My rescue group is BROKE. :(

[orangemm]

In the foyer of our local library I have seen a donation box for animal shelters asking for donations of food, blankets, dishes, etc. (and money). They seem to get a lot of attention. Maybe your local libraries would go for that.

Thank you for helping all these unfortunate animals.

[smokey the elder]

My rescue group does something called a "calendar raffle" where each day of a month there's a dollar prize, which varies from $50 to $400. We have cleaned up with these. In fact, we are going from 2 to 3 a year by popular demand.

Our other large fundraiser is a penny social. We hit up merchants for donations, gift certificates, etc. Also people donate brand new items that they may have gotten as gifts but don't like. We have a 50/50 raffle table, and tables for larger prizes (bonus, super bonus) and a "basket of cheer" table.

We run a Christmas newsletter which often does quite well.

We have tag sales about every 2 months.

We are starting to apply for grants, but need to get better organized with paperwork.

We also have coin cans, and a booth at the local cat show where we can raffle stuff off. We usually do pretty well.

My pet project is to set up an antiques appraisal fair/silent auction where antique dealers pay to have a table, donate items for the silent auction, and get a few appraisers to appraise small items for a fee.

It sounds like you might have a higher budget than my organization. PM me if you want any figures or advice on logistics.

[GreyhoundGirl]

My local one did something really great !!!!

Just had to get attention.

They were low on funds, and volenteers. So the one-and-only ( ) volenteer talked to the biggest newspaper in town, and the paper donated the WHOLE FRONT PAGE !!!! IN COLOUR !!!!!

( thank you so much, Mr/Mrs newspaper dudes, you rule !!! )

In the middle of the page it said: UNLOVED, UNWANTED and had a plea for funds and volunteers.

So the shelter put in 28 adoptable cat pics with gender/age/breed under them. They put in 6 dogs with pics/gender/age/breed.

ALL THE ANIMALS GOT ADOPTED !!!!!! And one of them got given back to its previous owner, who recognised it from the newspaper. That owner gave the shelter a generous donation, too.

Isn't that great? ! ? ! You should try talking to your newspaper to see if,( on a day that they were short of news, perhaps ) they would be willing to donate a page or two.

Best of luck !

[orangemm]

Are there any small local papers in your area? They usually are pretty receptive to that type of appeal, plus if they're free, they get a lot of readers.

There are always pictures of local animals up for adoption in our local rags.

Just a thought.

[Logan]

What about a raffle, Jen? Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue is a huge organization, but that is one way that they raise funds, annually. In fact, I bought raffle tickets, one year, from way down here in SC, and I won! That was when they did cash prizes and we won $3000. I know that your group operates on a much smaller scale, but if you could get donated prizes from area businesses, like televisions, DVD players, etc, you might generate some interest in selling raffle tickets, and maybe even you could find a local printer who would donate the tickets.

Good luck!

Logan

[sasvermont]

Jen, I have run a couple of auctions for charity. You need someone to front you with $$$ for advertising and upfront costs....

If you would like, I will email you my thoughts on how to organize it and possibly benefit from it.

Each town is different. If it worked in Burlington VT, it should work in your little town in PA.

SAS

[kuhio98]

Jen ~ I mailed a donation to One by One today. Thanks for getting the word out.

[momcat]

Definitely get your local media involved! Earlier this summer a shelter around here was about to fold and NBC Channel 10 news went over there and did a story. The response was fantastic! Folks came from all over and many of the furry residents were adopted. Your group may want to consider having an "Open House" so that people can see your residents live and up close, tour the facility and at the same time see first hand all the good things One On One does for our kitty companions. At the same time sell hot dogs and soda to raise some bucks, maybe a bake sale at the same time. Depending on your local ordinances it might be a good time to hold a 50-50 raffle, people tend to buy into those. Call the newspapers - some of them run articles on pets especially over the weekends. Check with some of the local cable tv stations to see if they'll run a story possibly from your rescue facility. Right now the most important thing is to spread the word of the situation. Please keep us posted and let us know how this all plays out. Wishing you success and the very best of luck!!!

[kuhio98]

Jen ~ Check out this thread in General. Maybe your rescue would qualify with GOODSEARCH.com . If so, each time you use the search engine, 1 cent will go to the rescue.

[jenluckenbach]

Jen ~ Check out this thread in General. Maybe your rescue would qualify with GOODSEARCH.com . If so, each time you use the search engine, 1 cent will go to the rescue.

THANKS....I will get on this project!

[jenluckenbach]

Here is another thread I just posted about a program called iGive.HERE

[buttercup132]

I saw this once.
People put pictures of the animal for adoption on e bay and people paid(bid) to name them.
Maybe you can do that and also?

[phesina]

Hello Jen, I clicked on the "Make a Donation" button on your group's web site. It leads to a payment page for [email protected]. Will that get to your group? Otherwise I will put it in the postal mail.

I'm sorry, it won't be for very much. One of my cats (Sydney) is being treated for a fibrosarcoma, and that's where my money's going.

All the best to you and One by One with your fundraising. Looks like a lot of good ideas are coming up here!

Pat

[jenluckenbach]

Hello Jen, I clicked on the "Make a Donation" button on your group's web site. It leads to a payment page for [email protected]. Will that get to your group? Otherwise I will put it in the postal mail.

Pat

Thank you SO much!! That is the email for our paypal coordinator.

Best wishes for your Sydney.

[phesina]

Done, Jen!

Sydney and I thank you.

Pat