Rescue Tips - Promoting Creative Fundraisers

Selling decadent desserts in February is a surefire way to make money, says Linda Rosencrans of One by One Rescues in Blandon, PS. Ready to forego their New Year’s resolutions and indulge their sweet tooth, most people can’t resist ordering tempting flavors of cheesecakes and layer cakes.

Sales of more than 600 strawberry swirl, raspberry, chocolate chip and amaretto-flavored cheesecakes and several flavors of layer cakes made by Pellman’s Foods in nearby New Holland, PA., yielded a profit of more than $2,500 last year for the cat rescue group. “Whenever January rolls around, people start asking when they can put their orders in,” Rosencrans says.    

At other times of the year One by One Rescues sells pizza kits and cookie dough. “The key to selling food items is timing,” she says. “A lot of schools sell similar items, so it is critical that your sale does not conflict with school fundraisers.”

Calendars featuring photographs of dogs taken by volunteers, adopters and owners of Basenjis from around the country draw about 500 submissions for Basenji Rescue and Transport Inc. Members of BRAT, a nationwide Basenji rescue group, vote on their favorite photos. The results are reflected in annual sales of $40,000.

“Allowing people to participate in a contest to identify the dogs that will be in the calendar helps, to boost sales,” says Ranee Baker, a BRAT volunteer who lives in Hagerstown, MD. “We keep the production cost low by tapping into talents of our membership. One member designs the cover and another member creates the layout for the inside pages.”   

Capturing Attention
Creative fundraisers, such as selling delicious cheesecakes or calendars filled with photos of rescue dogs, capture attention and lucrative sales for rescue groups. Without fundraising many rescue groups would not be able to survive. Monies raised from fundraisers are used to support transporting animals, veterinary care, food expenses, and in some cases even boarding animals when no space is available in foster homes.    

Rescued Greyhounds from FastDogs-FastFriends Greyhound Adoption in Phoenix solicit for donations by wearing donation vests at adoption and fundraising events. The homemade vest features pockets in which people poke dollar bills. It’s not uncommon for the rescue organization to collect $100 or more stuffed into the vest pockets at a rescue event.    

“People love sticking cash in the dogs’ pockets,” says Nina Scozzari, a FastDogs-FastFriends volunteer. “It’s important to do little creative things throughout an event and to remember that every little bit helps.”

Teaming up with local Oreck store also helped FastDogs-FastFriends Greyhound Adoption to raise funds. The store manager offered to give the rescue group 15 percent of sales during a daylong fundraising event.    

FastDogs-FastFriends brought their Rally to Rescue tent and signage to the fundraiser to help draw passers-by into the store. The group also sold Rally to Rescue wristband sets. Members sent invitations to volunteers, adopters and donors, and many attended bringing their rescued Greyhounds with them. Additionally, dogs for adoption were on hand.    

“Anytime you have an opportunity to get involved with a nationally recognized company, you should jump at the chance,” Scozzari says. “We raised over $800 at the Oreck fundraiser and also got a lot of people’s attention.”   

Members of Dumpster Cat Rescue League in Kirkwood, Del., collect used cell phones and ink jet and laser printer cartridges from local business and schools to help raise money and protect the environment. They exchange them for cash by sending them to recycling companies, many of which even cover shipping and handling.    

Volunteer Sheila Schroeder promotes the effort by hanging posters at local businesses, posting information on the rescue group’s Web site, and distributing fliers at adoption events, where the recycled items also are collected. Though the money exchanged though the program varies each year, Dumpster Cat Rescue League received more than $1,000 last year and expects to make a larger profit this year.    

“This is a simple fundraiser because almost everyone has old printer cartridges or phones that they have no use for,” Schroeder says. “It’s important to let people know that this fundraiser is not only good for the environment but also helps our cats as well.”

Raising Funds of Individual Cases
Fundraising for animals that require extensive medical care can be turned into a creative endeavor. When a Greyhound named “Ross” recently required surgery for a broken leg, member of Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions in Tampa Bay, Fla., built silhouette signs of plywood showing a Greyhound with a bandage around the leg. A photo of Ross was attached to the signs, which were taken to various fundraisers. Donations began to pour in for Ross” surgery fund.    

“Even though Ross couldn’t be at the events, we were able to tell everyone his story,” says volunteer Linda Lyman. “We raised the money in less than two weeks. Our signs helped people to understand Ross’ story and showed them who they would be helping if they donated.”   

Two large fundraisers – a picnic held in the spring and one in the fall – are the primary ways that Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions raises funds. Attended by donors, volunteers and adopters, the picnics feature games, raffles, a live auction, food and breed-specific merchandise. The group reserves the location for the event months in advance and tries to make sure that no competing events are planned for the same time.    

Last year’s fall picnic had a Halloween theme with attendees participating in a costume contest. “Since all or our picnics have different themes, it makes each event fun and different,” Lyman says. “By changing the themes, people get excited about going.”   

Advance planning can help to cut costs, Lyman notes. “On the invitation for the event, we list items that are needed. We usually get more than what we ask for so our expenses in holding the even are minimal. If you plan ahead, you are able to save money and not buy things at the last minute.”   

The most important thin in holding fundraisers is to show gratitude to those who donate their time or money, Lyman advises. “I send out thank-you notes with pictures from the event. If people know that you are grateful for their contributions, they will be more inclined to help in the future.”

Used with permission from Rally to Rescue, Nestle Purnia PetCare Company.