A brand new type of fundraising has been made available to fundraising groups by way of making money online! Fundraising definitely has never gotten easier than creating your own customized fundraising toolbar.

Groups simply create a toolbar provided by signing up with Yahoo (some fundraising companies do this process for you, making it even easier). After receiving the customized toolbar, groups can then email and send it out to all their supporters. Each time a supporter clicks on a sponsored link through the toolbar, the group gets money! It definitely does not get easier than that!

The perfect fundraiser for families that want to enjoy a fundraising product together are creative cooking kits. The most popular brand of cooking kits these days come from Crayola, and also come in four different flavors.

You can make cookies, brownies, rice crispy treats, and much more! Fundraising groups that target families with younger children as they are more likely to want to participate in creative cooking.

This fundraising product is especially well suited to sell for birthday parties, family reunions, sleepovers, and other events where young kids congregate!

For groups looking to transition from selling fundraising candy to selling from brochures, scented candles are a great way to introduce a new but effective way of raising funds. They don’t expire or have strict storage requirements either, making them perfect fundraising products for any age group.

Candles are very easy to store and distribute to patrons. They don’t expire and are not particularly fragile either (fundraising organizers don’t have to worry about the product “breaking” on the way home).

Best of all, candle fundraisers offer great thanksgiving and Christmas time gifts. They are easier for group to sell than traditional cookies and candies during the holiday seasons.

The most common way of selling awareness bracelets is to carry them in a large ziploc bag everywhere you go. Have them out in plain site so that people that walk by are able to see them. Depending on what type of group is selling them, the strategies will differ.

In front of the supermarket

Setting up a table and selling them in front of a high traffic area like a supermarket is a great way to sell these bands. Because you will be selling these to strangers, it is important to portray exactly why you’re selling the awareness bracelets, and what the proceeds will go to. People are very visually stimulated and if they see exactly where their money will go, they will be more inclined to buy from you.

Walking

Another great way to sell these is to take them everywhere you go. This method is especially useful for middle school and high school students who walk from class to class. Remember to keep them out and in plain view so that people walking by can see what you’re selling. It also helps to actively approach friends and classmates that you believe wouldn’t mind buying them.

Game time!

For sports teams that want to use these as a fundraiser, have a booth that sells these at your games! These people are the ones that are most likely to support your teams as they’re already there at your games.

Fridge frame fundraisers are perfect fundraising items to sell to parents and relatives of the students. They hit home as sentimental gifts that not only make their refrigerators more organized, but also adds a special touch to the pictures already on there.

Best of all, fridge frames don’t expire so they are a great long term investment for any supporter. The fridge frame companies make it even easier by providing all the marketing and sales materials needed to make the fundraiser a big success. With the added no upfront costs, this fundraiser is risk-free and a safe choice for any fundraising group.

Fundraising bracelets were made popular ever since Lance Armstrong started sporting the yellow “livestrong” bracelets. Since then, the popularity of these silicone bracelets skyrocketed nationwide. Thousands and thousands of groups have been ordering them to help fundraise for their cause.

These bracelets are great fundraiser items as they can be completely customized in their imprint as well as the color they come in. Many student organizations create the “Class” they are a part of as quick sellers to people in their class. For example, seniors of Martin Luther King High School that are graduating in 2011 would put “MLKHS ’11″ on their bracelets.

Smencils are a relatively new product in the fundraising world, but is continuing to pick up more and more momentum each year. For those of you that don’t know, smencils are recycled pencils infused with different fruity scents. They work as well as any other pencil, but have the added benefit of smelling good as well.

The scents are also guaranteed to last for a whole 2 years, so you can save the pencils you don’t sell one season, and sell it on another so you don’t have to worry about it going bad.

Most groups use smencils as either giveaway prizes or sell them in addition with other fundraisers because they are so easy to sell. Group members can take these smencils with them wherever they go.

If you review a community event calendar you may see organizations offering a one-mile fun run with their events.  This short distance run can improve your audience reach within the community and compliment a 5K or 10K nicely.  They can also be great add-ons to weekend festivals or health fairs. Including more people in your event is, of course, a winning situation when it comes to generating more funds for your charity.

There are a lot of different ways you can add a one-mile fun run to your event and several different audiences for which you can tailor it. These events appeal to different age groups and exercisers in a way that longer races may not. It is ideal to use this event to reach the audiences you may be missing with your longer events.

Here are a few of the ways you can appeal to different audiences by adding a one-mile fun run to your plan.

Involve children. This length of event is an ideal way to include youth in your event. While a 5K can be too lengthy, a mile is an achievable and safer distance for children of grade school age. These events serve as an excellent way to get children started with participating in charity fitness events.

Promote family participation. You can hold the event solely for children, but it can be even more beneficial to make it a family focused event. Allow parents to run with their kids in the one-mile event to encourage families to get involved in fundraising for your charity.

Invite a more diverse group of exercisers. Depending on fitness level, successfully completing a 5K can take a significant amount of training and focus on running. Sometimes even walking a 5K can be a lot if someone new to exercise. A one-miler can make your event more approachable for participants who fall in this category. Some exercisers may never consider a 5K, but a one-mile event may spark their interest.

Draw in the non-competitive types. Long distance events can bring out the competitiveness in people. This isn’t a bad thing unless you are the non-competitive type. The nature of the event alone can turn off those individuals who like to exercise and raise funds, but dislike the feel of competition. One-mile fun runs are just that – fun! If you are already hosting a longer, timed event consider focusing your one-miler on completion. If you want to give out prizes for this event, consider doing it based on a raffle as opposed to finishing places.

I recently returned from a trip to El Paso where a group of eight from our church did volunteer work at Lydia Patterson Institute.  It’s a great high school that primarily serves English as a second language students, most of whom live across the border in Juarez.

Late June in West Texas — it’s hot without a cloud in the sky — and we had some tough work to do.  But you didn’t hear whining from us (not much anyway) and actually there was much chatter and laughter.

We didn’t all know one another beforehand but by sharing in this work we believed in and being open to new experiences, we soon started to bond. (It also helps to have a few class clowns.)

Shared laughter creates a bond of friendships. When people laugh together, they cease to be young and old, teacher and pupils, worker and boss. They become a single group of human beings. – W. Lee Grant

Laughter can also create a shared bond at a fundraising event.  From a stand up comic show like the one that benefits Children’s Hospital in Cleveland to a big-time event like Red Nose Day, comedy themed events can be fun and raise a lot of money for a cause.

In my research and interviews for Secrets of the Charity Auction Experts, the idea that people still want to go to charity events simply to have a good time came up several times.  After all, you can go to a movie any night of the week, but a comedy show, that’s for a good cause?  That’s different.

Speaking of different, here’s a fundraiser that is really unique. Michael C. Anthony performs his comedy hypnosis show “Hypnotized” as a fundraiser for many organizations.

The show is organized by the company Raise The Funds who works with nonprofits to set up the show, provides online ticket sales, prizes and other marketing help to promote the event.  The host provides the venue, including sound system, lighting, and a technician, a sales force to ensure maximum ticket sales and volunteers on the day of the show.  This partnership can result in thousands of dollars raised, at a fun event that people will be talking about for months and years to come.

This is one my favorite video clips from Michael’s stage shows.  He convinces his (hypnotized) volunteers that a belt is a deadly snake!

So how can laughter boost the morale of your organization? A shared volunteer experience that’s positive and builds friendships? Or even a fun fundraiser that encourages giving?

There are two kinds of bowlers – those who wouldn’t miss the opportunity to play every week and those who bowl once in a blue moon just for fun. The goal of any successful bowlathon fundraiser is to merge these two groups and make money by asking bowlers to pledge a minimum amount and raise additional funds to be eligible for fundraising prizes.

In south central Pennsylvania, Furry Friends Network (FFN), an all-volunteer animal rescue group, throws an annual bowling bash in late winter aimed at raising much-needed dollars to support the organization.

Each bowler pays a minimum $40 registration fee and if he or she wishes collects pledges beyond that amount. FFN offers a T-shirt for those coming in at the $80 mark. Currently their “Strikes for Strays” bowlathon results in a net of more than $10,000, all of which goes to support their mission.

Not surprisingly, over the past six years, there have been plenty of “lessons learned” to go along with “success stories.” To help you ensure your bowl-a-thon is a strike… and not a gutter ball… here are some helpful hints and reminders based on Furry Friends Network’s experience.

Start Early

High return bowling events are not slapped together in a few weeks. In fact, it’s best if you start planning about six months in advance by calling bowling alleys in your area.

Pick a target weekend date that won’t spell disaster; for instance, you’ll want to avoid major holidays. In the case of FFN, year five’s bowl-a-thon date was pushed back to the last February in Sunday after discovering that local Big Brothers/Big Sisters chapters had major bowling events scheduled throughout March (thus making it difficult to book an alley and attract bowlers.)

Negotiate

Not a natural negotiator? Then ask for help from someone in your organization who’s not afraid to ask for the moon (but will settle for the stratosphere.) Remember – a good event is one during which each team member’s strongest attributes are capitalized upon.

Find out which alley offers the best package deal for your organization and don’t be afraid to request free shoes for all bowlers, a free soda from the bowling alley’s café, and bowling alley passes to give away as prizes.

Snag Some Donations

What would any charity event be without tons of fabulous prizes for the attendees? Again, FFN discovered through trial and error that getting giveaways is a mixture of hard work and a little luck… but mostly the former!

One of the quickest ways to gather prizes for your bowl-a-thon is to hit the streets with letters requesting donations. Typically, FFN sends or gives about 100-150, with a 5-10% return rate (and a 80-90% return rate from past donors.)

Stop by your favorite haunts, whether they be restaurants, boutiques, pet stores, pizza parlors, or grocery centers, and make your pitch. Most places will be able to tell you on the spot whether they can help out, and the others will either say, “No,” or they’ll take your letter to give to their manager or send to “corporate.” (And don’t assume that means “no”; I’ve had plenty of great prizes come to us after our letters were received by the proper persons at the companies’ headquarters.)

Bowlers Need Energy

Never underestimate the power of food to keep bowlers active, alert, and happy. If you can get food donated, great! If not, order low-cost munchies such as pizzas, subs, hot dogs, veggies and dips, or other finger foods. Avoid messy items like casseroles, salads, and soup – they are too difficult to eat in a crowded situation and the bowling alley won’t appreciate having to repeatedly clean up spills.

Though FFN never used the bowling alley’s food court to supply its meals, it may be a good option for your group depending upon how much it will cost per person.

Stir Up Some Excitement

About two months before your bowl-a-thon, it’s time to drum up some bowlers! If you have volunteers’ email addresses on file, you can “blast” an announcement to your supporters, encouraging them to sign up for the bowl-a-thon as individuals or teams. Have a registration process in place first, of course; otherwise, you’ll be overwhelmed.

Next, work on press releases and send them immediately to your local papers, television stations, and radio stations. If you aren’t sure how to write a press release, get some information online or buy a book. The most important rule is be succinct, sending them weeks before the event.

Keep in Touch

As people start registering for your event, capture their email addresses and send them weekly notes. In 2006, I made a practice of sending out fundraising tips every 4-5 days, and no one ever told me, “Gosh. I really hated those.” In fact, most people thanked me for giving them new ideas on how to raise just a few more dollars. Remember – all those pennies and quarters can really add up. In both 2006 and 2007, FFN’s top fundraiser brought in more than $1,000 on his own.

If you’re still gathering prizes at this point (and you most likely will be – we sometimes get them the day of the bowl-a-thon), you can whet your bowlers’ appetites by telling them what’s in store. Maybe that $25 gift card to Applebee’s is just what the doctor ordered to encourage someone to ask a coworker for a donation.

Have a Game Plan

A few weeks before your bowling event, develop a detailed plan of who will do what at the bowl-a-thon. Include a timeline and assign a person (or team) to each area of your event – registration, prize table(s), bowling games (if applicable), food setup, announcements, etc.

Never, never, never assign every element to one person, as a single individual cannot hope to be in all places at all times. Besides – you want to enjoy your experience!

Thanking Participants

Your event is over. It was a terrific success! It’s time to relax… almost.

There’s one final element to your bowl-a-thon – sending thank you notes to every applicable individual and company, including an email to the bowlers themselves updating them on the monies raised.

If you’re the chair of the event, you might be too exhausted to write up letters yourself; that’s why it’s critical to assign this task to someone else. Last year, a FFN hearing impaired volunteer offered to tackle this assignment because she preferred doing something “behind the scenes.”

Are You Ready to Bowl?

Though the bowl-a-thon isn’t likely to raise you a half million dollars, it can add some serious bulk to your coffers. Best of all, it’s great for almost any grassroots or seasoned non-profit that wants to try something new.