T-Shirt Fundraising... the easy way (no, I am not kidding, there is an easy way!)

We all know T-shirts are great fundraisers, but ONLY if you have a lot of volunteers to help with sorting and delivering, and amazing design, and you get enough orders to make a good sized profit.

A lot of us have turned to online t-shirt fundraising sites- but there are some real problems there.  It really bothers me how much those sites charge for t's,  it creates low profits for fundraisers with high minimums.

And, if any of you have run a massive in person fundraiser with a local you know how time consuming it is to get orders, cash all of the checks, and deliver.

WHY?  That was the question I was asking myself a few weeks ago.  Why isn't there a better solution for us?  After all, we aren't making money for our own pockets- we are trying to save people from cancer!  I knew I had to find a solution, so that donors could get amazing shirts at great prices while still helping us fund our mission with high profit margins and less work.

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks (purple ones for the record) If MULTIPLE groups ordered T's at the same time, we could get bulk pricing, and make more profit for ACS.  We wouldn't be hurting each others sales, because we all live in different areas, and have different contacts to sell to.

After thinking long and hard about a program that would work, I went to my tried and true local printer and asked them to roll out a program we could also share with other teams nationally. For the last two weeks I have been working out the kinks, and website designing with them to create a solution- and here it is!
http://mightymisfits.relayfund.org/

The best part?  You can do it to!  It is as simple as me submitting a form to have a website made for your team/event. 

I know you are waiting for a catch, but you guys know me- I am full disclosure, and I have yet to find a catch (if there was one, I wouldn't be doing this or sharing it with you!)

I also know what your next question is, because it is always my first question.  HOW MUCH WILL WE MAKE?  Assuming you choose the same design we are currently selling (or one with the same amounts of colors on one side) here is the pricing:

See that 72 plus price?  Imagine how easy it is to sell 72 shirts when you have 5 other teams selling to!  At that price, you are making $10 a shirt on unisex T's if you are selling them for $15 each.  $10!  You don;t have to design anything, you don't have to go all around town picking up checks, and your donors can have them delivered right to their door. 

Right about now is the time where you are picking up your phone to text your team or share with your ELT on Facebook- so here is a break down of the basics and FAQ's for the program that you can share!

-If we fund raise together we get higher volume discounts and make more money for ACS. How can we do this without making things complicated? Campaigns fundraising together have the same end date.
-Your donors can purchase directly from the website and choose local team pick-up for free, or to pay have their shirts shipped to their home.
-To avoid inconvenience and cost, I made sure the orders going to the teams for local pick up would ship to you FOR FREE.
-You can also take traditional in person orders to supplement your sales.
-Want to offer multiple designs or a team shirt to?  What about a different shirt all together?  Resolution has a graphic designer you can use for FREE.
-After the campaign is over, Resolution will send you a check for your proceed amount made to American Cancer Society.
-If your team would like to sell this design (or another design- the plan is to offer a choice of several designs when you sign up, but we are just getting this rolling!) I can submit a form so that your team can have a personal website like my team's site above, and be included with other teams ordering in the same campaign period for bulk discounts.


I feel like this could be a game changer for us! If you are interested or have questions, feel free to shoot me an email at cassiselby@gmail.com. You can also check out our Facebook group page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/RelayThinkTank/ if you are not ready yet but may be in the future. This group includes the 8 teams who are currently using this system, and they are all experienced Relayers who would be happy to help you out along the way! The Facebook also includes graphics for selling on Facebook, in person order forms, and is where we will be throwing around future design options.


Happy Fundraising!
Cassi

Hope Shines On - Limited Edition Luminaria Bags For The Holidays!

I am super excited about this!  But first...

As this blog has become more and more successful, I have been thinking a lot about ways that we can take our mission to cure cancer a step further by using it as a tool to raise more money for American Cancer Society.  I didn't want to fill the blog with ads, and I know you are all already working hard to meet your own goals, so I didn't want to ask for straight up Relay donations.  My solution?  Ask you all to do something you already do.  Shop on AMAZON.  If you are anything like me, Amazon is your go to source for online shipping.  Here's how it works.  When you want to shop on Amazon, click this link:

Shop Amazon and support our fundraising efforts!

And Amazon will send me a percentage of your purchase via the Amazon Associates program, which I will turn around and donate!  The percentage is anywhere between 4 and 10 percent, which is much higher than the Amazon Smile program.  I am so excited about this opportunity, and really hope you all will make your purchases through these affiliate links, so that we can fund more cures faster!

Now, back to the show :)

I noticed in surveys last year, we were asked if we would be interested in something like this, and it is obvious that ACS listened!  From now through November 7th, 2015 you can purchase (or fund raise by selling!) this palm-sized metal keepsake, embellished with a Relay For Life logo and antique silver finish and strung with a decorative purple ribbon, with a $35 contribution to Relay For Life.

IT'S A FLIPPING RELAY FOR LIFE LUMINARIA ORNAMENT!  I seriously need a TREE full.  A PURPLE tree full. 

And obviously, I would love for you to buy yours from Cancer Man - but I also want to share this with you so you can use it for your own personal fundraising.  I mean, we are all in this together, right?

Here is Cancer Man's Facebook post on these:

I think this is really cool...
Christmas is coming up and we have the perfect gift for you to give someone who has EVERYTHING. Make a 35$ donation to my Relay fundraising here....(click limited edition keepsake) http://tinyurl.com/RelayKeepsake and you will get this really awesome luminaria bag ornament. You can personalize the card so you can give it to a friend in memory or honor of someone. i think it would be a really special way to remember someone at Christmas the gift is beautiful but the gift also helps us find a cure and helps me reach my Relay goal.

And.... let's face it. Im going to talk you out of at least 35$ this year anyway, so you might as well get something super aWESome with your money to!

And here is my post (and guys, you can totally use my words I don't mind at all!)

Christmas is a magical time of year, and today I want to share a special way  you can honor or remember someone with cancer this year, and for years to come.

This is the first time we have done something like this, and I think it is absolutely fantastic.  As someone who looks at Christmas as a time of giving, instead of receiving, I can not think of a better gift.  In fact, if I had nothing but a tree full of these for Christmas, I would probably be the happiest person alive.

What is this little rectangle thing?  It's a luminaria bag.  If you are not familiar with Relay For Life, we hold a very special ceremony at each event, where we light these bags in honor, in support,  or memory, of someone who has had cancer.  Anyone who has attended one of these ceremonies can tell you it is nothing short of life changing.  It is a moment of happiness, grief, and bonding like nothing else I have ever experienced.  To a Relayer, each bag represents a loved one- A LIFE, that should not be forgotten.  A battle that was won.  A child, a spouse, a parent, a friend, or a loved one. 

This holiday season, I ask that you consider giving just one of these as a gift.  They are limited edition, and come with a beautiful box and gift note.  You can ship it directly to the recipient, or to yourself.  Not only will you be giving a gift that keeps on giving, you will also be supporting Cancer Man​ in his mission to create more family Christmas memories for others.

To purchase, simply make a $35 tax deductible donation here: (click limited edition keepsake) http://tinyurl.com/RelayKeepsake

Please help us by sharing with everyone you know!
ANDDDDDD- here are some great photos that I downloaded from Brand Toolkit that you can use with your Facebook posts.  Just right click and save to your computer!

Now, I have this strange ability to write posts on FB and Twitter all day long (Cancer Man does to- must be genetic!) but not everyone knows just what to say.  Guess what?  There's an info sheet for that!  I am copy and pasting for you so you can do the same :)

Relay For Life Keepake – Toolkit Social Assets

Message 1 – Announcement

Recommended timing: September 16 - 25

Facebook

You can shine a light all year long with a limited edition Relay For Life keepsake. Order now through November 7 at relayforlife.org/[EVENT URL].

Twitter

Shine a light all year long with a limited edition @relayforlife keepsake. Order now at relayforlife.org/[EVENT URL].

Instagram

You can shine a light all year long with a limited edition #relayforlife keepsake. Order now at relayforlife.org/keepsake.

Message 2 – Reminder

Recommended timing: October 5 - 16

Facebook

The Relay For Life limited edition keepsake makes a great gift for the holidays! Order now through November 7 at relayforlife.org/[EVENT URL].

Twitter

The @relayforlife limited edition keepsake makes a great gift for the holidays! Order now at relayforlife.org/[EVENT URL].

Instagram

The #relayforlife limited edition keepsake makes a great gift for the holidays! Order now at relayforlife.org/keepsake. #holidayshopping

Message 3 – Last Chance

Recommended timing: October 23 - November 2

Facebook

Now’s the last chance to order a Relay For Life limited edition keepsake for the holidays! It’s a great gift for everyone on your list or as a way for you to always keep the Relay For Life movement close to your heart this season. Order by November 7 at relayforlife.org/[EVENT URL].

Twitter

Last chance to order a @relayforlife limited edition keepsake for the holidays! Order by 11/7 at relayforlife.org/[EVENT URL].

Instagram

Now’s the last chance to order a #relayforlife limited edition keepsake for the holidays. Order by 11/7 at relayforlife.org/keepsake. #holidayshopping

This is an amazing fundraiser for the holidays, and you have all of the tools you need to pull it off right here!  What are you waiting for?  Let's make this a purple Christmas!

As always, with HOPE-

<3 Cassi

Relay For Life Wish Bracelets an easy DIY fundraiser! - revisited!

Note: This blog contains Amazon Affiliate links.  Why?  When you make your Amazon purchases through these links, a portion of your purchase comes back to me, and I turn around and donate it to RELAY!!!

This time last year, I posted about a super easy, cheap, and awesome fundraiser.  At the time, I thought I was just sharing a small handy idea, but it went VIRAL!  Since the original post, I have sold over 3,350 bracelets in the form of a DIY kit, so I thought it would be the perfect time to revisit, and repost the instructions!

I have learned since the first batch, that waxed cotton cord works WAY better for staying in place, and is easier to tie knots in- so you will not that change below :)

If you have ever spent time over in the orient, you know about wish bracelets.  The legend says that you tie one on (over in Thailand they are actually red string) and make a wish- when it wears off, your wish comes true!  Now, over the years I had completely forgotten about those cute little bracelets, until I went through some old boxes while organizing and found one!  And, as usual I said...

Oh!  There's a fundraiser in that!

I really do say that out loud in case you are wondering.  True story.

So anyway, I went to work figuring out how to make these little do dads, and it turns out- SUPER easy, and SUPER cheap!  So hey- what kind of Relay friend would I be if I didn't tell you how you can do it to?

Here's what you need (but remember- be creative- if you have something similar in your craft pile or can get it donated- even better!)

- 4 by 6 Cardstock (I chose to order postcards from Overnight Prints - it ended up being better quality than printing them at home)

- A hole punch (I like this one, because it punches small holes and looks really professional!)

- Scissors (UH PURPLE ONES!  Fiskars are my favorite, they last forever, and can handle being sharpened)

- 8mm round beads with a 1mm hole (I use purple cat's eye, but have found many people like multi colored ones)

- 1mm waxed cotton cord (the purple stuff in the photo above)
**note** if you are buying your stuff at a local craft store, hemp works well to!


OK, here we go.

This is so easy you are going to want to kiss me.

                                                     Thread both strings through your bead. 

Tie a simple knot on the right side of the bead (make sure it is centered)

 It will look like this when you pull it tight.

 Then tie another simple knot on the left side of the bead.

 Punch holes to string the bracelet through on your card.

String the bracelet through the holes you just punched.  Tie left over string in a bow in the back.

Now flip it back over and admire your handy work.  Isn't that the easiest thing ever!?!?

Not only are these awesome to sell as an easy fundraiser, but they would make great survivor gifts for your events (I have seen a few titled "A Survivors Wish").  And, if you don't have the time to make them yourself, I have a bulk pack listed on Etsy that you can buy for super cheap!  Happy crafting loves!

                        What little amount I make from the kits gets donated to Relay For Life!

Find the purple kit here!

 Find the multi-color kit here!

Find the pink kit here!