Smencils 10-pk.

"Working too hard Trying to finish that pesky problem set Here to help is a set of 10 fabulous gourmet scented pencils, or Smencils for short. Made from recycled newspaper and scented to please any palette. Comes in a set of 10 pencils of the following flavors: Bubble Gum, Cherry, Pineapple, Grape, Rootbeer, Fruit Punch, Orange, Cinnamon, Watermelon, and Peppermint. Each pencil is individually wrapped in its own Freshness Tube. Now in a convenient pack of 10. Please note: does not come with bucket."

First, realize one important fact:

No one gives away money without getting something in return.

With the exception of small premiums like address stickers, donors dont get anything they can hold in their hands to show where their money went. But they do get something back or they wouldnt donate.

What they get is emotional, and sometimes its something they cant even name. A host of emotions come into play when a person writes a check to a charity. They include guilt, pride, fear, love, and gratitude to name just a few. As a writer, its your job to tap into those emotions and give your donors the satisfaction they crave.

Here are just a few of the reasons someone might choose to support your particular cause:

* To be recognized for their generosity

* To feel important

* To be associated with someone important

* To get back at the corrupt or unjust

* To support or oppose a political viewpoint

* To validate their own moral or ethical values

* To fulfill a sense of duty

* To share their love (for animals, children, nature, the elderly, etc.)

* To ease their guilt over a past transgression - or over being successful.

Most people will mention the tax benefits, and yes, giving to a registered non-profit does carry benefits. But remember there are plenty of causes to choose from. They won't choose YOUR particular cause only for that reason.

Let your donors feel like theyre part of the solution

Everyone has their own reason, but I believe that one of the strongest reasons why people give is to feel as if they're a vital part of the good work being done. They may not have the time to do hands-on help, but by offering financial aid they participate.

Thus the message for you is a writer is to make sure that you let your donors know that they make the work possible. And if there's any way for you to show them the positive results of that work, DO IT!

Show your good results

Letters about doom and gloom make people feel depressed. Avoid them. Instead write letters showing that there was a bad situation, but because of their kind support, you were able to bring about a happy ending. Paint a verbal picture so that your donors can see what youve done and what you will do in the future.

Then remind them that many more happy endings are needed and that their continued support will ensure that they happen. (And it doesn't matter if they've supported you before...write as if they have.)

Take the time to dig out a success story and show that their dollars make a difference. Don't just say you need support... show them what you will DO with their support. Be specific, even if you only touch on a small segment of your work.

The next thing I'll tell you may be difficult for you... but do it anyway.

ASK for the money.

Did you know that some people give only because they were asked? Psychology is a strange thing. You would think that if you wrote a long letter about your work and how much money it takes to carry on, people would know that they need to help. Not so if you dont ask, most wont give.

So, swallow your pride and your reluctance to beg. Remember that the money isnt for you its for the good work that youre doing. I know how difficult this is, because when it comes to asking in person I am the worlds worst fund raiser. I always feel like Im asking for myself, because I only work for causes I support wholeheartedly. Thats why I restrict my asking to the written word.

Dont beat around the bush or hint that you need their help. Come right out and say "Please send your donation of $25 (or $5 - or $100) today so that we can continue to ...." Dont let people off the hook by failing to ask.

People even need you to suggest giving amounts. You should include a reply device with a "giving string" showing a small number up to a larger number. (The numbers will depend upon your audience and your cause.) Let them know that even a small donation matters, but they need to send something.

If you have a special need at the moment, say so. Say "Please send your donation today so that we can **** by ****." Create a bit of urgency by letting them know that the money is desperately needed by a certain date in order to meet a specific need.

Lastly, include a return envelope. You don't need to add postage... in fact you shouldn't... but do include the envelope and a reply device (a device that re-states their reason for giving.) People are busy... if you don't make it easy to respond they'll lay your letter aside for later and probably never get back to it.

Remember... Americans are a generous lot. We love to give... we feel good when we give... and it's your job to help us feel good by supporting your favorite cause.

Go for it! And if you get frustrated and want help, call or write.

Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter and co-founder of her local Animal Rescue. She offers discounted rates for other rescues in need of fundraising letters and newsletters. Visit her at http://www.marte-cliff.com

Marte offers a monthly ezine with tips on advertising that are useful for fund raisers and sales people alike. Subscribe by sending a blank e-mail to: martegale@getresponse.com. You'll get instant access to her ad writing tips report.

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Colored Smencils Gourmet Scented Pencils 10 Pack

Set of 10 scented colored #2 pencils, one of each scent: Bubble Gum, Cinnamon, Chocolate, Cotton Candy, Grape, Orange, Root Beer, Tropical Blast, Very Berry, and Watermelon.Note: Not suitable for children 3 or under

Many charities are aware that invoking the name of a sick or suffering child will move even the most hardened listener to some level of pity. This is then bound to be followed by the loosening of the purse strings leading to a reasonable donation. However, this vulnerability to the plight of children is already being misused by several charities that are neither fake or do not use the money they collect for the intended purpose. The potential donor should identify the possible grey area of this charity solicitor so as not fall victim of pranks.

One should insist on identifying the charity that is soliciting for their help. This is necessary since many charities use names that are closely related to those of reputable organizations so as to confuse the prospective donor. Similarly, one should also insist that anyone coming to their door collecting donations on behalf of any charity properly identify themselves. This can help you make a decision as to the legitimacy of the charity involved.

Another mechanism of busting charities that are not committed to the cause that they advocate for is by considering their spending habits. Ideally any children's charity worth its salt must ensure that a considerable fraction of the funds they raise are committed to the actual task of improving the concerned children's welfare. However, a good number of these charities spend the bulk of their money on fundraising campaigns in addition to paying huge bills top telemarketing companies. This is as opposed to the meager fraction allocated for the real job of fulfilling their reasons of raising that money from donors in the first place.

The approach and outward personality that fund seekers employ in soliciting for donations will also give an indication of whether the charity involved is worthy sponsoring or not. There are plenty of incidents when charity agents come to the door to ask for your donation but the way they go around it leaves a lot to be desired. They are not only evasive when it comes to revealing their identities but also seem to be unwilling to divulge much information as regards the expenditure of the charity on whose behalf they work. To make matter even worse they decline to take no for an answer and will even become aggressive taking the slightest chance to utter abuses against you. No genuine and self respecting charities will actually stoop this low.

A good number of bogus charities are taking up issues that are bound to elicit the most sympathy from prospective donors. This is not to say that there are no well meaning organizations doing a commendable job on such concerns but it is just a pointer that they misuse the enormity of emotional effect these concerns evoke in people to get a donation which however ends up in the wrong hands. Disability, disease, missing kids, drug abuse, wish granting and sports activities are some of the most abused topics that bogus charities jump onto to ensure they make a kill where prospective donors are concerned. Before donating, just ensure the charity in question exists within the legal framework and uses the money it raises for the specified purpose.

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There is a saying in the world of nonprofit fundraising and that is:

People give to People

What this means is that if you want to motivate people to give to your charity or cause you need to put a "human face" on it. People respond more favorably when they can identify and empathize with your cause. People feel better about donating their time and money when they know that they are making a difference in the lives of others.

People also feel more compelled to give to organizations when they are asked directly by a member or supporter of your organization.

What does this have to do with online fundraising?

According to experts in the communications industry, the World Wide Web entered the phase of Web 2.0 several years ago. Web 2.0 is usually described as user-friendly and participatory. Internet users can create and share information online and form social networks utilizing social media platforms. Some well-known social media platforms are Blogger, MySpace, Facebook, Squidoo and Twitter.

This means that your organization can use the power of social networking and social media on the internet to raise money and awareness for your cause. Social networking can provide an entirely new method of building relationships and communicating with people who share your organization's values and who know other people who have the same values.

The social media platforms mentioned above are all free to use which makes them extremely popular. Many organizations and individuals are already using them in their fundraising efforts.

There are also social media platforms that have been established with the sole purpose of nonprofit giving and fundraising. Some of these websites and platforms are:

Sixdegrees.org
FirstGiving.com
YourCause.com
Yahoo for Good
NetworkForGood.org
Change.org
ammado.com
zazengo.com
Razoo.com
BringLight.com
socialvibe.com

Using social media for fundraising is not just a passing trend. On the contrary. The users of MySpace and Facebook, for example, who have grown up using the internet for social networking are the nonprofit donors of the future. This segment of the population will continue to use social networking and Web 2.0 technologies. Nonprofit organizations and charities can reach these future donors and volunteers and build personal relationships with them utilizing social media tools.

Article by Amy Passmore of DIY Fundraising.

Are you looking for ideas on how to raise money for your school, charity or nonprofit organization? Visit http://www.diyfundraising.com for more great tips and resources from an experienced fundraiser.

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Running a cookie dough fundraiser is done in pretty much the same way as any other pre-sell fundraiser. Your sellers would be armed with a product brochure and a pen and simply start showing the brochure. How much they sell for your organizations depends on at least one of two things, how much they are behind your cause and what you have in the way of incentives for sales that are made.

EVERYONE likes cookies and cookie dough. I love cookies, don't you? Both you and I would be hard pressed to think of even one person who does not like at least one flavor of cookie dough. Cookie dough when sold in a cookie dough fundraiser, seems to have more of an emotional impact on the sellers than candles or Christmas wrap! People just seem to get excited about it.

One of the first things that you should do before sending your sellers home with their cookie dough fundraiser brochures is spend a little time training them. Not everyone is a born salesman, but with proper preparation everyone can sell cookie dough.

Cookie dough will just about sell itself. All it needs is a little exposure to potential customers from your sellers.

1.) Smile

Teach your volunteers to smile when talking to customers. A smiling face always has more successful sales than one that does not smile.

2.) Eye Contact

Eye contact creates an intimacy between two people. Eye contact has been proven to be a significant factor in the persuasion process of sales. So teach your volunteers to look them in the eye when presenting their pitch.

3.) Use the word "Because"

There is a great deal of power in that word. It expresses a need, pulls on the heartstrings of your customer, and is a factor in making a sale. Teach your sales people how to make use of this word.

4.) Ask for the sale

Many times a customer will purchase if you simply use a statement designed to ask for the sale.

5.) Use a favorite item

Encourage your sales people to pick a favorite item and suggest it when selling.

Create a simple script incorporating each point above and rehearse with your volunteers until they are comfortable. Your cookie dough supplier may even have a preprinted script that you can use or adapt to your own needs.

A smile on the face, effective eye contact, a colorful brochure and the use of the word "because" to let people know about your needs, along with a simple and sincere request for the sale are key ingredients to producing cookie dough fundraiser sales. Teach these necessary components to your sales force and watch the sales rack up.

AIM Fundraising has been helping schools and non profit groups raise money with cookie dough for years. When done for the first time as a new fundraiser, most will double or more their previous sales the first time they do a cookie dough fundraiser.

Copyright (c) 2008 AIM Fundraising

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Smencil Scented Pencils - Pineapple

Draw student attention with these gourmet-scented, environmentally friendly pencils. An alternative to wooden pencils, Smencils are made from 100% recycled newspapers. You can even see the layers of newspaper when you sharpen them! The scentsational fragrances are guaranteed to keep their wonderful aromas for two years! Set includes 5 Smencils of the scent that you choose.

In the fundraising profession, the act of requesting funds from a donor is called the ask. When you are writing a fundraising letter and you arrive at the place where you must actually, ahem, request a donation, you have arrived at the ask. And the ask, as you probably know, is one of the toughest things to get right in fundraising.

Where in the letter should you mention money?

Early on in your letter you should let your reader know why you are writing. Somewhere above the fold, usually in the second or third paragraph, describe the reason for your letter. Here is an example:

The people of Afghanistan have already suffered 20 years of conflict and three years without rain. One and a half million are dead. Two million are disabled. And now this: the UN is predicting that the number of Afghans facing hunger and deprivation will soon reach 7.5 million.

Something has to give. Or someone has to give. Thats why Im writing to you during this crisis. Will you give? You can save lives and avert disaster by sending a donation to Doctors Without Borders right now.

How much should you ask for?

Ah, the perennial question. As fundraising letter expert Mal Warwick would say, that depends. How much money you request of each donor depends on many variables, including:

• size of the donors last gift


• size of the donors average gift


• amount that most organizations like yours ask for


• specific need that you are presenting to the donor


• size of your donor base


• donors capacity to give (assuming you know it)


• donors affiliation with your organization (is the donor a brand new supporter or one of your board of directors?)


• length of time the donor has supported you (is it one year or ten?)

As you can see, the amount of money that you request in your direct mail fundraising letters depends on too many variables for me to give you an average figure to aim for in every appeal.

How many times should you request a donation?

Ask for a gift more than once in your letter. At a minimum, bring up the topic early on, and ask again for a donation in your conclusion. Another good place to request funds is in your postscript (your P.S.). Some of your asks can be hard asks (Give today) and others can be soft asks (Your gift will make a difference.).

Whats the best way to actually ask for the gift?

Here we come to the topic of this Handbook. As you will discover, there are at least one-hundred and one ways to make your ask on paper. Some are forceful, others are subtle. Some are for capital campaigns, others for endowment campaigns and still others for year-end appeals. I recommend that you read all of the asks, putting a checkmark in the margin next to the ones that will work for your unique organization, your unique donors, your unique case for support and your unique writing style.

----
About the author
Alan Sharpe publishes Direct Mail Fundraising Today, the free, weekly email newsletter that helps non-profit organizations raise funds, build relationships and retain loyal donors. Alan is the author of Breakthrough Fundraising Letters and 25 handbooks on direct mail fundraising. Alan is also a speaker and workshop leader who delivers public seminars and teleseminars on direct mail fundraising. Sign up for Alan's newsletter at http://www.RaiserSharpe.com.

2007 Alan Sharpe. You may reprint this article online and in print provided the links remain live and the content remains unaltered (including the "About the author" message).

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If your non-profit organization is like many others, you receive half or more or your contributed income at the end of the year as part of what used to be called the "Christmas Appeal." In recent years it has come to be known as, in politically correct North America at least, the "Year-End Appeal" or "Seasonal Appeal."

Which means your year-end appeal
letter can make or break your year, financially speaking. Here are some tips on
how to craft a winning year-end fundraising letter appeal package.

1. Keep it simple

One non-profit ministry that I shall not name mailed their year-end appeal
letter in a poly bag along with their donor newsletter. They had been late in
getting their newsletter in the mail and so, to save on postage, they mailed it
along with the seasonal appeal letter. The campaign bombed, and bombed big.
Donors, as far as we could tell, read the full-colour newsletter and ignored the
letter that came with it. So my advice is this: keep your year-end appeal simple
and focused on one goal: securing a year-end donation.

2. Be creative

You will be competing with other organizations in the mailbox. Every charity
sends an appeal at Christmas. So stand out by mailing something creative. When I
worked with Doctors Without Borders as their fundraising letter writer, they
mailed a Christmas card to donors that donors then signed and returned to the
organization with their gift. Doctors Without Borders forwarded the card to a
volunteer doctor or nurse who was serving overseas, and whose name was on the
card. The cards were greatly appreciated by the volunteers (many of whom were
homesick at that time of year). The cards also involved donors in a way that
warmed their hearts and motivated them to contribute.

3. Look back with thanksgiving

Use your year-end appeal fundraising letter as a way to thank donors for
their support during the past year. Don't list the names of every staff person
you hired or promoted, or go on at length about happenings at head office.
Instead, tell at least one heart-warming or compelling story that illustrates in
vivid terms how your donors' gifts changed lives. Use quotes from the people
that you serve wherever possible. They add credibility and human interest to
your letter.

4. Look ahead with anticipation

Also use this Christmas appeal letter to present your vision for the coming
year. Show donors how their gift this "Holiday Season" will make a difference
next year for your organization and the people you serve.

5. Use a seasonal theme

Try to tie your appeal to the season. Giving, presents, exchanging
greetings, snow, "goodwill toward man" and other themes are popular at
Christmastime. If you can tie your appeal to an emotion or sentiment that is
already prevalent at the end of the year, and do so in a relevant way without
being overly sentimental, do so.

6. Accentuate the positive

Please don't appeal for donors to get your books out of the red and into the
black. If you have a negative cash flow at year-end, don't ask donors to correct
it. They will see your predicament as your fault. Donors are not motivated to
eliminate debt (unless it's Third World debt). But they are motivated to change
the world through a gift to your organization. So present your appeal as an
opportunity for the donor rather than a rescue operation for your chief
financial officer.

7. A special word for Christian charities

Avoid the "God gave us an unspeakable Gift and so should you" approach in
your Christmas appeal letter. Instead, show in concrete terms how you will use a
donor's gift to further the work that your Christian donors care about, using a
biblical theme if possible.

About the author
Alan Sharpe is a professional fundraising letter writer, instructor and mentor who helps non-profit organizations raise funds, build relationships and retain loyal donors using creative fundraising letters. Learn more about his services, view free sample fundraising letters, and sign up for free weekly tips like this at http://www.RaiserSharpe.com

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Smencils Gourmet Scented Pencils - Set of 10

These deliciously scented pencils are made from rolled sheets of newspaper instead of wood--you can even see the layers of newspaper when you sharpen them! Recycled newspaper is tightly rolled around #2 graphite then hardened so they feel like wood pencils, but are better for the environment

Just recently, the principal of Bremen High School in Midlothian, Illinois, canceled the fundraising basketball game scheduled for the evening of Monday January 28, 2008. The leader of the school made this decision, after he learned that some of the game's participants had been possibly mistreated or poorly trained. Once the news about the principal's stand spread, he was contacted by a nationally known organization and given an award for his courageous decision.

The group? PETA- or "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals". The basketball players in question? Donkeys.

Yes, you read that right. As it turns out, there is such a thing as "Donkey Basketball" and more than a few groups around the country have used this activity to raise money for a variety of causes.

The author of this fundraising blog must confess to a terrible blind-spot in his industry-wide knowledge, for until this morning, I never knew such a thing even existed. But now, I am quite intrigued.

So, what does PETA have to say about Donkey basketball? I found this quote in the Chicago Tribune article which reported on this development.

According to Daniel Hauff, who is an animals-in-entertainment specialist in Chicago for PETA, "Donkeys used for such purposes sometimes travel in cramped trailers and may be abused in order to get them to cooperate. Although federal laws protect many animals from abuse, donkeys are not protected, so depending on the state, it can be legal to use them in such activities."

Hauff went on to praise the school principal for his conviction. "He was concerned about his students and these animals. These animals are being forced to do something that is uncomfortable, probably confusing."

PETA's website actually went into greater detail about their views on this subject. "It's hard to believe that something as absurd as "donkey basketball" still exists in this day and age, but sadly, it's true. During these cruel "games"-which some schools hold as fundraisers-donkeys are dragged, kicked, and punched by participants who have no animal-handling experience. As if abusing animals and forcing them to participate in these games weren't bad enough, there's more: In order to keep them from having "accidents" on the court, donkeys are often deprived of food and water for hours before games. Donkeys are not protected by the federal Animal Welfare Act, and local humane agencies tend to be reluctant to get involved in cruelty cases involving donkeys, since employees typically don't have any experience working with donkeys or any knowledge about them."

Evidently, the national office of the Parent Teacher Association has also jumped on the anti-donkey basketball bandwagon. They have a statement on the PETA website that states, "Children trained to extend justice, kindness, and mercy to animals become more just, kind, and considerate in their [interactions] with each other."

So, with all this hullabaloo out there against donkey basketball, I figured there had to be an organized group in favor of this "sport". And there was- the companies that rent out their donkeys for the games. (Surprise!)

To be honest, I was able to find a woman- Bonnie Jo Campbell of Comstock, Michigan- who really loves donkeys. She raises her own and cares for them like family. She has a website, on which she wrote a 4,410 word essay about how much she loves donkeys. That's seven pages typed- single spaced. She's pretty serious about donkeys. You can read the text of this essay here (if you so desire) and you can learn about how impressed she was at the way the basketball-playing donkeys she's known over the years have been treated. She sums up her essay with this quote (and I'm not kidding...) "If I were a donkey, I would prefer to live a life of leisure, hanging with my pals, play-fighting, rolling in sandpits and eating every thing I came across, but if I had to choose a career, I'd guess I'd seriously consider the basketball gig."

So there you have it. What's everybody getting so excited about?

From my reading and investigating, a typical financial arrangement between the school and the donkey owners is a 60-40 split with the donkey owners getting the sixty. If gate receipts top $3,000, the split goes to 50-50.

So, basically, it's hard to imagine a game of donkey basketball really scoring that big for a school group. After all the time and effort you'd put into planning it, a 60-40 split isn't that great. And, you have to assume that in this day and age, there is bound to be a group arise from your community who will vigorously oppose the activity, potentially giving your group a very bad public image.

Bottom-line: there are many other less abusive, less politically charged, and more profitable types of fundraisers you can pursue other than donkey basketball.

About the Author: James Berigan is a former school principal who enjoys guiding schools with their fundraising efforts. He writes for the Top School Fundraisers blog at http://TopSchoolFundraisers.com/news

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