When I wrote the article below on July 9th there were 1,700 members of YourCause.com who had raised over $65,000.00 for their causes or charities.

Now there are over 2,200 members and over $100,000 has been raised for causes and charities!

Are you passionate about a cause or charity? Many people on Squidoo are, and raise money for charities with their Squidoo lenses.

You can also raise awareness and money for your cause online with a new social networking website called YourCause.com.

YourCause.com was launched in April 2008 and already has over 1,700 members who have raised over $65,000.00 for their causes or charities.

The stated goal of the site is to "Empower Millions to Raise Billions" while building "the largest community of caring people on the planet."

The charity or nonprofit organization you support must be an IRS qualified and registered 501(c)3 entity. Visit the YourCause.com website to get started raising money and awareness for your favorite cause.

Want to see what my cause is? Find out at www.yourcause.com/diyfundraising

When your fundraiser is over is necessary to thank everyone who helped you. Afterall, you are thankful that they spent either their time or money, or both, to help your organization further its cause. Depending on your budget there are many ways to thank supporters and donors.

Some of the ways to thank your donors are:

Send a postcard or letter thanking them and letting them know how your organization benefited.

Present a certificate of appreciation. Some people like to frame certificates and display them in their home or office.

Put an ad in your local newspaper and list the names of donors and publicly thank them. This is usually done by larger organizations after annual events that raise a substantial amount of money.

Present them with a small gift, such as a gift certificate to a restaurant or movie theater, or an item personalized with your organization's logo

"Thank you" is a word you need to say often while fundraising. You need to remind others that their efforts are a valuable gift and one that is well appreciated by your group.

This will help your organization build up goodwill and will make your donors more likely to help you in the future.

Article Courtesy FastTrack Fundraising
Reusable gift bags: FastTrack Fundraising is proud to offer earth-friendly reusable gift bags. These heavy-duty bags are great for birthday gifts, holiday events, or just plain fun. More importantly, they're reusable and cut down on the unnecessary waste of gift wrap. They're the perfect fundraising tool in a month when we should all be extra aware of our impact on the environment. Click here to learn more.

Aluminum can drive: Did you know that most states still collect aluminum cans for cash? It's true; even though your weekly recycling truck hauls away your cans and bottles, you can still get money for cashing them in. Now you can use this to fundraise by partnering with local businesses and neighborhoods in a can/bottle drive. Simply contact the HR department of your local businesses and explain what your organization does and that you'd like their employees to drop off their cans and bottles in designated collecting bins and boxes that you provide throughout the company. It's that simple - employees recycle their cans and bottles and you can cash it in for a great fundraiser. Want an even easier version? Just go door to door and start collecting!

Trash clean-a-thon: Here's a simple thing to do: get sponsors to pledge an amount per bag of trash you pick up. A clean-a-thon such as this can be done anywhere - neighborhoods, parks, shopping centers, schools, or anywhere else. In fact, you can even enlist the help of the local parks and recreation department in seeing if there are any areas they'd recommend cleaning; not only will they appreciate the help, they'll probably publicize your event too!

Compact fluorescent light bulbs: Energy saving is on everyone's mind these days, and changing traditional light bulbs to compact fluorescents is a simple way to do this. Now, you can tap into this popular trend by offering compact fluorescent light bulbs in a door-to-door fundraiser that's as good for the earth as it is for your organization. First off, you'll need an inventory of bulbs, and chances are if you talk with the manager at your local hardware store, they'd be willing to offer a bulk discount or even a sponsorship in your drive. Second, arm your volunteers with CF bulbs and a list of benefits they can tout to each person they speak to. Third, send them out and about to celebrate Earth Day while raising funds for your organization.

Buttons of Hope produces custom photo buttons that your nonprofit organization, school or group can use with your fundraising efforts. You can use the buttons as a part of your fundraising campaign or the buttons themselves can be a fundraiser.

A photo button fundraiser can be run completely online through the Buttons of Hope website. You simply upload a photograph, design your button, and create your own button gallery. Your supporters can visit your gallery online and order buttons. The buttons are created for each order and mailed directly to the purchaser. Your organization doesn't have to sell in advance, prepay or ship. And there are no minimum orders on buttons. It really couldn't be any easier.
The creator of Buttons of Hope is fellow Squidoo lensmaster Michael Gibbons, who has a passion for fundraising and helping to make the world a better place.

Check out the Buttons of Hope Squidoo lens and all of Gibbons' other charity lenses as well as the Buttons of Hope website for more information.

The FundingFactory Recycling Program

Wristbands-with-a-Message silicone wristbands are an incredibly easy and great way to raise money for virtually any type of fundraising activity. Whether it's raising money for your school, club, church, or any type of event in need of raising money, | Wristbands-with-a-Message can deliver your message

Visit Pet Nutrition Products for more information.


If your nonprofit organization is related to animal welfare you will want to look into this fundraising opportunity with Pet Nutrition Products.

Pet Nutrition Products actively supports national and local animal welfare organizations by donating 5% of total sales to charitable organizations. Your animal-related charity may apply to receive donations from Pet Nutrition Products also.

In addition to their donation program, Pet Nutrition Products has a creative new fundraising program for certified 501(c)3 organizations. Upon verification of your group's nonprofit status, you will receive a welcome email explaining how to implement the program into your fundraising plan.

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