit and they provide you with all the tools you will need to sell their delicious popcorn. To request a catalogue call all 800.873.2686 and you can visit their easy website at www.popcornpalace.com.
IN A NUTSHELL Healthy Facts about Pecans
To put it ‘in a pecan nutshell’, delicious natural and candied pecans are the answer to making great profits while promoting good health.
Schermer Pecans, has been spreading the wealth and health of their yummy pecan fundraising products for the last 60 years. They are based in Georgia where 45% of the Nation’s pecans are produced.
Known for their delicious and flavorful pecans, excellent service and no-money up-front policy, Schermer guarantees their pecans to be the freshest top quality ever. These fundraising treats include Bulk Fancy Mammoth Pecans, Chocolate Covered Pecans, Pecan-Caramel Clusters, Cinnamon Glazed Pecans and Pecan Oil for cooking.
Satisfied customers, including schools, churches, civic groups and many other non-profit organizations, have enjoyed selling these gourmet pecans year after year, “Our members always have people ready and waiting to buy your pecans.”
Delicious and Healthy Profits…Pecans are not only a tasty fundraiser but they can actually be critical to your health. “Don’t be alarmed about the fat in nuts,” says Shermer Pecan Manager, Melita Humphries, “nutritionists say this is “good fat” or heart-healthy, unsaturated fat and rich in vitamin E, thiamin, magnesium, and copper. Pecans are also a good source of fiber.”
In a study, conducted at the Center for Cellular Neurobiology at the University of Massachusetts Lowel, researchers found that, “Eating about a handful of pecans each day may play an important role in protecting the nervous system while delaying the progression of age-related motor neuron degeneration.”
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), pecans are found in the most antioxidant-rich trees. Pecans are one of the top 15 foods considered to be the highest in natural antioxidant nutrients, specifically vitamin E, that help protect against cell damage and protect against diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, cancer and heart disease and amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
Just set your goals, determine your needs and call Schermer Pecans at 800 841-3403. They want to help you get started earning profits for your project.
For more information, pecan recipes or cookbooks visit www.pecantreats.com
Healthy Cleaning Product Fundraisers
Howard Newell of Lik-Nu Service & Distribution has developed a great way for non-profit organizations to benefit from dirty carpets across America!
Soap-free PROCYON® is the best carpet cleaning solution on the planet! It’s all natural and soap-free. It has been tested and used in some of America’s most prestigious locations including The White House, Air Force One and The Environmental Protection Agency. Now, it is available to you and your non-profit organization!
Simply go to www.healthier-cleaning-concepts.com and register to become a fundraiser affiliate. Select a username and password to gain access to your “back office” where you track your commissions. From there you can see how many purchases have been made from your organization and how much commission you’ve made.
They do all the rest! All you have to do is refer friends, family, parishioners, or members to the site. . . That’s it!
When someone you know makes a purchase, your organization is rewarded with a handsome commission, each and every time! It’s a win-win-win situation! For more information contact Lik-Nu at 1-866-624-3196 for more information. Visit www.healthier-cleaning-concepts.com
Internet Efficiency
By now most organizations have realized that using the internet saves time, paper and space. Looking through hundreds of forms and brochures uses up your valuable time and sparse space in your office that could be better spent on the rest of your laundry list.
Access to online learning systems in public education has shown a dramatic growth over the last 5, 10 and 15 years and today just about every fundraising company has its own website or has partnered with other companies to offer their products online and take orders.
About 15 years ago many progressive fundraising companies hopped on the internet band wagon at the onset of their program offer and led the way for older traditional programs and new online fundraising programs.
Back then, for schools especially, it was a much slower moving internet arena with much less of a percentage of schools online. Only 35% of all public schools were online in 1994 per the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Non-savvy computer users, who were ahead of their game, took the plunge for hopes of more convenient and easier accessed fundraisers through the internet. It worked!
The most current NCES online school information reports that in the year 2000, 98% of all public schools were online. In the last eight years a good percentage of schools have also added additional online access to individual departments. For more educational statistics you can visit www.nces.ed.gov.
Digital Directory Fundraising
New digital technology turns your Family Directory into a Fundraiser. Raise money by selling families something they really want and need…..information.
MyDirectoryMaker has launched MyEdirectory, a new publishing service that allows you to sell a secure, digital directory that your organization and group families can have on their desktop.
There is no cost to setup so your return on investment is infinite! Families love it because they won’t ever lose their directory again and searching for a student is a breeze. In addition, they can click on email addresses and go to websites directly from hotlinks. Advertisers love it because their website links are now active.
Get started today and be done by Back to School nights. For more information Visit www.mydirectorymaker.com
Computer Electronics At its Best
Good things come in small packages and Pexagon’s flash drives are one of them. The flash drives are developed and manufactured by Pexagon Technology, a well respected leader in educational supplies. “Flash drives are the latest computer craze that most teachers want for their students,”says Pexagon President, Brian Campbell.
This fundraiser is just what you have been waiting for as the program was designed to make it easy and less time consuming for you and your PTA/PTO or booster club group.
There is No cash up-front (prepaid cards are assigned) NO inventory, NO order taking and No delivery because they ship directly to the home.
Pexagon presents an impressive website that allows you to download flyers and the one page form for sign-up. You can choose from 14 vibrant colors, 32 different themes and tattoos and individual or school mascot customized laser-engraving. Excitedly Campbell adds, “Teachers would love it if every student in their classroom had one.”
The flash drives can hold a huge amount of data and are available in 512MB, 1GB, 2GB, 4GB, 8GB and 16GB. (Prepaid cards available in 1GB, 2GB,4GB) For more information about Pexagon’s great flash drive fundraising program Visit http://edu.pexagontech.com or call 203 458-3364.
Have a great time with ‘Fundraising in the Green’ this year, and don’t fret…Just know that you are not only bringing in the money for your school but also helping create a healthier more productive fundraising system and happier, healthier students. Stay motivated and focused on your goals!
Be sure to contact us if you have any extra questions about fundraising, edutainment or other programs: everybody@fundandedutain.com
