The Environmental Education Advocate - Summer 1997
The following information is provided to you as a service of the National Environmental Education Advancement Project (NEEAP). We encourage you to use it and please credit the National Environmental Education Advancement Project where appropriate.
Fundraising is a key component in efforts to build state capacity for environmental education. To aid state leaders in these efforts, NEEAP recently asked its EE 2000 state team members to provide our newsletter readers with examples of sucessful fundraising strategies. Mary Rice of the Illinois EE Advancement Consortium responded. The Illinois team's example shows that you can have fun while fundraising.
As a result of the Leadership Clinic at Treehaven in May of 1996, the Illinois contingent (IEEAC) realized that, much as we might not like to, we needed to get involved in FUNDRAISING, so we presented a mini-workshop on fundraising at our next meeting. We brainstormed ways we, as a group of environmental educators, could raise money. Ideas ranged from a cook-off, to a bake sale, to guided walks at various sites, and a benefit performance. We decided to pursue the benefit performance and one member volunteered to become the chair of a small steering committee.
In all serendipitous events, many disconnected strands come together to create success! The chair had a contact with an entertainer willing to donate his time to good causes. With the commitment of this performer, the event was off to a good start! The evening consisted of a wine and cheese social (the cheese was donated) and silent auction followed by the performance. The donated items ranged from overnight accommodations at hotels, to gift certificates for wine tasting, a dinner for two, a ropes course, members to a local arboretum and botanical garden, books, prints, pottery, and more! We also offered a sponsorship package that provided several levels of monetary participation.
We netted about $1,800. Most of that money came as a result of the silent auction. All of the items brought in either face value, or more. It was the first time in the state that such an event was held for environmental education.
Certain components of the fundraiser proceeded smoothly and easily. These included:
The rental and partial donation of a facility in which to hold the event
The choice of date
The design of the invitation
The partial donation of the printing costs Advertising in newspapers, state newsletters, radio and television
Other components were tedious, most difficult being the compilation of a mailing list. Working from approximately 15 different lists, we mailed close to 1,000 invitations, many to board members and staff from our various institutions. We learned that the cost of producing and mailing an elegant invitation, as well as the time involved in handwriting the addresses was not worth the effort! Approximately 70 guests came to the fundraiser - all of them personal contacts of the IEEAC membership. We could have accomplished the same without all the added work.
The entire procedure was a learning experience. We learned that fundraising:
Can be Fun!...Builds community!...Is NOT overwhelming!... Raises consciousness!...and...Is Do-a-ble!
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