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Resource Round-Up March 2011

Posted by Jim Berigan on 31 Mar 2011 in: General, Resource Roundup

Each month, I read dozens of news articles and blog posts about non-profit fundraising. I am able to write about a few of them, but not nearly everything that catches my eye.

Here are a few links to the articles I liked, but wasn’t able to get to this month.

Enjoy!

- Jim Berigan

A Low-Key Family Event = Way to Recruit Volunteers From the PTO Today Blog

Asking for Money – Thoughts on Elementary School Fundraising From the BelieveJay Blog

Would You Like to Make More Money at Your Next School Carnival? From Everybodyhatesfundraising.com

$4,428 in ‘Tips’ at Don Jose’s Mexican Restaurant Goes to CV Schools From the Castro Valley Patch

Chance to put your own stamp on carnival fun From the Cambridge-News UK

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Wanna Sound Really Smart? Read These Articles!

Posted by Jim Berigan on 30 Mar 2011 in: Resource Roundup

Here it is, the end of the month once again. As is my custom, I am posting links to all of the articles I have written for FundraisingIdeas and Step by Step Fundraising.

I hope you take a few minutes to check out these posts and don’t forget to visit our friends over at FastTrackFundraising for all your fundraising needs!

See you in April!

- Jim Berigan

Fundraising Ideas

What Does a Good Fundraiser Look Like?

Even If You’re a Small Non-Profit, Do Things Right

Is Your Non-profit’s Brand Good, Bad, or Ugly?

3 Things to Remember about Fundraising When Gas Prices Skyrocket

5 Fundraising Take-Aways from Last Night’s Celebrity Apprentice

10 Examples of Bad Behavior from Board Members- Part I

10 Examples of Bad Behavior from Board Members- Part II

10 Examples of Good Behavior from Board Members

How to Guard Against Being Let Down by a Volunteer

How a Non-profit Can Make You Feel Like Family

What Did You Learn from Last Year?

Could Your Non-profit Set a World Record?

Big Fundraiser vs. Little Fundraiser

Replicating St. Baldrick’s Success with a Small Non-profit

Do You Have an Elevator Pitch for Your Non-Profit?

People STILL Don’t Get It. Kids Should NOT be Selling Things Door-to-Door!

Step By Step Fundraising

Dare to Dream, By Maureen Carruthers

How to get publicity for your benefit auction: Use auction games and raffles. By Sherry Truhlar

Guest Post: If fundraising is a profession, why are we so angry with our amateur board members? By Gayle Gifford

Interview with Director Of Golf at Treetops Resort, Gaylord, Michigan

Cultivate new supporters fast: A five-week “on-boarding” plan for nonprofits, By Gayle Thorsen

How to Hire a Fantastic Development Director by Amy Eisenstein

Benefit auction ideas: The “correct” way to thank donors by Sherry Truhlar

1 Suggestion to Save Money in Print Advertising

5 Steps to Begin Your Grant Consulting Career, by Betsy Baker

Don’t Make These Fundraising Mistakes, by Sandra Sims

Working with Nonprofits, on Both Sides of the Fence, by Joanna Miles

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Should You Serve Alcohol to Parents at Your School Fundraiser?

Posted by Jim Berigan on 15 Mar 2011 in: Auctions, Bad Ideas, Resource Roundup

I just read an article about a California elementary school auction that was ruined by three men who had too much alcohol to drink and started to argue and fight with each other. Here’s an excerpt from the post:

This is one of the most important fundraisers of the year for the cash strapped school and several mothers worked very hard to organize a fun and hopefully successful event. In the middle of the live auction portion of the evening, three fathers, rather than bidding on front row seating privileges for the upcoming 5th grade graduation, disrupted the auction by nearly coming to blows in an unbelievable display of immaturity.

Profanities were exchanged, aggressive postures were adopted against each other, the auction was halted for nearly 20 minutes, the Concord police were called in and the mood of the evening was certainly permanently changed. The focus of the evening was supposed to be on the kids and instead these adults were acting more like playground bullies. Worst of all, it really seemed to impact the success of the auction as bidding after this disruption was significantly lower than in prior years.

I have been involved with fundraising for many years. I have been at events that have served alcohol. The argument has always been: the more someone has to drink, the more he or she will spend at your event.

I have to wonder if this is really the best way to approach a non-profit fundraiser for children. continue reading

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