In the past, most not-for-profit entities used brick fundraisers to raise money for various causes. Although fundraising bricks slowly fell out of favor with time, the tactic seems to have regained its popularity. A good reason for this is that the tactic heavily suits low to mid-level organizations.
What is Brick Fundraising?
In a nutshell, a non-profit entity sells bricks to willing donors in return for being allowed to engrave a custom phrase or name onto the brick. The engraved bricks are then used to construct memorial walls, walkways, courtyards, meditation gardens or any other bricked indoor/outdoor surface. Such a fundraising campaign tends to be highly effective due to the permanent placement. Most donors will feel that they're getting value in exchange for the donation.
Where Can the Tactic be Used?
Generally, entities that have their own premises are best placed to utilize brick fundraisers. Such organizations could be backed by either a large contingent of small to mid-level donors or a large group of prospects associated to the entity in some way. The campaign would especially help in targeting the latter. For instance, a hospital could use a brick fundraiser to reach out to their former patients.
A school could also create a brick paver addition onto an existing sidewalk and offer former students a chance to add their personal details. Alternatively, a courtyard with low brick walls could form a memorial area where former graduating classes sponsor small sections. Families could also use memorial walls to honor their loved ones.
Maximizing Returns
The best way to maximize returns on a brick fundraising campaign is to run it with the same level of professionalism that would be applied to other fundraising tactics.
Planning
Before starting, the campaign's purpose needs to be clearly outlined. This needs to be communicated to prospective donors beforehand, along with how the bricks will be used. A team should thus be formed to develop a comprehensive plan for the campaign. A detailed fundraising goal board should also be developed so that donors can easily view the progress. Please visit this site for more info
Marketing
The campaign can be marketed in various ways, including word or mouth, banners, brochures, postcards and donation request letters. When using print media, one needs to include pricing and sample images showing what the finished product will look like. To further charm the prospects, different donation levels needs to be used. Most successful brick fundraisers offer levels varying between $100 and $300, depending on the size of the brick.
Accountability
With such a campaign, it's important to involve sufficient administrative help. This especially applies to bookkeeping and accounting. One thus needs to maintain various records showing how much money was donated and where it was channeled. A loosely-conducted campaign will only result in trouble down the road.
Fundraising bricks are great in helping raise funds for a cause. With a brick fundraiser, one gets to build a legacy because the bricks will remain in place for a long time to come. For the best results, the entire campaign needs to be fun and interactive.