What is the best way to seek out donation money for a worthy cause in my community?

Question

Only 20 minutes from my home there is a soup kitchen that we serve at each week. 2 additional satellite serving areas have recently opened at area churches to help the people who are too far to walk to the main facility. There has been a 11% increase this year alone. I need to do more. More and more children are coming and it is breaking my heart. These patrons get excited when we have toothbrushes or socks to give out...and of course there is never enough.

I want to do a sleeping bag drive for the homeless with sleeping bags that are rated for below zero temperatures. And I want to give them to all that want them because many times they cannot afford electricity if they do have adequate housing.

My goal is 200 adult sleeping bags and 300 childrens and I want them to be new if possible. Can I do this?

How do I get the audience I need to have this completed by November-December latest? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

Contact your local newspaper and ask them to run an article on your fundraiser. When they write the article; put your e-mail address or telephone number and I am sure the publicity will help to notify the community of your intentions and there will be people willing to help. You could also notify local TV stations and they might also do the same thing. Go in person to your local stores; Wal-mart, Sporting good stores, etc. to see if they would be willing to donate to this cause. (Have your Tax ID # and forms available so they could write off any donations they would be willing to offer.) Get the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and local churches involved. Print out posters and put them in stores in the area. See if the local schools would be willing to do a tricky tray or cake sale for the support of this effort and they could donate the money they get for the trays/cake sale to you. You need to get the ball rolling now because it is almost September. Try to get a bunch of volunteers to help notify businesses and newspapers, etc. It can be done but you need to quickly organize now.

Answer 2

If I were you, I'd figure out the root cause of homelessness then give aid to those who are or help those who are on their way to becoming homeless. Why does a person have to be out on the street to get help, yet is not helped when they are in a situation of being working poor, have a home yet struggle a hell of a lot just to make rent and very close to going on the street? Why not help these people instead? An ounce of prevention definitely is better then a pound of cure.

As for root causes, there are many reasons. I have a brother who lived on the streets and not by choice. A lot of them are there due to a drug problem. Some cannot get a job for no one will hire them, may it be a criminal record or no marketable or obsolete job skills. Some cannot get a job due to parole and cannot leave the county, not even to work or go get groceries or that would violate their parole and they will be arrested. Some are disabled and ran on some bad luck and need help. The biggest problem is when a person is homeless, no one will hire them for they do not have a an address. Perhaps you can donate a homeless person a mailing address so they can apply for work and jobs. It is difficult to find a place to shower or a place to do laundry without being harassed by business owners. Give them facilities to help them with this. Some are run aways. Find ways to cut down parental abuse.

Most of all, when you give canned foods to a food bank, PLEASE GIVE A DAMN CAN OPENER. I cannot remember how hungry I have been, received canned food and no can opener. That like giving a man dying of thirst powdered water that you have to add water to. It makes no sense.

Answer 3

There are several sources for funding this type of project.

Depending on the denominational affilliation of the churches involved there may be funding available through the church.

There are several foundations that fund projects for the homeless you can find these through an internet search. The problem with grants is they usually take time.

Another good source is to contact manufactures and retailers asking for donations. Most have a budget for charitable giving.

One very important thing is to form alliances with other groups in your area. Churches, community service agencies, schools, local businesses, anyone who might share an interest. Funders are much more likely to look at projects that enjoy wide community support. Be sure to include the police department they can be a great source of support.

Getting the media involved is a must! You need plublicity and lots of it. This should be no problem. Yours is a great human interest story.

Blessings on your project

Answer 4

My suggestion to you is about the sleeping bags. I wouldn't specify as much about getting children's sleeping bags because they really are not meant for the cold temperatures like what is experienced in near zero conditions. One adult size sleeping bag will sleep two children comfortably. You would need to buy all adult size sleeping bags, and I have to tell you they are expensive when you are needing them to withstand cold temperatures that are near zero. Also they come in medium length and tall length, and you will have some men who will be near 6ft or over. There is a sleeping bag that is long enough to accomodate up 6ft 3". I just checked one wholesaler on eBay who sells 20 degree sleeping bags, and they are as much as $65.00 and that really is a bargain. You also need to get the drive started now in order to be able to supply the demand as November and December will be too late as suppliers do not sell as many sleeping bags in those months and quantities could be limited.

Answer 5

You may apply with the state to become a non-profit organization. If approved, you will be given a tax status (FIN) and the ability to accept both public, private, state and federal funding. As the administrator of this program, you are allowed 15% of the contributions as administrative fees. So, if approved and you do obtain funds, in this example if you took in $100,000 (collectively), you would be granted $15,000 as the administrator. These funds can be used to either pay yourself for your work and/or those who work with you. The remaining funds of $85,000 in this example would have to go toward the organization that you have been approved for.

In using the net funds ($85,000 in this example), you may also deduct the cost of operational costs such as computers, office space or any other costs relating to your non-profit organization. The Administrative allowance is not considered in the deductions, but you must personally report your salary (if you accept the allowed salary) as the Administrator as personal income to the IRS by way of quarterly income statements.

It is my opinion that you would qualify for a Non-Profit agency by your description, but you must go through the registration process. After that, to obtain funds you will have to advertise in some type of media, such as news papers, radio or local TV to locate your market donations. In many instances these types of media will assist you at a nominal fee or at no charge. This is your audience base and you just have to visit your local radio stations, papers and TV providers and present them with your status of a non-profit organization and they will most likely assist you.

After obtaining your non-profit status, you will find that your local news channel will broadcast your cause at no charge. News stations do not charge for information or for broadcasted news and an organization as you have presented is "news worthy" and therefore the producers of your local media will air your intentions. If you meet with them in person, they may even interview you on TV and add a link to your website (considering that you have one), or email address or phone number. Local news stations love to air this kind of effort and will assist you as it makes them look good.

You may also look into "Grant Writing", which obtains money from the federal level. If you need help with that, do not hesitate to contact me and we can go further into that.

Answer 6

um well when we wanted to get money for the homeless shelters a bunch of people slept in card board boxes (college students and some homeless students) then people donated to the cause.

Answer 7

Carry a two by four in your hand. they will pay out whether they like it or not.