Thursday 12 March 2015

Fundraise For Free

Bumper sticker to raise Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Awareness.


The adage "you have to spend money to make money" doesn't have to apply if you're a nonprofit or charity trying to raise money for a good cause. While there's an entire service industry built around helping nonprofits raise money, most of these companies will charge a fee before you can start collecting your donations. Options exist online in which, after the initial registration, you don't have to pay a dime to start collecting.


Instructions


1. Sign up for GoodSearch. GoodSearch is a search engine powered by Yahoo! that raises money for nonprofits. Every time someone searches the Internet through the GoodSearch engine, a penny is raised for the charity of their choice. For instance, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has raised $41,600 through the engine as of September 2011.


2. Register for GoodShop. GoodSearch also has a free fundraising program called GoodShop. Donors shopping on the Internet get to their sites through the Goodsearch page, and a percentage of each purchase goes to the nonprofit of their choice. Unlike other charity shopping sites, Goodshop allows donors to raise money when making purchases on iTunes.


3. Use iGive, another shopping mall on the internet that allows donors to shop at stores and raise money for the charity of their choice. Companies that participate in iGive include Best Buy, Staples, Barnes and Noble, and Gap.


4. Create a Cartridges for Kids account. Donors collect used printer ink cartridges, used cell phones, used iPods and other electronics for recycling. Donors receive free FedEx labels to ship the used items. Once received, the nonprofit receives a donation check. Many schools also participate in this program, and spread the word through school newsletters and parental word-of-mouth.


5. Sign up for MissionFish. The site allows sellers on eBay can donate money from their sales to the registered charity of their choice. The sellers are rewarded with participation in eBay's Giving Works program, which helps them get more bids and higher sales prices.

Tags: raise money, their choice, charity their, charity their choice, allows donors