| Ask any person needing to raise funds out of | | | | upon donations; it does rely completely on |
| nowhere how they plan to do it and they'll invariably | | | | participation. Individual participation that benefits the |
| come up with a list of ideas which all involve asking | | | | whole, where you are asked to spend a small |
| people to donate in one way or another - be it time, | | | | amount of money on a regular basis for the good of |
| money, goods, or any combination of those. | | | | the group - while you yourself get the benefit of |
| How many boxes of cookies, raffle tickets and door | | | | that worthwhile purchase. |
| knock appeals have you paid for that had nothing to | | | | Sort of like a "modern-day" version of the old |
| do with raising money for something? None, right? I | | | | multi-level or network marketing idea, where profit |
| don't know about you, but much as I'd like to help, I | | | | sharing occurs, yet with the "big difference" being |
| really get tired of people asking for donations. | | | | that these days, it is done online and nobody has to |
| Whether you are raising funds for a sick person who | | | | go selling soap powder, or cosmetics, or anything at |
| needs treatment, a high school sporting team that | | | | all, to their friends. Because these days it is utilised as |
| wants to travel to a competitive event, or a charity | | | | an investment strategy, rather than a home business |
| you believe in, it is difficult to get away from the | | | | strategy. |
| need to ask people to donate. | | | | It is simply the strategy of forming an "investment |
| In fact, the reason for this article is because rashly I | | | | alliance" and investing in a profit-sharing membership |
| offered to host an event to raise funds for an | | | | subscription, in return for which the participant |
| organisation I wish to help, and found myself a little | | | | receives online goods and services, free advertising |
| stumped, because I have only recently moved to this | | | | of their own events, free web page, ebooks, music - |
| state and do not yet know many people I can invite | | | | including free songs you can download anytime you |
| or ask to participate. | | | | want, online courses and more, including a share in |
| So how can I follow through and raise a meaningful | | | | the revenues generated by the members, and even |
| contribution? | | | | the option to sell your own products. It fits well with |
| As I thought about it, I thought of other ways I'd | | | | high school fundraising. Kids everywhere these days |
| like to help the community or the world. | | | | love to download free songs to their ipods every |
| 1. Surf Life Savers | | | | month. Legally, what's more. |
| 2. Pandas and other endangered species, WWF | | | | These people are raising some serious money. |
| 3. Amnesty International | | | | So let me ask you... Would you be willing to support |
| 4. A lady I saw on the news who cares for animals | | | | the beneficiary of your choice by joining a |
| injured on the roads | | | | membership that you even stand to profit from |
| 5. Parents, Children, Grandchildren | | | | yourself? |
| 6. Seniors and Disabled | | | | If you asked me that question, my response would |
| 7. Research into breast health and other women's | | | | be two questions; "What do I have to do?" and |
| health issues | | | | "How would I profit?" |
| 8. Many more... and me, while I'm at it! | | | | So here's what you need to do |
| You'll have your own list... People everywhere want | | | | 1. Purchase a membership subscription for $15 joining |
| money. | | | | fee and $15 per month - that's just 50 cents a day |
| I want to do something to help them all long term so | | | | 2. Maintain this subscription for twelve months, or until |
| they don't have to suffer the indignities of continually | | | | it is self-funding and requires no further cash input |
| putting their hands out asking for money. | | | | from you - you are free to cancel at any time, but in |
| You see, although I want to help, I have a bit of a | | | | order to benefit the group and yourself best, you do |
| problem with just donating. I think the handout | | | | need to give it time to grow |
| mentality is disempowering and "unhealthy" for both | | | | 3. That's it - no further action required from you |
| individuals and groups. Far better to help them to | | | | And here's how you profit |
| become financially empowered, so they can be | | | | 1. Part of the joining fee is paid via profit sharing back |
| self-funding and independent. | | | | to the members |
| Then I came across a story online that caught my | | | | 2. Part of the monthly subscription revenue is paid via |
| eye. I sat up and took notice. | | | | profit sharing back to the members up to a |
| Fundraisers: How would you like to generate | | | | maximum of over $4,000 a month per member, or |
| between $50,000 to $100,000 per year? I snorted | | | | double that for two subscriptions |
| with disbelief, "How could you possibly do that | | | | 3. If you're in business, you can generate additional |
| without asking people for donations and a lot of | | | | profits by selling your own goods or services on your |
| work?" | | | | member's web page and keep the full 100% |
| Well, it can be done. No donations and no work | | | | 4. You can advertise your own online or offline |
| required. | | | | business for free and keep 100% of all sales |
| I read about charities,non-profits, disabled people, and | | | | generated in this way |
| even events, in parts of the USA, Canada and the | | | | I'm aiming to help as many people and groups as |
| UK, which are all being funded using an adaptation of | | | | possible and everyone who participates gets their |
| the principles detailed in the book "Financial Freedom | | | | own profit-share as well. It is a huge win-win all round. |
| on $1 a Day" by Suzanne Kincaid. Nobody is being | | | | So not only the high school, but also the entire |
| asked to donate, yet they are generating | | | | community can benefit from participating. |
| considerable incomes. It's even working in New | | | | If you have a group, special purpose, or charity you'd |
| Zealand. | | | | like to raise funds for, or even if you need more |
| Then it hit me like a blinding flash of the obvious. An | | | | money for yourself, I will be happy to help you or tell |
| epiphany of sorts, where it all fell into place so simply. | | | | you what you need to know to organise your own |
| Yet would it work for me? ...Did I even have the | | | | fund. The beauty is, rather than competing, we can |
| guts to try? | | | | each benefit from joining forces and helping each |
| Would we Australians be willing to support each other | | | | other. |
| in this way? | | | | High school fundraisers aside, show me a family that |
| Because although this concept does not rely at all | | | | could not use an extra income these days? |