Dog Community

I need ideas - please help!

sierra2002

Posted : 1/9/2007 10:14:11 AM

OK - so I've decided to help design & carry out a fundraising event for my local non-profit, no-kill shelter. I've been volunteering there for a year, but I want to get a little more involved.
I definately would like to get the dogs involved in this event, but I suppose it's not manditory.

From browsing online, I've come up with 2 fundraising ideas:

1) Sell home-made treats (these would be liver treats)

2) Take some of the dogs to a local retailer (cooperation would be gained ahead of time), and set up an area where a bunch of us will be standing with some of the better behaved dogs. There would be pamphlets about each dog, and people would be encouraged to purchase some of the dog's favorite foods & treats. They could leave the purchased items with the cashier.

And thats where my ideas stopped.. lol.

I know with all you on here, there's some great ideas just waiting to be discovered...

So can anyone think of anything? I'd love to hear suggestions.
Thanks so much!

gradyupmybutt

Posted : 1/9/2007 10:18:51 AM

That sounds like a fun challenge. I know that dog.com has helped in dog related fundraisers. You might contact Jaime for ideas or a possible gift basket.

Scout in Canada

Posted : 1/9/2007 10:40:37 AM

2) Take some of the dogs to a local retailer (cooperation would be gained ahead of time), and set up an area where a bunch of us will be standing with some of the better behaved dogs. There would be pamphlets about each dog, and people would be encouraged to purchase some of the dog's favorite foods & treats. They could leave the purchased items with the cashier.

I think that's a great idea. Even if bringing several dogs was not possible logistically, you could just have lots of big photos of some pets and then a shelter wishlist of common needs - puppy/kitten food, kongs, beds, litter, treats, etc. You could also accept money donations at this table, and ask people to "buy a cage" - ie. a set amount that funds a cage at the shelter, and that person's name goes on a small plaque on the cage. If you could write up little certificates to acknowledge their "ownership" or sponsorship of the cage, that makes it seem official.

jones

Posted : 1/9/2007 11:05:58 AM

Not the most original idea ever but how about a raffle? Or maybe even an auction. Ask local pet stores to donate items ranging from low $ value (bag of treats) to high (wire kennel)... you could do a silent auction maybe.

Tashmoo5454

Posted : 1/9/2007 11:25:22 AM

One of our biggest fundraisers is we did a tag sale/open house at our shelter in the summer. We had tables full of things on the shelter lawn, and we had drinks and goodies inside, and gave people tours. We had animals get adopted, and we also found that people who bought things from the tag sale were very generous because it was benefitting the shelter.

sierra2002

Posted : 1/9/2007 5:03:01 PM

Thanks for the replies!
I'll run them by the coordinators to see what they think.

More are still welcomed!!!

alieliza

Posted : 1/9/2007 6:40:08 PM

How about pet portraits?

Ask a pet photographer/photographer (or have someone whos just handy with a camera) to volunteer to take photos of people with their pets and you could sell an 8x10 print. Send it to em in the mail!

Liz

Posted : 1/9/2007 6:46:42 PM

Maybe a mini-adoption booth? And then a pamplet about the shelter, and homeless animals, and the important of spay/neuter??

The treats are a FANTASTIC idea. I make and sell my own sometimes, if you want the recipe [

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Maybe offer a mini-training session, like an "example" session. I can't think of the friggin word right now.
DEMO! A training demo!

And have a little jar or something for donations. [

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Hehe, I'm excited FOR you! Hehheheh

DPU

Posted : 1/9/2007 7:37:43 PM

The holidays are passed so missed fund raising opportunities. That is the time where we bring in a lot of our funds. During the year, my organization maintains a booth in a lot of dogs events, such as Chicago Dog Expo. In our booth we sell t-shirts, magnet ribbons, and trinkets. We offer games and do raffles. We get organizations like grooming places, pet photographers, and boarding to donate and then we raffle them off. During the year we do a Golf Outing event. A few times in the year we do bake sales. That brings in $2,000. If you do the bake sale or booth event at Walmart or Sams Club, they provide matching grants. Good thing to look into. We also participates in parades, walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, and solicit sponsors. There is a lot that you can do. The simpliest is to get a unique dog, a can, and sign and stand in front of a store, like Petsmart. I stand in front of Petsmart with my dog Blizzard and she brings in $250 in 3 hours (10am-1pm, best time).

nyiceprincess

Posted : 1/9/2007 7:47:23 PM

One we will be doing is a mutt dog show.With special awards for best pet trick and best costume [

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If you get the go ahead to set up at a retailer have a table where people can buy items at the store like food and treats and then donate them.Like the big boxes they have at the grocery store to donate to food pantrys.They may even let you keep the box there permanently to accept donations.

sierra2002

Posted : 1/9/2007 11:17:25 PM

WooHoo! [

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Excellent Ideas!

Thanks everyone! [sm=dance.gif]

Sue and Buddy

Posted : 1/9/2007 11:53:59 PM

The preschool that I work for has a nighttime fundraiser for parents once a year. The classrooms compile lists of things they want for their classrooms. Our director gives us a targeted price range. Each classroom has a large blank floor puzzle that was bought from barebooks.com. Each puzzle piece is worth different amounts, like $15 or $30 and the things we want are on the different puzzle pieces. At the fundraiser the parent takes the puzzle piece/price range they want to donate and writes us a check for that amount.

I don't know if something like that would work in a shelter. If you make it up with things that the shelter needs like food, you could post it somewhere in the shelter or even at the table in the pet store.

sue

Kristen NONE

Posted : 1/10/2007 1:56:43 AM

A good fundraiser that I came up with for my town was to do a dog walk. There was a sign up sheet at every local pet store and the Humane Society. People paid a certain amount to do the walk and I got tee shirts donated from a local place that were free w/the sign up fee. We walked a set route then headed over to a big park where there were pamphlets about rescue...food...drinks...games...prizes... and doggie talent shows Good luck!

Scout in Canada

Posted : 1/10/2007 7:10:56 AM

Our Humane Society does "Bark in the Park", a dog walk-a-thon. Individuals in our city get pledges from their friends, coworkers, etc, and everyone and their dogs meets in a large park and walks together. There are also merchandise booths, info booths, food booths, etc, all proceeds going to the humane society. Last year they raised something like $76,000 (in a city of 350,000 people).