[Domestic Goddess]

Ok, my fundraising started off really well. Within 2 weeks I nearly reached 50% of my initial goal. Unfortunately, since the end of December, everything slowed down even after I posted in newsletters and even the newspaper.

Anyway, I'm a little bit cranky with our local shopping center management.
I have been going past the shops, but got told off by security as it was against the shopping centers policy. If I wanted to raise funds within their center, I would have to hire a table and chair to sit in one of the hallways. HIRE a table and chair.......
Where is the compassion for people in need these days???
Surely the center manager can donate a stinking chair and table???!!! I'm not a big woman and wont take much room. I would only take 1m2 lol! Heck, I'll even bring my own table and chair too

Ugh!

[mad madam mim]

I am getting the same response, I have I think around 70 people on my FB, all friends and family (I don't have people on there I do not know or speak to), only 4 have donated, and not a single donation is from family.

I did get a good response from my kids school but the principal is sick and has had to postpone my appointment with him until he is back.

[Guest_~Coffee~_*]

m

This post has been edited by *SnowFlower*: 21/02/2013, 04:11 AM

[Domestic Goddess]

The problem is there are a tonne of other people fund raising as well and for a whole bunch of different causes including many other serious diseases. Cancer isn't the only one you can die from. I think a lot of people are suffering 'donation fatigue' as a result. Bite the bullet and pay for the table and chair. You will find that people like the lions club, rotary etc all have to pay as well.

Hmmmmmm they charge me 150 bucks for that table and chair. I don't know if I will raise that much by sitting there. I prefer to just pay that money for a donation towards the Leukemia foundation

Mad madam mim I think the timing is a little off. They ought to do this when tax returns start coming back in October lol! Oh well, I will shave my head regardless. Made the appointment with the hairdresser today. Saturday 16th of March at 11am. Have a bunch of friends joining me, so maybe some last minute donations.

I also printed out a photo of me with a little explanation as to why I am doing the shave (for m friend's little 4yo boy) and stuck it onto a collection box and put it on the counter at the hairdressers.
This is a very busy hairdresser in the big shopping center in town, so Im hoping to raise a little bit of money that way. The manager said she would get her staff to try and get customers involved after they had their hair done.

[Guest_~Coffee~_*]

Hmmmmmm they charge me 150 bucks for that table and chair. I don't know if I will raise that much by sitting there. I prefer to just pay that money for a donation towards the Leukemia foundation

Ok $150 is ridiculous. Why not put yourself in the local paper with a photo and contact details?. Get them to do a story.

Being so close after christmas also makes it a bad time.

[mad madam mim]

I agree I think it's a bad time, right after christmas and right before easter, I am hoping I will get some more donations once the school puts it in their newsletter and spreads the word a little more, I haven't done too badly though I think I am just over the $500 at the moment (a lot in part is thanks to our local Navy Club, perhaps try something like that DG?)

[jessie123]

So were you just at the shopping centre soliciting donations with no prior approval ?

Have to say I probably would not donate in that case.

If you were at a proper set up table etc you would probably have a lot more success. But my local centre has a lot of businesses including charities such as World Vision and clubs doing raffles and they are obviously paying to advertise there.

I understand its extremely hard. I have semi regular donations I make including some to friends who participate in fundraising events several times a year. I always donate as I like to support them but sometimes it feels like its never ending.

I think you need to try and tap into family and friends. Also ask any businesses if they would donate.

[josh2003]

I think you should start by appealing to the friends and family of the 4 year old boy you're doing it for. People can be amazingly generous when the cause is a little closer to home, or when there's some personal connection.

To be honest, if I saw you collecting at a shopping center I would probably just walk past you because there are always people there trying to get you to try/sample/pay for something or other.

But that doesn't mean that I'm not compassionate... I just happen to have some more personal causes of my own that I try to give as much as I can to (I have family living in poverty in a third world country).

[trishalishous]

I think you should start by appealing to the friends and family of the 4 year old boy you're doing it for. People can be amazingly generous when the cause is a little closer to home, or when there's some personal connection.

To be honest, if I saw you collecting at a shopping center I would probably just walk past you because there are always people there trying to get you to try/sample/pay for something or other.

But that doesn't mean that I'm not compassionate... I just happen to have some more personal causes of my own that I try to give as much as I can to (I have family living in poverty in a third world country).

Same. We already have 'our charities' and give regular donations. But I personally hate being accosted in shopping centres and never donate/buy from those people.

[Spotted Giraffe]

Personally I am glad shopping centres have rules like this in place. When I am out shopping, I just want to do my shopping. I really dislike when I am bailed up by the charity collectors, particularly when they use guilt to try and get donations or seem mocking when I don't donate. I already donate to charities ad iT does not mean people are not compassionate just because they are not bending over backwards to help your fundraising efforts.

The shopping centre probably thinks if you are sitting down, you are less likely to bother people. Aggressive collectors put people off doing their shopping. They just want some rules in place so the whole thing runs smoothly.

There have been big bush fires recently where so many people have lost everything. You might find that given how recent it is, that people have been donating a lot of money to this.