I'm in a environmentalist club and we can't decide what to do with some money we raised. Any ideas??

Question

Let me explain we raised the money through a car wash and i wanted to shoot some ideas other than buy an animal in China. The other members wanted some other ideas as well so i thought that i would find some but none of them sounded good that i came up with on my own.

Let me explain we raised the money through a car wash and i wanted to shoot some ideas other than buy an animal in China. The other members wanted some other ideas as well so i thought that i would find some but none of them sounded good that i came up with on my own.
We are called the "tree huggers" , i hate the name , but we have planted trees and this will be are second "idea". i just wanted some ideas to shoot around and such.

Answer 1

Well you're certainly to be commended for devoting your time and effort to these kinds of things! There's so many people in this country throwing their trash on the ground figuring that there are lots of other people God put on earth for no purpose other than to pick it up. Don't let anyone belittle your efforts by trying to tell you that you are one of them!

A project I've suggested to other people with your question involves the energy saving light bulbs. If everyone used these it would save billions of dollars both for the consumer, and the people who provide the electricity. If you think of how overloaded the power grids get, especially in the summer, you can see the value of this. They also last much longer, so they save people money in that way. They make less heat while they're on, so that helps some with air conditioning. They've been slow to catch on, because they cost a little more. Some States and some countries are starting to subsidize them because they save so much money and energy. Most electricty in the USA is still generated by burning coal.

You might want to consider doing this as an ongoing project, but

If you used the money you've earned to buy these type of bulbs, you could GIVE them away to people as they leave to go home from a school event, like a play or athletic event, along with a flyer about the issues. People will almost always take something if it's free, and that lets you get the message out too.

Look for people who look like homeowners, or who would otherwise be interested and would use them responsiblly. (avoid goofballs who would throw them at people, etc).

Be sure you have permission from the people running the event.

Show up at as many other events as you can with your leaflets, even if you're out of llightbulbs at the time.

Always have someone with a canister to accept donations. You'd be surprised how many people will give money but won't do anything else.

Make sure the leaflet reminds them they can buy their own. Try to show them how much money they'll save if they do.

See if local stores, laundromats, etc. will let you put up posters.

Approach local hardware and chain stores and ask them if they could sell you some of the lightbulbs at a discount (or give them to you). If this is a school sponsored activity, it should be tax deductable for them. (having an adult like your club sponsor along helps with this part).

See if your sponsors can help you get arrangements to speak and distribute your literature to groups like the Rotarians, Kiwanis, Moose, Elks, Knights of Columbus, etc. (they give LOTS of money to charities).

See if your sponsors can arrange for you to speak at other schools and leave literature, to get them to start their own group.

Make yourselves known! Be seen! Have a snappy name people will remember. To others, I've suggested "Make the Lightbulb Go On" (get it?)

A movement like this can spread to the whole country, and even other countries. If you get off to a good start, make a press release about what you're doing, and send it to your local media (include a way to donate).

When you start adding up the money and energy saved by this one tiny thing, you can see that you and your friends have an opportunity to help millions of people by helping to get the ball rolling.

I wish you the best of luck. I hope these ideas are useful. Your club will be in our thoughts and prayers. The future of the world is in the hands of people like you!

Answer 2

If your environmentalist club can't think of anything environmentally friendly to do with your earnings, then maybe you should spend the money on some sort of seminar that can teach you to hone your skills. :]

Or....Depending on where you live...You could donate some to the new recycling campaign in Bath, ME. They're closing a local landfill and trying to encourage their citizens to recycle more by offering a financial incentive: Paying $1.25-$2.00 per city pick-up approved garbage bag. They're saying this venture will cost somewhere in the billions. They could def. use some help!

Answer 3

First of all, your club should make your own mission statement and vision. There are hundred of organization around the world. They focus on different environmental issues and areas - ocean, forest, pollution, diversity of animals, etc.
The key is "Focus" if your club want to achieve something. It's good to hear that you raised some money but in order to help the environment and do it consistantly, you need to make up your mind and focus on something specific.

Answer 4

How about buy compact fluorescent bulbs and donate them to a school or church that will agree to use them. Or you could give them to some other non profit organization. That way you are saving money and electricity for the organization. You are also reducing pollution to the atmosphere through reduced energy usage.

Answer 5

If you raised the money from donations, you need to use the money for exactly the purpose which the donors were told it would be used for. Any other use would be fraud. If you raised the money by doing some kind of profit making activity, be sure to pay your income tax; then do whatever you want with what is left over.

Answer 6

you could buy the canvas bags in bulk, put your organization's name on it and sell them and make more money.

Have you tried Heifer International? or provide a small loan to someone in a foreign country so they could start a business with animals and they could then pay you back when they become self-sufficient.

Answer 7

plant some trees, buy some large paper bags and adopt a road and pick up trash that the slobs throw around the road way. that is a good start.

Answer 8

Spread the word. Make up some flyers about your club and put some tips for others to help clean up our enviroment. Maybe put up some stats about our landfills filling up too fast, things to recycle and where to recycle, and also mention Freecycle.com

Answer 9

Give the money to a children's hospital. Help a child live to become an adult.

Better than helping an animal.

Answer 10

I say donate your earnings to charities that focus on your cause.