How & Where Can We Do It? TABLING!!!


	So that concert was more work than you realized, and it only raised $50. You know you need to raise money, but you're already putting so much time into organizing you just don't have any left for fundraising. Here's a secret: Organizing and fundraising are the same thing! Here are ideas to incorporate fundraising into work you're probably already doing…tabling. That is, putting a table with AI literature in front of a high traffic area and asking people to sign a letter or petition for human rights. While you're asking people to free a POC, you can also ask for a donation to keep the organization going. These ideas don't require a table, but why not free POC's & raise money at the same time? Just Ask For It Ask every petition signer/letter writer to donate a dollar (or even spare change) with their signature to pay for postage. A high traffic area like in front of the campus library, supermarket, bookstore or farmers market can generate a couple hundred signatures in a day. If even half of the signers gave a dollar, your free hotel room at the regional conference would be paid for and so would the postage. Jug for Justice Always put out a donation jar at your table. For some reason, a 5-gallon jug (like the one on water coolers) works best. Put AI stickers all over it, make it a sight that can't be missed! Put a sign near it explaining where the money goes. Then even those who don't take time to read a petition will still know you need the dough. Car Washes and/or Bake Sales Find a busy street corner, fill a bucket, get a sign, and start washing. Passersby will pay to have someone else clean their car. Ask for a donation ($3 suggested but give what you like) and people will give in astounding amounts. For every cheapskate that gives $1 there will be 10 that give $5. And at least one that will give $20. For added bang, have a table with baked goods (either made by volunteers or store bought) for sale. Don't forget the AI literature, petitions and membership sign-up. You can easily make between $100-$200 in one day just from the car wash. If someone in your group really knows how to make a good cookie, you could add another $50 to $100. Write-A-Thons Get 10 friends or relatives to sponsor you in a letter writing event. Just like any other "a-thon" you promise to write letters and they pledge for each letter with a maximum. Ten is a good round number. So if your group gets 10 people to get 10 sponsors each who will give $10 ($1 for 10 letters written), you can raise $1000. Make sure you have the letter writing event in a public place (like a bookstore or café), have food and invite everyone (including the media). You can do the whole project in four weeks. Meaningful Crafts Local group members involved in a Guatemala action sat at their table and made "worry dolls" out of Popsicle sticks and yarn. Passersby were happy to pay $1 for such a unique and meaningful craft. Weird Cool Stuff One college group charged people 50 cents to hug 8-week-old puppies. The group made $100 in one day and the puppies grew up to be extremely well adjusted, happy dogs. Of course, if there are no spare puppies lying around waiting to be petted at the time you're tabling, think of something else that raises people's spirits for just a few moments. How about Buy a Compliment?