Make money for Relay the EASY way with the Ibotta Ap!

 What if I told you that you could make $10 to put towards your Relay fundraising the next time you go to the grocery store or your favorite convenience store buying what you would already be buying?  I know, I know- it sounds too good to be true!  But you guys- you know me.  I don't bologna sandwich around raising money to cure cancer.

After listening to friends rave about it, hearing it advertised on the radio, and seeing post after post on Facebook; I FINALLY broke down and downloaded the free Ibotta ap when I made a New Years resolution to save more money on grocery shopping in 2017.  And, admittedly, I was skeptical, but very pleasantly surprised at how fast and easy it was to use to save money (enough to help me contribute more to my OKC Relay team fundraising total!) As you can see in the screen shot below, from January 3rd to January 31st, I got $93.75 back from buying things that I already buy anyway (here's the part where I silently kick myself for not doing this sooner)

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, it is important to know that everyone in my family has Celiac disease, so our grocery bill is a lot higher than your average grocery store trip- BUT if we COULD have wheat products, I think we would have saved even more (Eggo waffle rebate, I'm looking at you!) 

OK, enough with all of the fluff- here is how Ibotta works!  I think of the entire program like coupons you redeem after you shop- except instead of getting money off of your grocery total, you get cold hard cash.  You can use regular manufacturer coupons when you shop as well, which really makes things dirt cheap (I bought carpet cleaner this week for a whole 47 cents)  Here's the skinny...

Sign up for Ibotta - it's quick and free! 

-Choose one of the Preferred Partners (think Target, Walmart, Walgreens, United, Homeland etc)

 -Unlock Rebates. Before you shop, unlock cash back rewards on great products by completing simple tasks like watching a short video or answering a question.

 -Go shopping like usual.

-When you get home, open the ap and scan your rebate items and your receipt.

 -Get cash back in 24 hours.

 AND to make the deal even sweeter, when you use my link and my referral code (which is bkewgrf or https://ibotta.com/r/bkewgrf ) you will get an additional $10 FOR FREE when you submit your first rebate.  That's $10 closer to your fundraising goal!  When you use my link, I also get $5, which I can turn around and put towards my Relay fundraising!  WIN WIN WIN.  If just half of the people who participate in Relay For Life took advantage of this we could raise an additional 20 MILLION dollars for cancer research.  Isn't that insane?  Why wouldn't you want to do this? 

The thing I love about the ap is it has rebates for things I would be buying anyway.  Some of my favorites are any brand of bananas, any brand milk, any brand bread (gluten free bread costs a fortune), and the ever so loved Brawny paper towel rebate.  After you shop it takes a whole 3-5 minutes to complete the rebate submission, and you are done.  If you donated everything you earned from the app (and if you save at the rate I do), that would be enough money to get you to grand club by doing a simple, easy task after you shop!  How cool is that? 

But, you don't take my word for it (I totally stole that from Reading Rainbow.)  Go download the ap and start chipping away at that goal today, and let me know what you think!

XO
Cassi

Luminaria Bags - Adding Value, Selling Tips and Embracing a 100% Profit Fundraiser.

If you are a Relayer, you know that the Luminaria Ceremony is the most impactful event of the night.  To make the ceremony mean a lot, you need to sell a lot.  And why not?  You can't beat a fundraiser that is 100% profit!  Here are a few methods we have used with a lot of success to sell these special bags.

ADD VALUE

When we went through transformation, a fixed national price was set for Luminaria Bags so that we could have a uniform price at Relays throughout the country.  That price is $10.  Now, your event may not have this in place just yet, but hang tight, because it is coming.  I personally think this is a GREAT thing, you are going to sell bags, might as well have the donation amount match the importance and impact!  But here's the deal- when you are increasing the price by 50%, how do you increase the value of the item by 50%?  It's a simple answer- PERSONALIZATION!  Grab your markers, pencils, crayons, scrapbooks supplies, stickers and glue!  If you are crafty, get to decorating!  Not everyone is creative, or has time to decorate a bag, so be sure you let people know you will be happy to personalize a luminaria for them to include pictures, phrases, or to reflect that persons personality!  Here are a few we have made.

Not into coloring?  Check out these cute bags by Erin Funk.  They looked SO adorable on the track hanging together (Erin is going to be our Luminaria Chair next year and I am sooooo excited!)

Now, not everyone is crafty and that is TOTALLY ok!  You can still personalize bags!  Did you know you can run them through your printer?  It may take a few test runs, but it DOES work!  Each printer is a little different, but the ones it seems to be easiest with are the ones that have an adjustable tray.  Here are a few done that way! 

Looking for the PERFECT bag for someone who is going through treatment?  Turn a Luminaria into a encouragement card!  We made this one for Jace Hillard, who was coming to Relay for the very first time. You could charge each person $1 to sign it, or have one person sponsor the bag and pass it around.  It was a huge hit.

Selling Tips

Every now and then someone says something that just sets off a light bulb in your head- my buddy Jeff Liscum did that for me this year when he posted a video on Facebook to promote luminaria bags.  Instead of asking people to BUY them, he asked people to SPONSOR them.  Genius.  Doesn't that sound better?  It ADDS VALUE.  You are asking someone to honor or remember someone by sponsoring a bag, instead of asking them to buy yet another thing from you.  Check out his video- it is a GREAT example of how to get the message out there.  Facebook is a great way to ask people to sponsor your bags, and videos are often viewed more than a text post! 

 

Another lightbulb moment came this year when I watched a live streaming video of Joe Gillette (AKA- Relay Daddy) at Brooklyn Sings!  Now, when I checked this afternoon Joe's current PERSONAL fundraising total was at $36,131 so needless to say, this guy knows what he is doing!  During Brooklyn Sings Joe did something called a glowstick ceremony, and let me tell you, if you are looking for a way to show a group of people WHY they should join u in the fight against cancer, this is the way to do it.  You just need to be somewhere that you can lower lights.  This is my version of what he did- feel free to use this and change it up as needed.

 (Photo Courtesy of Joe Gillette)

Ladies and gentleman may I have your attention please? 

We come together today to renew our fight against cancer through American Cancer Society and to celebrate our efforts thus far.  Our team is passing out glow sticks to you, please do not light them yet.

Thanks to your support and efforts, we are able to give cancer patients right here the support they need and deserve.  We give them rides to treatment, counseling, a home away from home, wigs, and most importantly HOPE for the future.  Our researchers are making progress by leaps and bounds thanks to technology that can study cancer at a molecular level.  US death rates are down 20% since 1991, which means there have been 1.3 million lives saved.  But, we aren’t done yet- cancer is still touching us all, and we need your help now more than ever.

One aspect of this celebration is to honor those touched by cancer who were, and are an important part of our lives. 

Cancer has no preference.  It takes young, old, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives, best friends, old friends, and dear friends.

(DIM THE LIGHTS)

-If you are a cancer survivor, please light your glowstick and hold it up now so we can honor you.

-If you have been a caregiver to someone who has had cancer, please light your glowstick now and hold it up, so we can thank you.

-If you have lost a family member to cancer, please light your glowstick now and hold it up.

-If you have lost a friend to cancer, please light your glowstick now.

-If you have ever known someone with cancer, please light your glowstick now.

-And finally, if you are one of the lucky ones who has not been affected by cancer, but you want to stand up with us to fight back against this horrible disease, please light your glowstick and hold it up now.

Take a look around ladies and gentlemen.  This is why we are all here tonight.  Every light you see shining has a person behind it.  Maybe it’s you, your family, your friends- we are all in this fight together.

Now I want to ask you to think about the person you had in mind while you lit your glowstick.  At the front check in table we have luminaria bags- on the night of Relay For Life, we will light these bags, and have a special ceremony where we honor or remember those people.  The suggested sponsorship amount for these bags is just $10, and we would love to make sure your loved one is celebrated that night.

On behalf of the Mighty Misfits Relay For Life Team, thank you so much for joining us tonight in our fight.  We are so grateful for such a supportive community, friends, and family for helping us end cancer once and for all.

For more info on Brookyln Sings, be sure to check them out on their  Facebook page.
Speaking of Facebook, challenge yourself to find someone to sponsor a bag from each state using Facebook!  Tell your friends and family what you are trying to do, you will be surprised how many will be willing to help you out!  Now, this does not mean post it once and give up, make follow up posts saying what states you have, or message friends from different states telling them what you are trying to do!

Next up, set up a table with decorating supplies around town.  Already going to soccer practice, have a booth at a craft show, having a survivor dinner?  Bring your luminaria bags with you!  Be sure you bring a sign that clearly explains what they are, as well as some samples. 

Are you reading this trying to find a way to motivate your team or fellow volunteers to sell more luminaria bags?  Don't worry, I didn't forget my fellow leaders!  Host a contest!  The prize doesn't have to be expensive, let the winner pie the chair or staff partner, give a way Relay swag, or a prime parking spot!  You will want to post this challenge on Facebook, Twitter, IG, via Event Manager Email, and at meetings!

 I hope your mind is full of new ideas!  Be sure to stay tuned, next week I will talk about different options for displaying luminarias bags at your event!

Do you have an awesome luminaria program in place?  Share below so we can learn from you!

As always with HOPE-
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!

                  

Relay For Life Letter Writing - Worksheets to help you through the process!

It's that time of the year RELAY SEASON!  This is the time of the year my blog and pinterest pages go wild with new views, and I spend a lot of time visiting communities and getting them all set for an amazing year.

You may have noticed that you are not getting the response you have gotten in precious years by asking for donations on Facebook.  If you haven't read it yet- this blog post explains why that is happening.   It is more important than EVER that you are actually writing and sending out fundraising letters.

Most of you have awesome staff that bring you pre written letters that you can send out- BUT GUYS.  What would entice you more to donate- a personal letter, or one that is pre done? 

I know that it is hard to figure out where to start, and what to include in a letter, so I have made up some easy to use work sheets to help you through the process.  Feel free to print these and take them to your team meetings or event meeting to share. 

Step one- fill out this worksheet!

































Step two- use this letter format to transform your answers into a letter! 

Here is an example of what your finished product could look like!

That was easy, right?

While I have you here, let me fill you in on this awesome little tip.  For some reason, when I include a self addressed envelope, I get more donations back!  So take the extra time to do that to- it just takes a few minutes!

Need more letter ideas?  Check out some of ours from previous years here!

With HOPE,
Cassi

Fundraising With Noah's Art Workshop

This morning someone posted on Facebook that there were only 59 days left until Christmas.

WHOA!

I haven't even started THINKING about Christmas yet- even though Hobby Lobby is tempting me to with the Christmas section already up (ok, maybe I have thought about Christmas a little....)

And that got me thinking.  People are going to spend money at Christmas buying gifts.  Why not offer them gifts that ALSO support our cause of Relay For Life?  We want them to spend that money with us instead of a mass retailer, how can we do that?

Ladies and gentleman, let me introduce you to Noah's Ark Workshop!  It's like Build A Bear, but BETTER.  I'll tell you why in just a minute.

But first- let me tell you where this idea came from, because this genius fundraiser wasn't my idea!  My sister Relay For Life team, Orange Power, has two really smart ladies who already work in direct sales.  Those two ladies are Traci Wile, and Bonny Moulton.  They are the guru's of direct sales- and guess what?  They follow the tried and true Relay advice of doing what you know.  One day, Traci came across this fantastic website, and these two geniuses decided to turn it into a fundraiser.

They called me SO excited with the idea, and I was hooked right away.  I was so interested, in fact, that I called Dina Amico from Noah's Art Workshop to tell her how the girls wanted to make this small idea into a BIG Relay fundraiser.  Turns out, Dina was amazing, and full of amazing ideas herself.  She offered to make a special program JUST for Relay For Life fundraisers- and I was SOLD on sharing the idea with all of you (with Bonny and Traci's permission, of course!)

Here are the details of the program:

As a Relay For Life Team or Individual, we would like to offer the following Fundraising Membership:

·       *  Registration as a Fundraising Member is FREE

·       *  35/40/45% OFF of retail prices on plush animals, outfit and accessories

·       *  40% OFF of promotional priced animals

·       * Free Noah’s Ark replicated website with an e-commerce shopping cart paying 35% commission on 

            all sales

·       * Product catalogs at wholesale prices

·       * Access to our Graphics Art Department for assistance in creating custom fundraising flyers, Facebook Banners and promotional materials

·       * Option for customized teddy t-shirts with your organization logo or fundraising message

·       * Workshop and product training and support

·       *  Free Membership do not come with a Membership Kits   * Fundraising Memberships are eligible to earn additional fundraising dollars through our traditional direct sales downline commission payout.  Simply sponsor a Fundraising Member into Noah’s Ark, and earn additional funds for your organization based on everything your downline team purchases.

GETTING STARTED

Simply call Dina at 1-866-484-6624 to register as a Fundraising Team or Member (**PLEASE SIGN UP UNDER BONNY MOULTON SO YOU ARE IN A RELAY FOR LIFE DOWNLINE**).  You will have immediate access to your membership benefits with immediate website creation. 

Now- why is this better than Build A Bear?
1- Relay For Life gets the profit.
2- It's cheaper.
3- You bring the party TO your donors.
4- You have a website donors can order from so people can stuff them at home.
5- You can earn commission on people who sign up under you.
6- IT'S FREE to sign up!

Here are a few ways to make this fundraiser work for you.Team Orange Power did something really neat with the special edition pink bears.  The decided to pre stuff the bears, and sold them ready to go at our Pink Out games, online, and in local stores.  Here's my favorite part.  They also offered people the option of buying a bear to have delivered to a breast cancer patient.  Great right?  A tangible gift they could love on that also helps fund research for their disease!

Well, I was all over that!  I had just got an email from a friend who had been diagnosed.  I knew EXACTLY what I could send her to make her smile.  So, we called Bonny up and ordered her a bear.  When it arrived, my son, Wes, took extra care with it, hugged it EXTRA hard, and said a little prayer to it to give Deb strength.  It worked.  I cried and cried when she got it in the mail, because it brought her so much HOPE.

·   

You could also host a local party (think of places you could have it that are free- local churches, homes, or town halls!) have people RSVP and pay ahead of time, and order what you need!  Imagine the fun little ones would have stuffing a special friend and taking it home THAT day!  Or for Christmas- making them for a friend or sibling! 

Dina also shared a brilliant idea.  You can purchase little plush stars to put inside the bears.  Use the stars as a fundraiser!  First, choose an animal to stuff for a special person- perhaps a local cancer patient, a survivor, or a child in a local children's hospital.  Sell each star for $5, and have the person buying it say a prayer over the star (or a wish for you non religious types), and have them sign a card.  Then stuff the animal with all of those happy thoughts and prayers, and deliver it to the recipient.  Genius, right?

Hold an online virtual party and promote it on Facebook!  Donors buy from your website!

I know what you are thinking- OHHHHHH!  We should have a Relay bear!  Guess what?  If there is enough interest, Dina can make that happen!  Imagine a cute purple bear with a RFL logo on the foot!? EEK!  I want one!

The opportunities here are virtually endless.  If you have one, please comment below!  It doesn't get better than this ladies and gentleman.  Take a look at Noah's Art Workshop online, and you will be hooked to!  I'm already building my Christmas shopping list! I know I will get a warm fuzzy by buying a gift that also helps my favorite cause :)

With HOPE-
Cassi