Fundraising Ideas 

 

                                                                                 Summary

 

Many neighbours have contributed to this task and have posted very useful ideas. Here is a summary of them.

 

How to raise funds?

 

1.      A possibility can be to arrange cultural or sport events, concerts and other activities. A part of every ticket price goes to the school building.

 

2.      Fundraising by recycling for charity is an often used way to raise money.

 

Almost everything goes to sell: clothes (used but clean and still in very good condition), books, postcards, souvenirs, whatever people donate for using for vulnerable children. 

 

3.      An other possibility is in business terms called “corporate responsibility”. That is that corporations or businesses have a certain obligation towards the community they work in. It is in their contracts. Find out what the businesses in the area are, what are their responsibilites , and what they do to fulfil them. Some do this by contributing to charities or schools, others by volunteering in their communities. Maybe, we could try to take advantage of this for our project. They may be able to assist in an indirect way, but at this point anything is acceptable.

 

4.      Funds can be raised by using technology, specifically, sms messages in cell phones, or by telephone calls to call centers. A sum (for ex. 1 euro) can be taken for each message from phone accounts.  Each euro is equal with  one brick for the school. 1 sms=1 euro= 1 brick.

 

5.      The community could find ideas for its income generating activity(soap making was at least earlier mentioned ), maybe it could be something else , too?

 

6.      A possibility could be the contact some microfinance institutions which might be able to help. For ex. http://www.yehu.org/index.php%3FItemid=1html

 

7.      Maybe we could  break down the needs of the school and apply for funds separetely, ie. apply for funds to provide clean water or electricity, toilets separetaly, one classroom separetaly.  Maybe some involved neighbours could take responsibility for a class room (3,000 USD) or for several classrooms by collecting money ( for ex. by recycling for charity, house parties with friends, collegues and so one) each one  in his/ her own country?

 

8.      A collection taken up at church, donation boxes placed in shops in Nairobi( probably need owner's permission.) could also be a possibility for fundraising. Many small sums will be a lot.

 

9.     A house party. You invite people to your house for snacks and refreshments, telling them the purpose is for Matopeni school project. Serve refreshments, talk about Kenya and project. If you have photos, or video of a trip there, show it. Then ask friends to kindly donate, whatever they can for school or sponsorship. Works everywhere, if you like you can make it more special by serving African foods or beverages or playing African music.

 

10.  An interesting way to raise money is “affinity buttons”, the click to donate things.
You place a button on the website, that refers to a vendor. There are many to choose   from. Everytime someone clicks the advert, a small amount is dontated to ngo.

 

11.   Here's a list of fun fundraising ideas from Oxfam. They use these for their organization, but they could be easily adapted for anything. http://www.oxfam.org.uk/what_you_can_do/give_to_oxfam/fundraising/ideas/index.htm

12.   Still we could continue to approach organizations, there are several we didn’t contact yet. We need to draft enquiry letter according to information.

 

13.  A well working site for Matopeni friends and Quarry Children is necessary. It must be possible to donate money direct on that site. The marketing of site is also very important. It can be done through e-mail , through attaching the link every mail we send.