I need fundraising ideas.

[ZombieNixon]

I'm the treasurer for the college Dems here, and as such, it is my responsibility to come up with ideas (fun, creative ones, none of that junior high selling magazines crap) to expand our account from its current $60 volume.

Throwing a raging kegger to get the political director blind drunk is right out, because that might tarnish our good reputation. :P

I'm blanking at the moment, so if I could get any good ideas, it would be appreciated.

[dolo amber]

1. This is a really cool idea

It might be more appropriate for littler kids but hell, I'd do it if someone asked. :D

http://www.myartstamps.com/

:hi:

[SoxFan]

2. Button sale

Tiger Eye Design sells Democratic campaign buttons for a dollar a piece (and maybe less if there's a bulk discount). Buy a bunch, mark them up to $3 a pop, and let the Obama, Clinton, and Edwards people go nuts trying to win a "button poll".

I'd also hit up some of the local elected Dems, particularly those with higher ambitions. I've been on both ends of that equation, raising money from several state senators in the early 1990s when I was on the NH Young Dems executive committee, and forking over money to the NHYDs as an event sponsor on a few occasions.

[gizmonic]

6. Tiger Eye is a good site for Dem goodies...

I've bought from them. Make for good door prizes.

[mopinko]

22. i would help you out with buttons

if you want to do that, send me a pm.

[mzteris]

29. Get them to donate money to speak

to the Young Dems - instead of having to pay them to speak -

Does that make sense?

I'd do it to build my volunteer base and constituency.

[SoxFan]

30. Bad Idea

This looks cheesy at best, sleazy at worst. It looks like a "pay to play" arrangement, and I don't like that. The NH GOP took a lot of flack recently when they charged presidential candidates $2,000 and up for the chance to speak at a party fundraiser. We don't need to play that sort of a game.

[mzteris]

31. ah - makes sense.

Sorry. SEEMED like a good idea at the time. :shrug:

Thanks for the correction.

:patriot:

[DS1]

3. GOP Musical Chairs

Find your local GOP Congresscritter, and put him in a public bathroom. Then send in enough people to fill the stalls, with the lights off.

Tickets are 5 bucks each

The winner gets a free blowjob AND 20 bucks cash.

This is a collegiate no-brainer

[ZombieNixon]

5. *snort*

Interesting idea, to say the least. Not sure where the nearest GOP Congresscritter is to downtown Chicago, though. :rofl:

Edit: it's Peter Roskam. Enough people here worked on the Tammy Duckworth campaign to make that a...memorable...experience. o.0

[jobycom]

11. damn.

I keep forgetting what it was like when you weren't here. :rofl:

[MiniMandaRuth]

4. Host a banquet where you serve nothing but bran muffins and coffee,

steal all their toilet paper, and then sell it back to people at higher prices.

It'll work.

[Fran Kubelik]

23. ...

:rofl:

[davsand]

7. Have a bunch of bands play.

Seriously, I bet there are some good bands there in your area that are progressive types of folks that would play for free or even cheap. Call it "Rock the Vote" or something equally fun, and charge some kind of cover as the fundraiser part. Here is another hint--have them give you an email addy and then use that list to set up an email list for progressive events, campaign events and updates.

You do need to be careful, however, not to do any voter registration at those, because that would be illegal if there is alcohol being served.

Have fun!


Laura

[graywarrior]

9. That's what we did in the 70's

Mr. Gray and I promoted Battle of the Band concerts and raised shitloads of money.

[davsand]

32. Amazing how we "old timers" managed to do stuff right--eh?

I guess maybe we weren't complete messes in the 70's!

:smoke:

There were a lot of these kinds of things happening back then and they were a lot of fun. There was a local performing arts center that was largely funded by stuff like this, along with any number of other organizations.



Laura

[graywarrior]

33. Yeah, we just dove right in, created an entertainment newspaper

promoted concerts, managed bands. We were fearless.

[jobycom]

16. Excellent idea. Sell advertising on programs, and list the band names

the publicity might be payment enough for some local bands. Hit up local businesses with progressive customer bases, they may help you promote (flyers in the windows and on counters), might make donations in kind--printing flyers, maybe even a venue, or whatever--and might take a listing in the program as payment. You can make this as large as you want (theater, local field), or as small (say, one night at a local pub).

Couple of points you hopefully already know--make sure all bands and donors know the political persuasion beforehand, and set guidelines on what the bands will play or do. Nothing will hurt you worse than having some local business demand money back because one of the bands has offensive lyrics and the business is family oriented--the local media would love to cover that, and not in a way that helps you. Second, be sure to follow any PAC rules about reporting donations and income. If you earn a couple hundred dollars and are spending money to influence politics (this includes endorsements), you are a PAC, and have to file as one, or you can be fined heavily. It's not complicated, but it has to be done.

[gizmonic]

8. What about a silent auction?

chili cook-off?

trivia/games night?

I've been in your position, trying to raise funds for the Dems in our backyard. It can be frustrating.

I do like your "getting drunk" idea, 'tho! ;)

:hi:

[jobycom]

10. A couple of things I've done or been a part of.

Auction/garage sales--often called "White Elephant" sales, though I never liked that term. Maybe call it a "white donkey" sale? Auction off junk donated by group members or collected from the neighborhood. Get a list from the local Dem party of loyal Democrats and hit them up. Make it trendy-ish and fun--auction off junk, auction off faux stuff, like "Maps to the location of WMDs" (make it a map to Crawford, TX, or the CIA HQ), or the keys to the Lincoln Bedroom, or no bid contracts to rebuild a nearby small town after you destroy it... creative stuff. If you do it well, you can get some PR out of it. Alert the local newspaper--especially the college paper--that it's going to happen, promote it in ridiculous terms , see if you can get a write-up afterwards.


We once bought a performance of a local play with a heavy Democratic theme at a little theater, and sold tickets to it. Do this right, and you can score big. Sell levels of sponsorship--don't be shy, remember these are donations, not just ticket seats. Front row, a hundred bucks, etc. Overpriced concessions and programs with our club logo. Market this outside of the school--get your local Dem party to help if they are active. You can get lists of common donors, sell the play to them, maybe do a mailout. Some will be excited to help a college organization--makes them feel all fuzzy about the future and stuff. The danger with this is you can overspend and get stuck in a hole, so make a couple of calls, line up assistance before you get started. Doesn't have to be a play, obviously, it can be a concert, art show, something else. The key is to not try to do it all yourself. Find something already established, contact whomever owns the venue, work out what you can with them so that you have less work to do and some expertise to fall back on.

Lots of options--dinners, picnics, lectures from a popular local celebrity, panel discussion with several experts on some topic (that's easy at a college)... Anything works. Remember, most people will give you money for two reasons--they like the cause, and they want to have fun with like-minded folk. Pick anything, give it a Democratic/liberal/progressive/or just plain-old anti-Bush theme, make it fun and social, and get the word out, and the people and money will come.

[Inchworm]

12. Exorcisms for Halloween?

OUT UNCLEAN ADMINISTRATION!

Father Merrin: Especially important is the warning to avoid conversations with the demon. We may ask what is relevant but anything beyond that is dangerous. He is a liar. The demon is a liar. He will lie to confuse us. But he will also mix lies with the truth to attack us. The attack is psychological, Damien, and powerful. So don't listen to him. Remember that - do not listen (to Rethugs).

Over the top a bit huh? :D

:hi:

[ZombieNixon]

13. Hmm...this is a Catholic university.

Perhaps we could get a priest in on it. :P

[Inchworm]

18. There ya go!

It's even themed :)

[mopinko]

14. find an event that is already happening, then

get them to let you have a dunk tank. see how many local dems you can get to take the plunge.

[ZombieNixon]

17. Ooh, good one.

E-board would totally be in for that, too.

[mopinko]

21. what ward are you in?

who is your alderman?

[ZombieNixon]

25. I live in Roscoe Village now.

Waguespack, maybe? Might be Tom Tunney, also. I know Vi Daley's ward is part of the LP campus and that guy in the 2nd ward for the Loop.

[mopinko]

27. they sound like they might be game.

contact your ward's committeeman. it is not that easy to get into most of these festivals. you will need help.

[China_cat]

15. My Girl Scouts made a good bit once

holding a dog wash.

[lizziegrace]

19. Hey ZN

You're getting some good ideas. :)

Just stopped by to say hi...

[ZombieNixon]

20. Hi!

:hi:

Yeah, I need to keep occupied now that...certain people are no longer here. :(

[lizziegrace]

24. Certain people

are just as :(

:hug:

[blueraven95]

26. have you thought about mini-concerts or festivals -

like having an open mic night (or line up some local bands who are willing to play for free) with a small cover charge and selling coffee/snacks. You could offer to host book signings for local authors or put on a one-act play night that has shows with liberal themes.

Does your school have a budget for clubs? I know mine did, and as long a you put together a reasonably decent proposal the student body government would approve money for projects that could then turn into major fundraisers (you could get the start-up money to make the events work).

I was fairly active in college, and it seemed to me that it was more important to hold cheap events that drew attention than it was to make a lot of money. We would host things we wanted to do and then find a way to make them make money. Other favorites included hosting walking tours of the city, a massive scavenger hunt, and a haunted house tour for Halloween. You could even team up with the Young Republicans to host a debate - just make sure that your speakers are a zillion times more informed and charismatic than their guy. ;)

I think the real trick is to heavily organize the events in advance and to really pay attention to the promotions before the event.

[kernelfarmer]

28. No-Limit Hold 'em Poker Tourney

Have a certain level buy-in and a $25 donation to your organization to play. Make shit-loads of money. May need to check appropriate state or local gambling laws. Some area's will let you hold these event if you are non-profit and return all of the buy-in money in prizes.

[BOSSHOG]

34. Car Wash with corresponding Hot Dog Sale

You might get a gas station to donate the water hookup. Have your folks bring rags, buckets etc. Some folks could bring barbecues and cook hot dogs, you could sell soda (or whatever.) Passersby could get their tank filled, car washed and eat lunch at a cheap price and in only a few minutes. Did this in the Navy several times and had a booming success, but gas station proprietors are more likely to "donate" to young sailors then young Democrats. Not a criticism just a hurdle to overcome.

[InternalDialogue]

35. How about a community outreach of some kind...

Cleaning, painting or household chores for local seniors or disabled people? You could solicit pledges from individuals and local businesses for supplies and state that, past the cost of materials, every dollar pledged would be worth 15 or 30 minutes of volunteer work. The more donations of materials you get, the more money you keep for the organization and the more work gets done in the community.

If it works, it's something that could become a yearly or twice-yearly event, and you could even partner with local charities that need volunteers for the same type of work. People who need your services could sign up and give you a fundraising goal -- you need to solicit pledges for 150 hours of community work, that kind of thing.

Maybe that's a logistical nightmare, but it would earn money, accomplish community work, and look great for your college Dem organization.

[Oeditpus Rex]

36. You've got just enough time

to build a haunted house for Halloween. :bounce:

I've done two of 'em — BIG suckers. We netted about $9,000 with one and about $7,500 with the other.

PM me if you wanna talk about it.

[ZombieNixon]

37. Would it be possible to do something like that with $60?

We might get a few hundred dollars from the Student Activities Board, as well, but that's a maybe.

[Oeditpus Rex]

38. You get stuff donated

In return, when you publicize it (through newspaper "bulletin boards," radio and teevee PSAs, etc.), you mention all your benefactors. Also, you make a big "Thank you" sign listing all of them and put it at the haunted house where everybody can see it.

I've done a lotta stuff like this with an organization I used to be in. Not just haunted houses, but all kinds o' stuff.

[mikeytherat]

39. The Human Fund

mikey_the_rat