Your Fund-Raiser
Think outside the box and reap the benefits

By RaeAnn Slaybaugh

If your fallout shelter-worthy collection of Girl Scout Cookies is any indication, you are already familiar with one of the most commonly accepted rules of fund raising: Adults have the money, but children are the best at getting it. Everyone knows it's hard to say no to a child who is determined and enthusiastic about his or her cause, be it lemonade or lawn care.

In the Church, it is no different. Offer children a sense of responsibility, a reason to sell and a product they like and watch what they can do.

The way to the wallet is through the stomach

One tried-and-true example is the ever-popular food stand, which proves time and again that inexpensive products can generate big profits.

Fund-raisers who organized Chicago's annual "Lemonade-for-Wishes" program last year found this out when they raised more than $3,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. As profiled in Entrepreneur magazine, child volunteers picked up lemonade-stand kits from Car-X auto-repair centers and set up shop wherever they chose. Each kit contained a lemonade recipe, two posters, Make-A-Wish literature and a thank-you letter. To keep children motivated, Car-X offered winners a visit from Radio Disney's Party Patrol Van.

The youth team at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Ferguson, Mo., also capitalized on the selling power of food. Its fund-raiser, a pizza presale, was paid for by a corporate sponsor, Pizzas of Eight, which donated ingredients, equipment and training to help the group raise funds for its cross-country mission trip. Members pre-sold the pizzas, then devoted a day to making, baking and delivering.

Meanwhile, Catholic and non-Catholic youth groups in Rochester, N.Y., teamed up for the "Souper Bowl of Caring," an annual initiative collecting money and food for the needy. About a dozen diocesan parishes took part, mostly as youth-group service projects. Youth members--some dressed in football uniforms, others in chef garb--took up collections in soup pots at all Masses on Super Bowl weekend. They also conducted overnight lock-ins, focusing on hunger issues through discussions and videos. During the night, they had to figure out how to survive on a very limited amount of money, and they were required to fast, eating only rice, apples and cheese. Some lock-ins even concluded with a Sunday afternoon shopping trip in which all the donated money was spent on goods for local food cupboards.

Fun and games on the field and on the stage

Everyone knows children love to play, so fund-raisers that involve a healthy dose of recreation are especially well-received. In this regard, churches can look to the corporate sector for ideas.

Conoco, for instance, takes the golf-for-charity concept and tailors it to the younger set with its annual Drive, Pitch and Putt Junior Golf Contest and Skills Clinic in Houston, Texas. The tournament/clinic gathers youth from nine Texas cities and raises thousands of dollars every fall. Last year, proceeds, along with a giant 4-by-6 condolence card signed by all participants, were sent to the United Way September 11th Fund.

The opportunity to perform is one of the most exciting fund-raising concepts for young volunteers--especially if that performance involves a stage. The Wesleyan Thespians of Marshfield United Methodist Church in Marshfield, Ma., kept this in mind when they began to market their Mystery Dinner Kits. In just a few years, these kits have raised more than $650,000 for peer churches. Fifteen kits are available, and each includes scripts for everybody, masters of all the forms needed, a "newspaper" account of the crime, and solutions for the detective. They also include advice for selling tickets, promoting the event, serving the meal quickly and keeping the action moving. Each kit features alternative solutions so actors can do the same show with different endings with no need to make script changes. All plays are set in a restaurant--in other words, your cafeteria or function hall--so scenery and backdrops are unnecessary.

The thespians recommend selling tickets for $15 and $20 each, and actors are also encouraged to sell clues for as much as $2 apiece during performances. Single-performance kits cost $245, and each additional performance is $100. Admission alone should cover the cost of the kit, plus generate major revenue, the group adds.

"We've tried to learn from our experiences," explains Managing Director Rena Anspach. "The instructions are written with an organization in mind that has never done anything like this before. If there's someone who has any theatrical exposure, it makes the project that much easier."

Ingrain the idea of giving from the start

Of course, not every attempt to get young members involved in fund raising has to be so orchestrated. One way to foster giving habits early is by teaching children it is never too early to tithe.

Vineyard Boise in Boise, Idaho practices what they preach: namely, that tithing is an important Biblical value, and children can joyfully give too. Every week, the church's "Offering Amigo" passes around the "Can O' Tithe," which benefits the Karen, a group of 7 million people whom Vineyard leaders refer to as the "second most persecuted group in the world." Church missionaries are active supporters of the Karen people and have opened a Bible School for them. They do not spare Vineyard's children the harsh realities of these people's lives. For nearly five decades, the Burmese government has persecuted the Karen, of whom 30 percent are Christian. Leaders also explain that almost 2 million Karen have fled Burma seeking solace in refugee camps in Thailand, but they are unwanted in this area as well, leaving them trapped without a homeland.

As church leaders found out, the cause is important, but kids will be kids. They like to have fun, and Lydia Freeman, creator of "Bright Idea," an online children's ministry idea bank, has collected plenty ideas to make sure it is. One, a tithing game, comes to her from Hank and Melinda Cannon, a couple who teach children's church. The Cannons tape an envelope with money inside to the bottom of a chair before class. When the time comes to discuss tithing, the couple instructs the children to look under their chairs and see if the envelope marked "Tithe" is there. The child who has it announces how much he would have to pay from this amount of money according to the Biblical principles of tithing. This amount goes into a tithing container, and the child keeps the rest.

"We soon had to learn to add variety to this game and never do it two weeks in a row," Melinda points out. "Kids are smart. They come into the classroom and look under the chairs to see where the envelope is before having a seat."

One way the Cannons mix it up is by drawing names. They also occasionally hide the envelope in the room and have children hunt for it. Another approach is to simply challenge the children to guess a number between one and 10.

"One of the greatest reports we had from doing this was at our church Easter egg hunt," Melinda tells Freeman. "One of our children found an egg with money inside and automatically wanted to pay their tithe. How much more of a reward do we need?"

	The S.S. Noah Children's Offering Envelope Series from American Church Offering Envelope Service (www.americanchurch.com) is designed to teach children not only the history of Noah but also about animals from around the world. Each box contains 52 weekly Sunday offering envelopes plus one free Easter and Christmas envelope. ($1.25 per box)
	Let youth groupers spread warm fuzzies with Holy Bears™, a line of bean bag teddy bears (www.holybears.com) that honor religious themes, sacraments, life cycle occasions and family values. Buyers can choose Purity The Baptism Bear, The Matrimony Bear, The Holy Eucharist Bear, Grace the Confirmation Bear, Solace the Comfort Bear, The True Love Waits Bear--even Amen the Prayer Bear--or hundreds of others. Bears can also be custom designed with school colors, logos, graphics, Bible verses and more. A minimum order of 500 bears is required. E-mail fundraising@holybears.com for prices.
	Love-In-A-Box (www.love-in-a-box.net) is a collection of 50 pre-printed notes parents can put in a child's lunch box, backpack or pocket. The messages, along with colorful stickers, a pen and an exclusive refill form, are all packaged in a miniature tin lunchbox. Sellers keep 50 percent of the $15-per-box price. Exclusive Teacher's Editions are also available.
	Profits from the sales of "Your Town"-Opoly Custom Board Games by Pride Distributors Inc. (www.fundsraiser.com/pride-distributors-inc/now.html) are generated by selling the "properties" to local merchants at a cost of $175 to $600 each. Games sell for an additional $20 to $30 each. A free "Getting Started" kit is available.
	The Sampler from Kwik Stand™ (www.kwikstand.com) weighs only 50 pounds, so it is easy take anywhere. This 77 3/4-inch tall stand includes several built-in shelves for under-counter storage. Add-ons include custom logos or graphics and built-in radio speakers. ($699 plus S + H)

Will Your Fund-Raiser Fly?
A 3-step Guide That Promises Profits

By RaeAnn Slaybaugh

The mention of an upcoming fund-raiser can conjure up feelings of trepidation or eagerness, depending on what you plan to sell. Fortunately, there is no shortage of takers--just an abundance of misguided efforts.

According to experts at the Association of Fund-Raising Distributors & Suppliers (AFRDS), schools and youth groups raise nearly $2 billion through sales of popular consumer products each year. In fact, recent studies by the group found that 75 percent of Americans (and eight out of 10 parents) purchased fund-raising products in 2001. Obviously, some items sell more than others--but why?

AFRDS experts say successful fund-raiser comes down to three criteria.

1. They offer high-quality merchandise. Consumers are willing to purchase an expensive product to help support a worthy cause. They will not, however, buy an overpriced product. Quality is especially important for annual or semiannual fund-raisers since success in these cases depends on repeat sales.

2. They start off right--with a sample. "Look, taste and touch," says one AFRDS spokesperson. "Although it's not always possible, the best way to establish product quality is to see a sample."

3. They mesh with the community income level. Before committing to selling any product, study your surroundings. An experienced, professional distributor should be able to offer valuable advice about what items will work best in your area.

Checklist for Success
Tips For A Safe, Fun And Profitable Project

No child should be allowed to go alone to strangers' houses. Assess your neighborhood. If the residents are mostly families known to you through neighborhood events, social activities and so on, and if the area is generally safe and tranquil, you might feel comfortable with the door-to-door option.

• Presentation is important. Have children wear outfits to identify the group and set up a table with signs explaining its purpose for fund raising.
• While parents should be present for safety reasons, children should create the signs and do the selling. More than just raising money to pay for programs, a good fund-raising drive educates children, builds their self-esteem, gives them a chance to provide a community service, and promotes community spirit.
• Do not choose a product only because the children say it is "new" or "hot." Although new and unusual products can generate a lot of excitement for your program--and may indeed be successful fund-raisers--they do not have the track record to compare with more traditional items. When in doubt, go with what you know.
• Do not let profits get eaten away by hidden costs--freight, prizes, overruns, etc. Ask questions ahead of time and make the necessary adjustments.

Sources: The Association of Fund-Raising Distributors & Suppliers and FundRaising.Com