- Fundraising - Sponsorship - Donations -

The "40 Days and 40 Nights" mission is a journey of approximately 781 miles - we hope to collectively raise, with all Team Funding, Sponsorship, On-line Donations etc, ambitiously €1,000 per mile. While we have an overall mission target there is no individual Team target. We welcome Teams to raise as much funds as possible in their own creative ways.

*While there is an A-Z of fundraising ideas: From A for Aircraft Jump: to Z for Zoo Treasure Hunt:
The TED40 epic lends itself to the wildest imagination for fundraising projects:

• Host a Mrs Doyle Tea-Party:
• A Father Ted Pub Quiz:
• An Evening with Father Jack Party:
• A Father Dougal Knitting Competition:
• Host your own Eurovision Song Contest:
• Even push the "Craggy Island Milk Float" around Ireland:
• ...the list can go on... go on... go on...

A - Individual Teams - Engage your friends, family even the Milkman to support your Team.

B - Corporate - Work with your organisation to creatively support your Team Fundraising efforts.

Suggest the following:

• Match the Funds the Team raise.
• Include TED40 in your "Charity of the Year Programs" for 2008.
• Divert the Xmas Card budget to the campaign and advise your clients.
• Include your Company Xmas Party as a TED40 fundraiser.
• Seek the support and input of your clients, suppliers, etc.
• Support TED40 as a New Year's Resolution

C - Community - Work with a local School, College or Sports Club to adopt your Team and support the "TED40" nationwide mission.

D - Sponsorship- Don't be shy - seek companies for sponsorship and brand your team - we will link their logo and website on the Ted40.com website.

Note:-For record purposes please return all sponsorship cards completed or not to;

Down Syndrome Ireland, City link Business Park, Old Naas Road, Dublin 12.

For further details please contact Padraic on 086-2203-159 or padraic@downsyndrome.ie. Please advise us of your fundraising events and we will post them on www.TED40.com. Thank you.

Table Quiz

Table Quizzes are very popular and can be a very good source of fundraising as well as a lot of fun. Here's how:

1. Get in touch with your local pub/sporting club and ask them for the use of their premises for a table quiz. You don't want to pay for this, so sell it to them on the basis that you will be bringing lots of people and business there for the evening.
2. Spread the word as much as possible that you are having a charity table quiz and encourage everyone to get a team of 4 or 5 together. Charge something like €25/€30 per team.
3. Organise somebody to set the questions and to act as MC for the night. It is entirely up to you to decide how many questions/rounds you have. You can set the questions by either using one of the many books available or the pub might know of a local question master that they recommend (you will probably have to pay him/her). You also need a few friends to help you out on the night itself. You should have at least two people correcting the questions and marking the scoreboard and two more floating around the teams collecting the sheets etc.
4. You can make a lot of money by holding a raffle. Get as many prizes sponsored as you can - bottles of wine and spirits, weekends away and similar items are very popular. Get your MC to appeal to everyone to buy as many tickets as they can and then hold the raffle at the end of the night.
5. Try and get the winning prizes for the quiz sponsored as well. You may wish to offer a cash prize for the winning team to generate interest.
7. Don't forget to bring lots of cloakroom tickets for the raffle and make sure you have a board to mark up all the scores. People get quite competitive and like to see how they are doing!!
8. Enjoy the night!!

Bag Packing at the Supermarket

Bag packing has become a very lucrative form of fundraising in recent years. Generally it is best to pick a busy time (Saturday afternoon) in a large Supermarket.

1. Write to your local supermarket asking permission for a bag packing day or evening. Make sure to enclose information about the charities (we can always supply you with extra leaflets/posters etc.).
2. When you receive permission we can provide you with buckets and bibs for you and your helpers.
3. You need to round up as many friends and colleagues to help. If the supermarket has 12 checkouts, try and get 12 people to help you. If you can't cover every checkout leave a collection bucket on the unattended ones anyway as people see the work you are doing and will be happy to contribute
4. Get your people there on time and enjoy the day!!

Raffles

Raffles are a very effective way of raising money. A raffle can be an extra way of generating money at another event (e.g. dinner, pub quiz) or can be a stand alone event. Generally, if you have a large prize it is worth making the raffle open to the public. If you have a valuable prize you need to raise enough money to cover all the costs and avoid 'giving away' the prize.

• Do I need a permit? All public raffles require a permit obtained from the Gardai. There are restrictions on the number of permits issued (limit is one in a six month period).
• I am holding a raffle during the pub quiz, do I need a permit? If you are selling tickets for a raffle as part of a pub quiz / race night/ match in a private venue or just at work then it is not strictly open to the public and a permit is not normally needed.
• Should I hold a private draw or a public raffle? If you have a large prize (e.g. a holiday or computer), you should try to sell as many tickets as possible to get a good return so a public raffle would be better. If your prizes are smaller (e.g.: box of chocolates / wine / tickets to concerts) then a private draw would be better.
• What should I charge for the tickets? Charge what the market will bear and take any costs into account. Raffle tickets are best sold in groups e.g. 5 for €1 or 6 for €5 rather than singly at 20c or €1 each. Obviously if you have a big prize you can charge more for the tickets.
• Should I get the tickets printed? All public raffles need tickets printed with sequential numbers - not impossible to do yourself, but it takes work. It is best to get them done by a printer. We can advise you on printing and artwork. The cost of printing and any promotion of the raffle will need to be budgeted in when planning your raffle.
• Where can I buy raffle tickets? All good stationers will supply books of raffle tickets.
• Is it a good idea to give a seller's prize? Yes if you are holding a public raffle - it encourages others to sell tickets. If you are planning to do this, seek a prize for the seller when you look for prizes. The seller's prize can be the person who sold the winning ticket or the person who sold the most tickets
• Do I need a letter of authorisation? When asking businesses for prizes it helps if you have some form of letter authorising you to collect prizes for a raffle on behalf of the charities. All team members have been supplied with general authorisation letters
• Where can I get prizes for a raffle? Businesses are often asked for prizes and many will have a clear policy e.g. only giving to contacts (staff/colleagues), local causes or those charities with whom they will have a personal contact. To obtain a prize, ideally talk to someone in the business who knows you or who may have a 'relationship' with you or your work. Follow up the phone call with a letter so that the business has something on file confirming the offer to donate and arrangements for collecting the prize and enclosing a copy of the letter of authorisation. The larger supermarkets will have a policy on giving spot prizes, you should apply to the courtesy desk in the first instance. Supermarkets will also need a letter of authorisation.
• Do I need to publish the results? Yes, for large public raffles, but not private raffles.
• Looking after the money. First deduct any expenditure you have before sending in the money.
• And Finally... Please thank everyone who helped: those who donated prizes and those who sold tickets. Most importantly, thank you, as we do appreciate all the hard work you have put into collecting the money.

Street Collections

Collecting money from the general public in streets or public places is a profitable way of raising funds. Any public collection needs a permit issued by the Gardai. To make your street collection successful you have to consider:

• Do you want to collect money or 'give' badges in return for a €1.50/€2 donation? Generally receiving €1.50/€2 for the badge can be easier for collecting and later for counting, but both systems do work.
• What equipment is needed? A collecting box, badges if they are used, your permit (see below), some information on the charities and a bib for identification.
• Where do you want to collect? As the estate agent says it's location, location, location - the same applies to street collections. There are good street locations and there are good shopping centres. As a number of charities can be collecting on any one street at any one time, it means that getting to the good spot on the street means being on the street early. Getting a good shopping centre location is different. Each shopping centre will have their own management company or in the case of those centres dominated by one shop, then that shop will determine the policy. Normally shopping centres/large stores will only allow one charity to collect on any one day. So again the practise of first come first served applies. Collect where you are known - acquaintances are less likely to walk past you!
• When do you want to collect? Firstly, try to avoid clashing with large charity collections like "Honey Days". To collect in a shopping centre or at the entrance/exit of the large shops, you will need to apply for permission from the manager of the shopping centre. It's quite likely that the date when you want to collect is not available, so be flexible. Ask which dates are free and choose one of those. Weekends are the best times.
• Do I need a permit to collect? All public collection will require a permit. To obtain a permit, you will need to apply to the Gardai. The application form is brief but requires details of where/when you are collecting and who you will be collecting for. The application form can be obtained form any Garda Station but will need to be returned to your local Garda Station. They are generally very helpful about issuing a permit in time for the collection.
• My friends are helping me, do they need a permit too? Everyone who is taking part in the collection will need a copy of the permit indicating the details of who authorised the permit, their names and contact details.
• How many people do I need to do a collection? Simply, the more the better. There is no rule about how many people you need. Some people have raised significant amounts of money by collecting with just a friend or two. It is always better to have company, so try to have at least one friend with you. The more collectors you have the more chance you have of raising significant amounts of money.
• Is there a knack to collecting? Yes, you need to be assertive and good humoured without being intrusive or a nuisance. Passive collecting or being a statue with a collection box just doesn't work.
• Do I need any gimmicks? No, but it can help. Having a stand may not only be a nuisance but can be a contravention of the bylaws. So bring only what you can carry - but think of how you can make yourself stand out. Put on a pair of butterfly wings. Bring your dog - use your imagination!!
• How old do I need to be? You should be 16 years old before collecting.
• What do I do when I have finished collecting? Discreetly put your collecting box/bucket into a bag to conceal it and return to a secure location. It is recommended that you open the box in the company of another person. Count and bag your money and then for further details on lodging the payment please contact us on no. (01) - 6776856 and all the necessary information will be provided. Lodgements can be made at any bank. If lodging large amounts of money, it helps if you can obtain a supply of plastic coin bags from any bank ahead of time. All banks accept lodgements of coinage but they do have to be in specified amounts as given on the front of all bags. When you have made a lodgement please phone and e-mail the office to let us know how much you have lodged and which team it is from. padraic@downsyndrome.ie
• And Finally... We thank you, as we do appreciate all the hard work you have put into collecting the money!!

Fundraising works at Work

Many of these ideas are not new but they are tried and tested ideas that do work. You do need to plan the event/activity and if you are unsure about what to do, just ring . Don't forget, we can also give you extra sponsorship cards, posters, for the event.

When seeking funds or support from your employer:

Before you ask for money, firstly find out what is your company's policy with regard to support for charities

• Does it take on only one charity a year
• Does it have a charity committee
• Does it have a fixed amount that it gives to charities based on the merit of applications by charities
• Does it give preference to applications for funds that are either supported by staff or presented by staff
• Does it have a preference for a particular type of charity? Find out the guidelines.
• Does it match funds that staff members raise in support of charity
• Does is donate goods in kind rather than money

Most employers, big or small, will have a policy (even if informal), find out what the policy is first, as it will tell you what opportunities there are for fundraising directly or indirectly within your company.

Raising money from your workmates

• As a rule of thumb, anything that is funny/embarrassing will work. Get your boss on side and do a head shave. Rig up some stocks and charge people €5+ to pelt you both with wet sponges...
• Involve as many of your workmates as possible. Get baby/child photos of everyone and charge people to match the photos to the workers.
• Have a dress down / denim day...take a pet to work day...wear a hat day...etc
• Liven up the lunch hour; have a mini fashion show with staff taking part, get a florist in for a demonstration, organise facials, a massage session, an advice session on photography, gardening, cooking etc...
• Have a coffee morning, run a raffle, have a swear box/collection box.
• Have a book/video/CD sale - get everyone to bring in those unwanted gifts etc. Organise an area to hold the sale at work and everyone gains.
• Do a fundraising activity after work but target your mates to attend; e.g. race night, pub quiz, fashion show.
• Sports activities are very popular, organise a football/tennis competition or marathon.
• Are your work skills marketable outside of the workplace? Can you give your time/services free to others on the understanding that they make a 'donation'?

Most importantly - ENJOY yourself and THANK YOU!!

Thanking "Challenges 4 Charity" for sharing the above guidelines & wisdom.

© Challenges 4 Charity 2007.