Fueling Change

Fall Fundraiser Plans Gaining Momentum

Category: Raising Funds to End Charcoal | Date: Mar 14 2008 | By: admin

Thank you all for your interest in holding fundraisers. This is how it all happens!! When Emmanuel was here last week, we chose the September ‘08 cities by their fundraising potential — and by where I had friends that would let us sleep on the floor. That list included: Berkeley, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Colorado Springs, Santa Fe, New York City, and Boston. We have a two week window and are willing to add more shows, so if you are serious about taking on an event, please let us know. Also, if you have contacts in any of those cities that would be interested in helping, please bring them on board. From your comments on the blog, it sounds as though we have the possibility of adding events in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Tucson, Washington, DC, and possibly in Florida. If you want to get your feet wet — or are ready to just dive in, let me know and we can start seriously exploring the possibility of holding a fundraiser in your area. As I said to Nancy, I think the best strategy for filling these events is the grassroots approach whereby you contact your friends and see if you can convince them to bring five of their friends, and they do the same with their friends. I we do this, in addition to a media blitz, we should be able to fill our venues.

Our goal is to secure three years of funding for the Ending Charcoal project. We are going to be investing in a number of different stove technologies and that will require some significant funds. Luckily, the people attending the Boulder and Denver fundraisers shared our vision and donated generously, which has given us the funds needed to begin bringing new stove technologies to Goma. Our first step, though, is a thorough cost/benefit analysis on the various stove technologies.

13 Responses to “Fall Fundraiser Plans Gaining Momentum”

Paula, on 14 Mar 2008

Hi Robert, I would love to see an idiots guide to planning and holding a fund raiser…by now I’m sure you have lots of experience? You can post it here and I’d also love to put it on our Conservation tools site http://wildstuff.edublogs.org

sheryl, washington dc, on 14 Mar 2008

Great idea, Paula. I’d love to see such a guide because I know how to sell a few vegan baked treats at work, or T-shirts from a CafePress store, but getting people to gather in one place and open their wallets - that takes some skill.

Pam/Shell Beach, CA, on 14 Mar 2008

Sheryl, I didn’t have any success selling cupcakes at work. I think people thought they were for free!!!
Oh well. But I agree, a guide would be nice.
Also, what will this money be used for exactly. I’m still unclear on this. Will it be spent on the protos stoves, on a community cooker. People donating money will probably want to know.
Also, as I wrote on yesterday’s post, I have some questions about the community cooker.
Thanks.

Lisa, California, on 14 Mar 2008

So I’m in the middle of creating an email to my contact at All Saints Church here in Pasadena. My god, how can you explain what we’re trying to do in an email. So much has happened and I’m beginning to sound long winded. I wanted to run the email past you Robert first, to see if I’m touching on the right points. Is that possible? Lisa

Lisa, California, on 14 Mar 2008

I am definitely in need of Fundraisers for Dummies. : ) Lisa

Robert Williams, on 14 Mar 2008

Yum!! Those cupcakes were sooo good. I can’t believe they were free. Pam is the best! Sorry that didn’t work out Pam, but hey, what can you do but laugh.

I would be glad to put together some thoughts on successful fundraising, but remember, I’m still a bit of a rookie myself. More on that later today. I’m also working on a brief about the various stove technologies, such as the community cooker, the BSH plant oil stoves, and the high-efficiency dry biogas stoves.

Nancy, on 14 Mar 2008

What cupcakes?? I didn’t get any cupcakes. Man you got to nail stuff down around here.

Lisa, California, on 14 Mar 2008

Okay, I’ve done this letter regarding a fundraiser. I’m ready to send it, however I have a couple of questions that need to be answered first:

1. If I can organize a fundraiser in September, will we get posters like the Boulder poster with all of our fundraiser’s praticular information?

2. Who will be the speakers? Will Emmanuel be speaking? Who else?

3. Who will arrange media coverage?

That’s all I can think of right now.
Thanks. Lisa

sheryl, washington dc, on 15 Mar 2008

Sorry it didn’t work out for you Pam. I advertised my fundraiser on the company electronic bulletin board, sent out an e-mail message to the staff in my division plus all the people I work with in other units, posted the info to my blog, then sent out a reminder e-mail the day before the sale. I had a fixed price, too. This time, for the Cookies for Kenya Wildlife sale, I’ve broadened my e-mail list at work and to personal friends, blogged, posted again to the company e-BB, and I’m going to hang posters on refrigerators on all floors come Monday morning. I’ve already collected $50 and I haven’t baked a single cookie! They’re selling 2 for $1 and $1 for the Gigantoid Peanut Butter Oatmeal cookies. I think you just need to advertise heavily and make it clear that you expect a certain price for your goods.

cathy-california, on 15 Mar 2008

Hi Robert, I am definitely interested in helping out in Palo Alto. I will contact you later today.

Lisa, California, on 15 Mar 2008

This message is for Judy in CA. Shall we team up and try to organize a fundraiser together? Let me know what you think. Lisa

Theresa Siskind St Petersburg FL, on 16 Mar 2008

Lisa, that would be great if you and Judy could link up. I feel so out of the loop here in Florida. I wish we could hear from those who donate to the gorilla blogs, but never post comments. I think this could be a helpful source of contacts for fundraising activities.

Natalia, Los Angeles, on 28 Mar 2008

Hello Robert! I don’t know if you respond to al the postings, but I would love more info on your possible fundraisers in Tucson and Los Angeles. I live in LA and help put you in contact with people/venues here. A friend lives in AZ and is a mountain gorilla conservationist and would love info on Tucson. I am currently an anthro student doing a thesis on Grauer’s gorilla conservation and love the work that you are doing. Hope to hear from you soon! Thanks!

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