Hi guys - this probably should have been in fundraising, but it's not, sorry :D

This is my 3rd year doing the ride and donor fatigue is a real concern!!  We've pulled just about every cent we can out of our friends and family and we are being forced to look for new and creative ways to raise the money.   Concerts sure... pub nights great... but really, we're still inviting the same people to the same events.

Anyway - I wanted to suggest a couple things and pitch an idea I have to the group incase anyone is interested.

In November 2009 we posted an ad on Craigslist offering puppy sitting in exchange for online donations to our ride.  We made it clear that we didn't want any money for the service and instead wanted them to donate what they thought was fair to our ride.  With Christmas and the Olympics we brought a lot of doggies thru our doors and raised more than $2000 just by playing with someones dog for a few days!  YAY!!  We already have return pups from last year gracing our doggie den and are loving having the pups to play with.  It's a cheap alternative to expensive doggie hotels, great low stress way to board dogs and a pretty fun way to fund raise.  If you think this is a great idea, by all means offer the service and see who bites (pardon the pun)!  Average donation was about $100 for a weekend stay but I did not set a price

New in 2011 we're starting to offer Mothers Day Gifts and would like to open up the offer of ordering these now to all of you!  We would like to offer to build BIRD BAT or BEE (mason bee) homes for you to give to your darling mothers on their special day.  Fully by donation, hand crafted, painted and wrapped for you!  Tell your friends and family and help us to get to our goal!  Please if you like the idea - take this idea and see what you can do with it!! but please don't take our client base:)....  

Think of a service or a creative thing that you can do easily and offer it to your friends, neighbors and coworkers!  Know how to spin a pottery wheel (or know someone who does?) then offer custom mugs... good photographer? Offer mothers day family photos!  Hair dresser?  Dude... I totally need a haircut and I'd love to make a donation!  My brother is a carpenter who can't afford to donate much but wants to help... so i asked him to build bird houses; all I have to do is paint them, ship them and collect the donations!  Oh and if anyone knows a pro chef... valentines dinners!! 

Never under estimate the power of posting an idea to craigslist and seeing what it gets you!!

Good luck everyone - message me with your orders or drop me an email
aimeejewell@shaw.ca

PS - I'm thinking about opening an ETSY site but would need more items so if you're trying something along these lines let me know and we can go together on the etsy thing.  I would hazard a guess they would highlight us in no time!