☔️ Happy April 🌈

Welcome to the April 2023 issue of the FUNdraising Geek Newsletter! The premiere newsletter for #FundraisingTips, #SocialMediaTips, and #FeaturedCharities

#FUNdraisingTips

This month's fundraising tip is all about selling products and services to raise money for your cause! How about a good old fashioned lemonade stand? 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋 🍋

Here are few more ideas, most of which I have participated in by either selling or buying...

• Fun accessories - stickers, pins, buttons, shoe charms 💜🌼🌈

• Bake sale - chocolate covered pretzels, chex mix, cookies, brownies, cupcakes 🧁🍪🥨

• Branded gear - socks, t-shirts, hats 🧢🧦👚

• Services - baby sitting, lawn care, laundry, errands, car wash 🧽🪣🌳

• Brunch fundraiser - waffles, bagels, mimosas, bloody mary bar 🧇🥯🥂

Many restaurant chains will dedicate a day to your fundraiser by donating a percentage of their sales for the day. A few examples include...

• Panera Bread

• Krispy Kreme Donuts

• Chipotle Mexican Grill

• Lou Malnati's Pizza

Also, check in with your favorite local, independent restaurants, coffee shops, and retail stores. If you are a regular with a good relationship, your local establishments may host a fundraiser for your cause. It doesn't hurt to ask!

Many chain restaurants, as well as some local restaurants use the platform GroupRaise to coordinate fundraising efforts.

Explore retailers who do online fundraisers for your cause.

• Pampered Chef 

• Thirty One Gifts

• Flower Power Fundraising

• Bonfire custom products

Here's an example of a Krispy Kreme fundraiser:

Here's an example of a t-shirt sale on Bonfire:

#SocialMediaTips

Where do I put the link to my fundraising page? In the post? In the comments? In my bio?

Well, it depends...

😎 Facebook and LinkedIn, instead of putting a link in your post, use an eye catching photo or video (no links) and invite your followers to check out the #LinkInComments👇 and then, of course, put the link in the first comment of the post.

🐦 On Twitter, you can put the link in your tweet and in your bio! If you want to maximize your 240 characters, be sure to use Bitly to shorten links.

📸 Instagram, however, does not like links in comments - they are not clickable and look a bit sloppy. Instead, be sure to put the link to your fundraiser in your profile. That's where the hashtags #LinkInBio☝️ OR #LinkInProfile☝️come in handy. You can also add one link in Instagram stories.

TL;DR*

• Facebook - #LinkInComments👇

• LinkedIn - #LinkInComments⬇️

• Twitter - shorten links with bitly.com

• Instagram - ☝️#LinkInProfile☝️

• Instagram - one link in Instagram stories

• In your profile or bio on all.the.platforms!

#FeaturedCharity

April's featured charity is the Sunbow Foundation!☀️🌈☂️

"A Sunbow is the spectrum of color created by the sun emerging after the rain has ended. To us, it means doing an act of kindness to end the rain and bring out the sun. Our aim is to provide respite to the storm and give cause for joy." - Marie Jarrell, Founder

The Sunbow Foundation is a 501(c)3 charity that performs acts of kindness for those in need. These acts of kindness assist people in difficult situations such as illness and financial challenges by answering a need.

I am currently running a Flower Power Fundraiser for the Sunbow Foundation to benefit a dear friend who is in treatment for her third cancer diagnosis, and 50% of the Flower Power orders go to the Sunbow Foundation to provide support and to help to ease the financial burden that comes with this type of diagnosis and treatment.

Thank you for reading! 💜 If you'd like help out this little fledgling of a newsletter, please share with your friends and other fundraisers via email and all the social media!

Connie Bickford, Chief Geek

💜 Join the FUN on the FUNdraisingGeek Facebook page! 💜

*TL;DR = Too Long; Didn't Read