Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Support Raising Ideas

Fundraising this time is going to be so completely different than before. I had so much more time to plan car washes and bake sales, and all those fun things. As well as have more youth groups and support from my friends who also had the time to donate. It's going to be an interesting adjustment figuring out my bills, car, full time job, and raising support.. as well as starting to prepare mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally for another adventure. 

Last night I stayed up until 3 A.M. coming up with ideas on how to raise money. So I put together a list.... now this list has ideas I feel I can do, but also in case someone else wanders on to my blog and sees ideas that may help them out. I also like the idea of, even though I'm busy.. a few of things are cheap and also can be easily posted through facebook or any other type of media social networks.. So I'm hoping those will help me out.. but here's a few ideas I had:


Fundraising Idears...

1. Flamingo Flocking
I've always heard of this.. but never have gotten to see one or get in on this little fun fund raiser!! Here's the instructions:
 Purchase 10 pink plastic flamingos (lawn decorations). Pick 10 yards in your community to be the lucky recipients. Attach cards to the flamingoes' necks with a phone number along with all the info needed regarding your group or mission.  State that for a $10 donation, the flamingos will be removed but for $15 they will be moved to the lawn of their choice. Make sure you also place a sign that has a contact name and phone number among the flamingos for those who drive by and would like to have the flamingos placed in a friends yard. (Also give the option to simply pick up the flamingos, since some people have no sense of fun.)  It takes some organization, but is lots of fun. An additional fundraising idea is to sell "Pink Flamingo Insurance" for $10 to protect yourself from the invasion of these pink pests. For $15 they can pick the next victim.

2. Donation Containers
There's a few places I have in mind to set these up at... and you can even ask to set them up in churches if you are traveling from different churches and speaking on your trips trying to raise support. Decorate mason jars, or a lock box, or a type of canister... print a nice label that briefly explains the mission, even post social networks (like my blog or facebook support page..) where people can check it out. Ask local businesses if you could place it somewhere in their store and check on it weekly.
 
3. Beautiful Baby Contest
I found this idea and like it:
A color or black and white photo of the child — preferably a close-up — is required with an entry form and $15 registration fee. If the photo was taken by a professional photographer, a consent form from the photographer authorizing its publication was also required.
Contestants could be viewed on The Robesonian web site and after the registration deadline had passed, photos were published in the Mother’s Day edition of the newspaper. Votes cost $1 each. There were two first place winners — a boy and girl. Each received $100, a parade magnet, and a crown or tiara. Other winners received: second place, $75 and a trophy; third place, $50 and a trophy; and fourth through sixth places, $25 and a trophy.  A calendar featuring the 12 babies receiving the most votes was sold for $10. All of the contestants were pictured in the back of the calendar.

4. PortaPotty
This one cracks me up.... for $10, you can have a tacky-ily decorated toilet placed anywhere you choose, including local businesses or someone's home. Like the flamingo thing...To have the potty removed, the recipient must pay $15. A second option is to pay $10 to have it passed on to someone else. If someone decides to be a "potty pooper" the group will remove the toilet for no charge. The team offers "potty protection insurance" for $25. This insurance ensures that the potties will not be delivered to your home or business.or a donation, they would deposit the potty on the yard of some lucky recipient. If you found it in your yard, you could make a donation to have it removed and sent somewhere else.

5. Face Painting

This is something I've just recently gotten into, and a good way for me to be creative for the Creative DTS! I have professional face painting.. My plan is to charge anywhere between $25-50 per party (depending on how many people and hours the event would be.) and painting faces for any party-goers who want their face painted. This is great for church events, birthdays, local get-togethers... I enjoy doing this.. and really hope this'll be something I can do when not working.. Above is a couple of samples of my work. I can do just a flower or star or something simple on a cheek, to a full face.

6. Sell your Wares
I love this idea: Anyone who sells items at home type parties (Longaberger, Tupperware, Avon, Scentsy, etc.) and set up vendor tables at a local church or recreation hall. Make it available for two hours, for people to come in, book parties, and make purchases. Have cash and carry items. Each vendor donates a portion of their profits for the evening.

7. Christian Karaoke Night/America's Got Talent type competition
 Admission is $5 per person for the karaoke. Make it more competitive by having people say how much money would have to be donated before they sing.. once that goal is met, either by people paying, or how much is raised that night... that person has to sing. (Have name tags with a price on it...) OR Hold an America's Got Talent type competition.. this can be just singing or anything. People pay $10-15 to enter, and be judged by 3 local business people who have donated to the cause for a grand prize. 

8. Beauty Pageant
I must confess I'm a huge Toddlers & Tiaras fan... but I think most people would love the chance to do a small beauty pageant. Have the ages 0 on up... $35 for an entry fee. Come up with a beauty, talent, and dress of choice.. award each age group but also have a grand title over all.

9. Adult Spelling Bee
$50 per entrant, and have the participant find sponsors just like a real spelling bee. These sponsors can give donations towards prizes to who wins.. as well as list it in the local paper for publicity and advertisement for the sponsors, as well as the event. Use words dealing with the mission, the sponsors, the area.
  

10. Scrabble Tournament
Scrabble is all about being fluent in the language and coming up with words that might be worth a lot of points. People have fun coming up with strange and exotic words no one else has thought of.  Teams of four, six, or eight gather at different tables, each with a Scrabble board and all the letters available. Each team starts with the same opening word, and has 20 minutes to fill the board with high-scoring words. A judge sits at each table. Individuals pay $35 to participate. Players can sneak a peek at a dictionary for an additional $5-10 donation. Make extra fundraising money selling refreshments, raffle, auction, etc. Additional details and ideas available from the National Scrabble Association.


11. Mini Bible Towns
A good idea for a Sunday School class or Youth Group.. I've painted a little village of houses for my mom. You can find them at wal-mart or craft stores like Michaels:

What started as a miniature building project to teach the books of the Bible to Sunday School children at Vestavia Hills Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, turned into an event that raised $5,400 to build real homes in Mexico. The children decorated 66 miniature houses, one for each book of the Bible. The class got enthused about the project and included other buildings, parks, lakes and streets in the town. Houses were arranged in the order that the books are organized in the Bible.

12. Imaginary Tea Party
The concept:  Send an invitation for a "Make-Believe Tea Party" to your friends, neighbors co-workers, etc.  Send a tea bag (inexpensive per tea bag if you buy them in bulk - or you can try to get the tea bags donated) in an envelope along with a classy, yet catchy, invitation explaining that they are invited to a "make-believe tea party" on a certain day (Mother's Day, for example) at a certain time (high noon, for example). Explain that on that date and time, you will all enjoy a cup of tea (using the tea bag provided) in support of your cause (or in memory/honor of someone).  Remind them that they can take part in this tea party while still enjoying the comforts of their own home! Ask each "guest" for a donation in return for "attending" this tea party.  Provide a SASE for their convenience.  The tea bag is theirs to keep whether they make a donation or not, but the hope is that your efforts will encourage them to send you a donation.  You can either ask for a donation of a specified amount as the "cost" for "attending" this tea party, or leave the donation amount open-ended and up to the individual.

Be sure to send a "thank-you" to those who make a donation.

13. Unbirthday Tea Party
Hold a tea party,... dress in the craziest dress up clothes.. so much per party-go-er... (I'm a big fan of Alice in Wonderland.. :) )

14. Sticky Fly
I probably couldn't do this.. but it's a cute idea for someone else... here's the story:

Find a popular teacher willing to participate. You'll also need lots of duct tape. Post flyers around the school a week ahead of time advertising your fundraiser. On the appointed day, during lunch hours, find a spot where students and faculty pass by regularly. Set a chair up against a wall so that the side of the chair (NOT the back or front, otherwise it won't work right) is firmly against the wall. Place a couple of gym mats or cushions in front of the chair as a precaution. Have the teacher stand up on the chair with his/her back against the wall. For fifty cents per yard of duct tape, students and faculty can tape the teacher to the wall. When the teacher is firmly taped to the wall, stop selling tape. Announce that you will now remove the chair to see just how long the "fly" can stick to the wall.

15. Pastor Pays
The Pastor pays a quarter (or more) for every time he says “God,” “Jesus,” and “Amen” during a service. The congregation plays along by shouting out every time he says one of these words.

16. Calendars
Make a calender using my own photographs and Bible verses... sell for how much the cost to make it, plus a profit... Custom town calendars, flowers, or nature shots. For me, this would be even more effective, since photography is a big part of me, and will also be used as a tool during my trip.

17. Pampered Raffle
A winner of this raffle will receive a 'Pamper Me' packet for a day of relaxation and pampering. Find local businesses and shops that will be willing to donate haircuts and style, manicures, department store gift certificates, dinners, movie passes, tanning, body massages. Tickets sell for $1-5 each .. all of which was profit and with minimal effort!
Prepare a nice certificate or letter for the winner. Make sure you publicize the donations from the local merchants and be sure to send them a personal thank you!

18. Balloon A Gram
A balloon-o-gram is a telegram with balloons. It can be done on any holiday (Mother's Day, Father's day, etc...) or it can be an ongoing process for someone's birthday, anniversary, etc. The deliverer takes a bunch of five to six balloons, a card and sing a song for the receiver. The cost for the balloon-o-gram was on a donation basis.
Variation:  Lollipop Bouquets containing five lollipops: Charms, Tootsie Pops, Valentine Suckers, etc. Tissue paper is used to make the lollipops look like flowers. They are held together with a rubber band and a gift tag is attached.

19. Shower of Flowers
Much like the flamingos... only try pinwheels.. or anything with iron stems you can place in someone's yard. One organization found fake daisies.
You can charge a $5.00 donation for simply removing the flowers, $10.00 to remove and select someone to send them to next, and $15.00 to remove, resend, and find out who sent them to you.  Most people choose the $15.00 option. 

20. Dinner For a Week
Ask 7 restaurants to donate a dinner for 2 and raffle off a week of eating out. Tickets can be sold for $25-30 each and the lucky winners are able to eat out every night for a week.

21. Favorite Photos
  Entrants submit a photo (specify maximum size accepted), and may also submit a 3x5 card with a few sentences as a description to create more interest. Votes are made with coins, dollar bills, or checks (made payable to your organization).  The picture with the most "votes" (total money collected) wins a prize.

22. Kidnap the Pastor
I think you'll have to have a congregation that would really be into this idea before you go into it... Simply put: you hold your pastor or youth pastor "hostage" until a certain set amount of ransom is paid. Here's an example: 

One youth group decided to "Pastor-nap" their pastor as a fundraising project. On a Friday afternoon, the MTT (Manzanita Teenage Terrorists) came in and kidnapped their pastor. They had a video team on hand and MTT taped the invasion leading to the ransom of the pastor for only $2,000. "If you give us the money, you get him back. If you don't give us the money, you still get him back."

On Sunday morning, the Pastor was still no place in sight. The service went on as planned with the teenagers leading the service. Then, a group of teens dressed in black quietly entered the service.

The music stopped suddenly and the tape was shown. The leaders presented their own part of the video by being the News Telecasters. As the service ended, so did the pastor-nap. The "terrorists" stood at the doors with their bags to collect the $2,000 ransom.


23. Benefit Concert
Find local Christian bands to play...there's several local bands in my area, and I've spoken to a couple of people and I'm hoping to set a day aside this spring where several bands come, and have dramas and such to where people would pay an admission and also donate.

24. Celebrity Autographs

Write every celebrity you can think of and ask for an autographed something to auction off at your fund-raising event. Lots of people collect autographs of the rich and famous. Send best-quality, blank note cards to famous people with a POLITE request for them to sign the supplied cards and the reason why you are asking. These guys may not be home, so be patient. But, on the upside, celebrities are often more than willing to help out a good cause.

ALWAYS supply a self-addressed, stamped envelope, in which the cards are returned to you. Make sure the address is your organization's. It's okay to say "John Jones, c/o xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx." If you can include some proof of who you are in your request (on letterhead, your charity ID number so they can check up, etc) that will be good. Here are a few hints to help improve your chances of success. Don't ask for too many autographs, as this will guarantee a refusal. Always include a self addressed, business sized envelope with the correct postage. Not only is this a common courtesy but the only way you will get a reply. Include cards or something for them to sign. Don't expect them to expend energy or their own money on you. If using note cards, make them the best quality and the color and size you prefer, not what's cheap at the store. Include two envelopes: the one for the card to protect it, and the one that the card goes in to mail to you. The better the condition of the card, the more money you can get at auction. If you have a theme, like the entire Boston Bruins, supporters might want to buy the whole series. Do your research and price the cards appropriately. Don't overprice or under price yourself. If you must go one way, go under. If they don't sell at auction you can always see if they sell on eBay!

TRY CHRISTIAN MUSIC ARTISTS OR REGULAR MOVIE STARS

25. Flash Mob!! 
Group members pay to participate in dancing or singing....Flash mob participants came together with the help of Craigslist advertisements, Facebook and word-of-mouth .

26. Dinner Theater
Help a youth group prepare a drama or play... and charge donation for admission...

Creative DTS Overview

Are you hungry for real, gritty, noticeable change? Do you desire to know what God has for your future? Then the Discipleship Training School (DTS) is for you.
DTS is a 6-month journey, a unique live/learn community experience. There will be endless opportunities for you to know God on a deeper level. It will be a platform for you to make God known in mind-blowing ways.
An internationally recognized curriculum will have you learning from experienced speakers who have lived out the principles they teach. The first 3 months of DTS will offer you a time of deep revelation as well as liberating personal application. Then outreach will take you to the places you have only ever dreamed about! Grow in confidence as you share your testimony to large audiences. Whether you are called to long-term or short-term missions, the benefit of going to a cross-cultural location and seeing the needs of that location and then being part of the solution is life changing!
The location of your training can be very important. YWAM Centres can vary in their way of reaching the lost, but our values always remain the same. YWAM Newcastle is an Australian centre known for dynamic community, belief in and development of emerging leaders, persistent pursuit of people and passionate worship. A place filled with life, life, life!

About

Are you wired to express yourself creatively to the world around you? Whether your passion is music, fine arts, photography or other digital media, the Creative DTS is for you! Take a unique, one-of-a-kind journey to discover the heart of God. Discover who He is, how He sees you, and the place that He has for you in the world.
Develop a message of your own as you learn how to creatively express the gifts that God has given you to bring hope to the hopeless.
Example core curriculum topics include:
  • God's Nature and Character
  • Building and Maintaining Godly Relationships
  • God's Intentions for Individuals, Peoples, and Nations
Example “Creative” sessions include:
  • Using your unique “creativity” for effective evangelism
  • Being a Godly influence in the Arts & Entertainment Industry
  • Developing a deeper understanding of God the Creator

OUTREACH

Be amazed as God uses what is uniquely you to bring a message of hope. Step out in faith and take ground for the Kingdom of God as you communicate with creativity and passion. Use your gift to cross the many barriers that can get in the way of effectively making God known.
2011 Creative DTS Outreach Location
The 2011 Creative DTS outreach location has been announced! The DTS outreach team will head to LATVIA!!! Join us as we reach this nation with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Cost

Lecture Phase        $3,950 AUD
Outreach Phase     approximately $2,500 – $5,000 AUD

Dates

Start









Finish
3rd July 2012                     15th December 2012  

This little light of mine.



I'm a firm believer in life. Of living as opposed to merely existing and floating through life. I'm also a firm believer in taking action as opposed to just talkin' the talk. 

So why wasn't I living by that?

I've been in missions all through my teen years, and I have missed it so much. (Normally I relive my experiences by looking over old missions photos and eating malt-o meals and dreaming of squatty potties. [Royal Servants, Int'l. inside joke...] Ah.. it's the life..) It's been ten years since my last missions trip, and since then, I wish I could say I have been patiently and faithfully waiting for God to call me up back onto the field, but sadly that's not been the case. I wrestled the steering wheel of my life away from God and have been careening out of control for a number of years. After realizing no matter what I do, where I turn, what I decide... my Father knows best. 

After coming back around to working on my relationship with God again, I started praying and dreaming about re-joining the mission field. However, given the circumstances of my past and lack of college, I was unsure if I was good enough to go back on the field. I had a lot of self-doubt, and a lot of insecurities started building up on how I wasn't worthy enough to go back on the field. It got so bad it was starting to consume my thoughts daily to where I couldn't think about anything else. While driving to church one night, I vented to my best friend, telling her what was going through my head. Thoughts of fear and self-doubt... or how I wasn't good enough to go back on the field. That night the pastor spoke on how self destructive thoughts can bring us down to the point of not being able to do the will of God. A few days later during my quiet time I found this:

 "Therefore, we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day." 1 Corinthians 4:16



God's always going to be working and molding me into the kind of woman He wants me to be. This is a process and life long journey... I remember a friend a few years back telling me that if we waited to become "perfect" to be able to do God's work... God's work would never be done. God actually uses us best in our flaws. The most effective stories aren't the ones where the person has conquered all because they're perfect.. it's through our weaknesses is God's strength and grace shines even brighter in a dark world. It's still a battle for me, but I do want God to use me. 

Last summer, somehow I found out that YWAM (Youth With A Mission) has what's called a DTS or Discipleship Training School. They're 5-6 months long, for ages 18 and up, all around the world. You spend three months at your school's location attending in class lectures and participating in local ministries. The last three months you spend traveling to select countries applying the skills you learned in the lecture phase on the field. After searching a for a few months, I finally found one I'm applying for. It's located in Newcastle, Australia and has a focus in using the creative arts to the ministry. There's a few all of the world that has a creative focus (for me as a photographer.. I can't tell you how amazingly stoked I was!!! To be able to combine missions and photography!??! Dream come true!!!) 

I'll have more info on it later.. but I'll be using this blog to keep in touch with my family and friends.. and to keep an update on my journey. Right now I'm in the middle of the application process, and will be needing prayer supporters as well as financial supporters later. I'm so incredibly excited to see what God's going to do and to let my little light shine... His grace is awesome!! 

Bye for now!!!