The Alternative Gift Market held this weekend at DeVargas Mall in Santa Fe was a HUGE success. The group of 12 volunteers raised close to $30,000 over the weekend following two weeks of raising local attention through print, radio, social and online media, and lots of good old-fashioned calling on friends to share your passion. The donations are spread among five local organizations and multiple international organizations through Alternative Gifts International. Executive Director of AGI, Tony Princ, came in from Wichita, Kansas and worked side-by-side with us through the whole weekend. More specifics to come in my follow up posting after everyone gets some rest.
This success simply confirms what I feel quite strongly is the key to fundraising: don’t be afraid to ask for donations. The joy and excitement that filled that storefront all weekend emanated equally from the “sellers” and the “buyers” and many people were extremely moved by the plight of the people they could help with a donation. I heard people saying things like “Shall we get the hens or the pigs?” for their grand kids. There was a sense of shared purpose and hope. It felt great. We even had storytelling and reading for the kids.
I’m reminded of a quote from a book I read recently by a top professional fundraiser, Sandy Rees. She says:
Make a commitment to fundraising: One of the first things you must do if you want to attract more donors and raise more money is to actually make time for fundraising. Too many people put fundraising on the back burner, because they think something else is more important or they don’t like fundraising. Maybe they don’t know how to manage their priorities so they do the easy things first regardless of how important they are…
Get Fully Funded: How to Raise the Money of Your Dreams 14 © Sandy Rees, 2011
Happy Holidays!!
Irene