Commonly asked questions... Common Questions About FundraisingOvercoming obstacles, sending offline donations, and other frequently asked questions that you may find yourself wondering about... ________Take a deep breath. There is a lot to take in when you become an Ambassador to SDWR. We want to make sure you have the answers to your questions and the resources you need to succeed. Have more questions? Contact your Client Services Representative. We want you to have the answers. Offline DonationsHow do I handle cash? All cash you have collected from an event should be changed into a cashier's check or money order. Depositing Cash is against Federal Fundraising Guidelines and Regulations. What are the steps I need to take to make sure these offline donations arrive safely? Log the donations as pledges on your online campaign, record them on a Donor Tracking Sheet, and send the donations by regular or priority mail. Do not send certified, as this will take much longer. (Keep a copy of the donor tracking sheet for your records) Where/who do I send the donations to? Always send donations to PO BOX 647 Madison, VA 22727. The envelope should be addressed to "SDWR - C/O Donations"
Learn more about offline donations by clicking the button below. ObstaclesHow do I fundraise in a community in that does not support fundraising for an individual? It is not an uncommon practice for a business to deny fundraising support to an individual, but remember, you are not raising funds for an individual. You are an Ambassador to the Organization, raising awareness and funds to further the mission - to serve the invisible disabilities community. Yes, this campaign will help your family, but it will also make an impact for the invisible disabilities community nationwide! Ask Client Services for a Goods & Services Donation request letter to use when talking to businesses. I am not good with social media; how can I create a page for people to follow my story? There are instructions on our Fundraising Page that help walk you through setting up a Facebook Fan-Page. You can contact Client Services to ask for images to use for a profile photo and cover photo. Chances are you have a friend that is bold on social media. This friend might be able to help you by keeping your fan-page up to date, and making posts on a regular basis. A friend of mine was going to make a large donation, but the processing fee was too high. How can she make the donation without a fee? The processing fee is an optional fee. When a donor chooses to pay that fee, that helps offset the expenses that the Organization incurs when a donation is made. It is up to the donor to choose whether or not they pay that fee. If they still do not wish to make the contribution through your online campaign, they can write a check or wire the funds to the Organization. Talk to Client Services if this is the case. How can I plan an event when I don't have the time or money to do so? Utilize a team & start small. Even if your team is only you and two other people that takes part of the load off of your back. Your team can help you plan details for your event, which will reduce your time commitment. Ask local churches, businesses and Civic Organizations to help with the event. They can do this by making a donation, recruiting event volunteers, donating the use of a venue, donating food & prizes for games, and advertising your event. Host a block party where you borrow carnival-type games, set out your corn hole boards, throw out a slip-n-slide, everyone brings food for a potluck, and businesses donate prizes for a raffle. Make sure to have an information & donations table set up. This is a great way to get people interested while they are having fun. You can invite them to like your fan-page, and ask if they would volunteer to help with your next event, or even join your team. Ask Client Services for a Civic letter and Goods & Services Donation Request letter. These will help you when you go to ask for help. Use the tools and resources that Client Services has to offer! - Business Cards - Campaign Flyers - SDWR Brochures - Fundraising Corner (link below) - And many, many more Other informational documents to help with networking include: - How to Approach a Business - Goods and Services Donation Request Letter - Letter Writing Template and Tips - Civic Funder Letter Is there something you would like to see in an email blast? Is there an event type that you would like explained on our fundraising page? Let us know! cs@sdwr.org We want your input! On our fundraising page you will find the Client Services Survey & the Post -Event Survey. We encourage you to complete these often with feedback for our team. We want to be constantly improving, and to do that we need your help! |