Nonprofits use many different strategies.
In addition to simply requesting donations, some nonprofit organizations apply creative fundraising ideas to solicit funds. Many of these techniques encourage public support by turning the fundraiser into a competition or giving donors something in return. Some of the most successful fundraising ideas enable the donor to feel good both by helping a nonprofit and by gaining a reward or experience he wouldn't easily obtain elsewhere.
Penny Drives
A type of fundraiser often used by schools, the penny drive involves collecting pennies (sometimes other coins as well) in jars at different locations. Individual classes or schools can compete to raise the most funds. Some penny drives add to the competition by offering a prize to the most successful fundraising group.
A quantity of coins can add up to large amounts of money. A penny drive fundraiser held in a group of Connecticut schools during 2010 succeeded in raising $12,000 to help victims of an earthquake in Haiti, according to The Day. Putting penny containers in areas where people often handle money (such as school lunch counters) may improve the fundraiser's success.
Bingo Games
Many American charities and religious institutions use bingo games for fundraising, according to the Encarta Encyclopedia. Such games help raise funds by providing locals with a pleasant social activity and a chance to win prizes or money. In a bingo fundraiser, the nonprofit organization can keep a portion of the funds wagered by players, giving the rest to the winner of the game. However, holding a fundraiser of this type requires a large room, bingo supplies and sufficient furniture. It's also important to provide adequate publicity to attract players.
Selling Items
One of the most successful fundraisers for many nonprofits is to sell products or services above cost. Discount wholesale clubs offer foods and other items in bulk with packaging appropriate for individual sale. Some charities make their own products or contract with manufacturers to produce exclusive items emblazoned with the nonprofit's logo. The Girl Scouts earn $700 million per year through their cookie-selling technique, according to MSNBC. A similar strategy is to give people some kind of "bonus" when they donate, such as an article of clothing, a backpack or a camera.
Discount Card
Giving a discount card to donors provides an incentive for donations. For example, a nonprofit could make an arrangement with a local store to provide one-year "5% off" discount cards to people who donate at least $10 to the organization. This would not only benefit the nonprofit by encouraging donations but also help the business owner by attracting new customers. A retailer would more likely agree to this arrangement if it has a relatively high profit margin.
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