School Fundraisers Without Sales Or Stress – Funds2Orgs Shoe Drive

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My youngest went back to school yesterday. When he came home I found the paperwork for the first fundraiser of the year. I saw shaking my head. As a parent and longtime member of the PTO or PTa, I totally recognize that funds do need to be raised for the school. But, the idea of buying another overprice candle (roll of wrapping paper, cookies, whatever the fundraiser of the day is selling) does annoy me a bit. I don’t mind giving and helping. I mind that it’s all so ridiculously overpriced. I recently learned of a different kind fund raiser and I am sharing that information with you with permission.

Fundraising Ideas That Do So Much for So Many

By: Wayne Elsey

Fundraising ideas can go beyond what you already do for your school or educational group. What if I said you can raise money and make a global impact? It’s possible.

The world has suffered through many global natural disasters: the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti to name a few. It was those disasters where I saw poverty and need first-hand. I led efforts that shipped over 17 million shoes to people affected. I’ve placed shoes on the feet of an elderly man who never owned a pair of shoes in his life. I know of a mother who bartered away a pair of shoes for a goat to feed her baby. I remember a young man with sneakers two sizes too small. I came to know that fact because I saw his sneakers were taped together and I asked him why.

All the while I was learning. As a father, I remembered how I did not like selling candy and cookie dough. I also recalled how my daughter’s schools and clubs were in need of creative fundraising ideas. It was a constant struggle. As a global philanthropist and change-agent, I came to understand “donor fatigue.” Families don’t want to constantly be asked for money to support a worthy cause. There had to be a better way.

I was given the opportunity to develop a for-profit that sought to change the fundraising model. With my team, we built Funds2Orgs. It’s grown to be the leading shoe drive fundraising social enterprise in North America. It’s also got an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau, and you can see what others are saying for yourself.

We know our shoe drive partners have to raise money in a unique and creative way. So, we’ve developed a proven model for shoe drive fundraising that’s worked for thousands. There’s no need for anyone to open their wallet. We issue a check at the end of the shoe fundraiser based on the total weight of the shoes. That means the more shoes you collect, the more money you make. Families and donors appreciate knowing all they have to do is give you their gently worn, used and new shoes.

We’ve committed ourselves to service – with no out-of-pocket costs. We know most schools and nonprofits operate with tight budgets.

• You receive the shoe collection, promotion, and marketing materials.
• You get a team of fundraising coaches to work with you from start to finish.
• We pick up the shoes you collect from your location.
• At the completion of your shoe drive fundraiser, we issue you a check within 2 business days of the shoes being received and processed at our warehouse.

Funds2Orgs has three core principles that set us apart from the rest. We think of it as a three-legged stool:

1. Our shoe drive fundraiser is a creative way to engage people. No one has to ask for money. No one has to open their wallet. The currency is shoes. We issue the check.
2. The shoes collected are shipped to micro-entrepreneurs (small business owners) all over the world. Our philosophy is to give people a hand-up as opposed to only a hand-out.
3. A shoe drive gives us a socially responsible way to be good to the environment. Over 600 million shoes are disposed of in landfills across our country. We can do better. Our shoe drive fundraisers help us all do better.

Want to know how our creative fundraising ideas from Funds2Orgs can help you?