Rolling with the Big Boys: From Washington to Woodrow Wilson

~Let's take a journey together, and let reality mix with the dream realm~

It’s a sweet spring afternoon and letters begin to arrive.

From horse to bicycles to cars to your email and television.

All addressed to you!

Many from George Washington

and Lincoln too.

A dozen from Benjamin

to just one from Woodrow Wilson.

All of them invitations to one specific party.

To go or to reject invitations that were sent so hearty.

No matter where you are, money is hard to come by - even if you do try! Personally, I like money but I think it's scary. Fundraisers are not easy to set up, but when you get in the groove of doing them, nothing can stop you! Doing fundraisers for your club or whatever you are fundraising for is like opening up your own business -  you have to get clientele and get their trust, and it’s easier to lose them than it is to get them!

Note: Fundraisers are similar to socials and going to any events; your club's credibility can either fall or spike depending on how well you do it. The more credible your club the easier time you’ll have retaining members and getting your club out there.

One thing to keep in mind is what you want to fundraise for. Is there a specific event or cause you want to fundraise for and how much you want to fundraise? Are there several? Ask yourself the 5 W’s and the H. Here are some questions you should ask yourself. Try to answer them in a few sentences.

1. Why?
1. Why do you want to fundraise?
2. Why (am I) are we doing this?
3. Why is this reason important to others?(Consumers? Volunteers? Community?)
2. What?
1. What are the goals I hope to achieve in doing this? (Sometimes, you can even set little goals and incentives for each one achieved. Like say... $700 for someone to do something silly like dressing up as Elsa)
2. What will this money be directly going to?
3. What needs to be done?
4. What is a suitable fundraiser for my area?
3. When?
1. When will the fundraiser be? (Season? Month? Day?Time?)
2. When are all the deadlines? (Setting deadlines in increments is helpful)
3. When do I need the money? (Set the deadline earlier than you need it, so that way you can have it early)
4. Where?
1. Where would be the most suitable place for your fundraiser?
5. Who?
1. Who are the people who would feel the most strongly (positively) that will donate to this fundraiser?
2. Who do I have to talk to in order to make this happen?
3. Who would be willing to participate and be on the team to make this happen?
6. How?
1. How is this fundraiser correlated to your cause?
2. How will I explain this to customers/people who donate?
3. How will you use the extra money to set up for future fundraisers (because fundraisers are an investment)?

These are just the basic question you need to know. Sometimes, it’s necessary to do things that put you out of your comfort zone to make money. By no means do I refer to selling your body, but instead to things like creating little incentives i.e. dressing up in a silly costume if 100 people attend an event or singing a song or making a bunch of food before Monday, even talking to people to use their venues.

After you ask these and many more marginal questions you should be able to rule out a few fundraisers and think of different ideas for FUNdraisers. Try to come up with out of the box ideas - playing off hypes and classics help. Fundraisers shouldn't be solely about the money but having fun while you do it - from what I see a crew that is having fun and doing their work makes twice as much than a crew that does their work - and I don't mean in monetary terms. I remember when I was a sophomore we would always splash each other with soap and hose water at those car washes; we made a MINIMUM of $600. Now we do car washes and barely scratch $100. Funny story to add: my friend Amara told me how success is all about her attitude when she bakes or cooks food - I mean who wants angst brownies? Would you care for some awkward ice cream? Tear cookies a la mode? Do something you want to do. Not a fundraiser you have to do.

There's also the idea of taking financial ventures and playing it safe. Try to experiment!  If you are feeling adventurous, don't invest all your efforts in one risk just to lose it. Test the waters; maybe try gauging opinions. Fundraisers are not a lottery ticket: they are INVESTMENTS. You put in a little money, a ton of effort and that's all you need! Try not to be petty like this fool. He's crying because he won't make money. Don't feel sorry for him. AT ALL (at least not in this context). On the other hand, there is playing it safe. Playing it safe, is where you'll be comfortable and you'll make the same amount of money you usually do. There's nothing wrong with it, it's just not the typical type of adventuring I do. Playing it safe, you're old clientele will return to you and  you may get a few newbies! It's a perfectly fine manner to build credibility step by step; only problem is that it takes time to build that credibility. A financial venture is not something you should be dependent on, but something you do if you need to make cash by a deadline. Both sides have their own validity in getting to the same goal. 

You can make money from practically anything - where there is a skill, there is a way. Look at all your members. If you know them personally or not, you should realize that each member has something that they can bring to the table - even you bring something to the table yourself! You should play off whatever the strongest coordination of cards on the table are. If you have a musically-talented group, then have them put on a benefit concert. If you have a group that is skilled in home economics (cooking/making clothes/organizing) then do a cook-off or sell food or have a fashion show. You could always do a hire-for-a-day. The only thing that you need to worry about when you start to reject is reality. Yeah, reality can throw you off your groove a lot.

You'll need to think in terms of your consumer market and get to know what is in demand in your area; think in terms of economics. What will make the customers go like...

Sometimes simple common objects can make the most money - school/office supplies, lessons, a unique and out of the ordinary fundraiser. Something that will make the people "holla for a dolla."

Constantly think about the next step. It doesn't need to be your priority, but you've already set your goals and thought of what kind of fundraisers are feasible for your area; now it's just a matter of knowing what to do with relaying tasks and advertising.  Figure out what you need to do, items you may need, and see who is best suited. Set increments on how you want to get something done. A fundraiser is definitely something you don't want to procrastinate on. Money is basically like a second relationship to all people: you have to ensure them that the trade-off is beneficial to them as well.  I know as well as anyone when I spend money my thoughts are 

something along the lines of...

Who wouldn't be like that? You think of all the potential that 100 Lincolns have to offer you. Really keep on working at it to convince them that this is a matter that is important to them - no matter how big or small and don't give up. 

        Now you'll need to think of how you are going to get the word out. You can always get word out through presentations, promotions, posters, and social networking. You can even ask a favor of your popular friends that make even the simplest things a big deal. That's why it's especially important for you to network wherever you may be. Even if you have days where you feel unsocial and like you just can't deal with the world right now - as shady as it sounds - having good connections and relations with others helps a ton. No matter how independent you may be, doing something yourself is not as great as doing it with people (who know what they are doing); allowing everyone to focus on one task is much more productive and less stressful on your side. 

After that, you have your fundraiser! So just be sure someone who knows the basic rundown is there at all times supervising what is going on and that there is constant activity going on until it's time for a break. You want the activity to be off the charts pandemonium - but you don't want to be a slave-drive and not have any volunteers for future events; so just try to have fun while you work, crack a few jokes, get people together, and do an icebreaker to shake off any awkwardness from the start. If you have to do your little eager dance, pep-talk, or a little cheer to get everyone hyped to work, then do it! Better to try than not right? 

When you finish, to tie off any loose ends (if this event was a more formal one) by thanking people for participating in this event with a specialized card where you just write their name and send it to them. Be sure to post results and thank everyone for coming out or buying or whatever it may be. 

We're finally finished and you're ballin' with the big boys now! Let's wrap this article up by celebrating for a dollar well earned.

Until next time dreamers-sweet dreams,

Marilyn Nguyen

P.S. No matter what you do, make sure that you're fundraising by LEGAL means. There's no use in making money off something that puts you at risk of going to jail or being suspended.

Disclaimer: Pictures courteous of tumblr!