ExchangeEveryDay Past Issues

Twenty years ago, Exchange published, "Fundraising Ideas that Work," an article sharing 30 fundraising success stories from centers.  Below, you will find several of these ideas.  More importantly, we invite you to share your current fundraising success stories.  We will include the most creative ideas in an upcoming issue of Exchange and ExchangeEveryDay.  We are eager to share your stories.

RockerThon.  An annual event of the Great Beginnings Christian School in Canoga Park, California, is the RockerThon.  Staff members secure pledges and try to rock for up to 24 hours (one year, five teachers lasted the whole time).  The center has raised from $1,000 to $4,000 a year with this event.

Appeal Letter.  In Madison, New Jersey, the FM Kirby Children's Center raised $10,000 for a playground through an appeal for donations.  A letter was mailed to all parents.  Then one parent in each classroom called all parents who had not responded and reminded them that any donation, no matter how small, would be welcomed.

Care Shares.  When the local Kiwanis Club in Cannon Beach, Oregon, adopted the Cannon Beach Children's Center, it came up with the idea of selling local residents "Care Shares for Quality."  Shares were sold for $20 donations.  Donors received official looking stock certificates.

Not Just Small Change: Fund Development for Early Childhood Programs is a fundraising guide written specifically for early childhood programs by a veteran early childhood fundraiser, Roberta Bergman.  The practical resource provides advice on...

• Whom Can We Ask (and Keep Asking) for Money?
• Building the Donor Base
• Developing Relationships with Your Donors
• Events — Yours and Theirs
• Direct Mail
• Online Donations
• Grant Writing
• Writing Foundation Proposals: Dear Mr. Gates
• Preparing Government Grant Applications
• Breaking New Ground: The Capital Campaign

ExchangeEveryDay

Delivered five days a week containing news, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.