No doubt, in these difficult economic times where millions are still unemployed and families are struggling, volunteerism is down, as well as donations, and I don’t expect to see recession end anytime soon.

What I researched was all the fundraisers which actually save people money, not cost them money, and I found nothing that fit the times and was recession proof. When I found and researched this unique new fundraiser, I had almost given up in my search.

Simply put, no one likes to sell the traditional overpriced candy, cookies, pizza dough, wrapping paper, discount cards, or more expensive campaigns of raffles or carnivals, and I have done them all. With fewer volunteers due to economy, fewer people with spare time to donate, things are getting worse, not better. When my daughter selling half the girl scout cookies this year over last, this says it all to me.

If you could offer your volunteers an incentive worth thousands which everyone should have, and few can afford, would this help your fundraisers results with more volunteers? When you can offer the average family up to $100K legacy life benefit, plus access to health medical RX benefit plans, how many families would be helped by the above? Again, verified value is what people are looking for, not overpriced products which have been used in traditional fundraisers for decades.

If you do not like selling, then learn about the concept of telling and sharing the value of peace of mind for your family. For any NPO or any charity fundraiser, ones which focus on Christian values, children outreach, bullying, child protection services, internet education, helping homeless, feeding the hungry, combined with many more money saving benefits of membership, nothing is easier to share with others than saving money while helping others. People helping people is our mission, raising unlimited funds is our goal for all non profit organizations.

Join-Free to learn more and receive an instant free custom website to promote.

God Bless All,

I'm dismayed not so much by the manipulation or integrity of the 'system,' but that the system exists at all. We're all fully functionally aware of how it works – both Gregg and Mary make valid points (albeit from two sides of the same coin). It's easy to imagine that they both work/ed at the exact same shop with such widely variant opinions.

I too, have been employed in this crazy biz long enough to have seen the excesses and the blessings created within the D.R. world. But my angst over the matter runs hot and cold; maybe I'm just too crusty to care about it anymore. On the one hand, everyone who receives 'junk mail' has the same right to trash it (before or after opening) as they do to hit the remote control and not watch the shows that generate the paper.

On the other hand, when are we (as an industry) going to finally realize there is a better…far, far better way?

I appreciate your comments… and would love to hear the "better way."

Every one of us modifies how we communicate to someone if we want a certain response from them.

Most husbands know that the night they want their wives to look at them in a romantic way is not the night they they bring out the details of overspending on the family budget.

Now I do agree with Gregg when it is abused.  I think of one guy in Texas opening his letters with:

"Mary, God woke me up at 2:12 AM last night to pray for you …Mary, He gave me a word for you…"  Makes me sick!  especially since God always seems to tell him that I am supposed to send in $1000.

That is so different than noticing (via a datbase) that someone never orders tapes of any subject …and therefore only offer them books in future mailings.

There is a right way to use this info– don't lump us all together.

“I am suggesting we become informed givers. Don’t be a ministry zombie and give on impulse – for any reason. Give because you’ve researched a ministry, believe in what it’s doing in the world, have confirmed it’s integrity and track record, and then prayed about the gift.”

I agree

Is it wrong to ask for money to support ministry? No, Paul did it frequently in the epistles. And He let Timothy know that ministers deserve to be paid for their work. I think marketing from a Christian world view needs to be focused on informing donors where there money is going and how it is being used. In the end, its not the ministries money, but the Lord’s. 1 Corinthians is clear that we should not give out of impulse or guilt, but out of love and thanksgiving to God. Sure we need to communicate to our audience in appropriate and effective ways, but purposed manipulation should not be a method of fund-raising. Communicate the effectiveness of the ministry, share the need, and let God do the rest. Consider the following verses:

1 Timothy 5:17- 18: “Elders who do their work well should be paid well, especially those who work hard at both preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not keep an ox from eating as it treads out the grain.” And in another place, “Those who work deserve their pay!”

2 Corinthians 8:11b-12 “Give whatever you can according to what you have. If you are really eager to give, it isn’t important how much you are able to give. God wants you to give what you have, not what you don’t have.

2 Corinthians 9:7 You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don’t give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.

mattbob83.blogspot.com

Mary, you have my respect. You’re in the business. Doing the work. It’s so easy from people on the sidelines to tell how it should be. Thanks for your challenging comments and for striving to do fundraising in a Christlike way. Keep it up!