Many of you know that I enjoy fundraising for candidates that I support. While it can be intimidating, especially when what many people hear of are the events that require the larger donations, it truly is a necessary evil that can make or break a race.
I worked something a little different for our Lt. Gov. here in New Mexico, Diane Denish (who WILL be our next Governor), that I think can be easily transferred to smaller local races. Follow along if you're interested.
I previously wrote a diary regarding some of basic rules of fundraising that can be found here:
Ask for the Cash
When I was asked to do something for the Lt. Gov. I wanted to take a different approach. Diane Denish is a strong candidate in part because she is aware of ALL parts of the State of New Mexico and expresses an intense interest in our unique conditions and needs.
Additionally, to be honest, many of us our burnt out here. We've experienced candidates who simply run through the area looking for the deep pockets, spending all of half of an hour at a fundraiser, then off they go to the North never to be heard from again, or at least until they want more money.
Finally, I was tired of seeing the same group at these events. It was always the predictable deep-pockets that can afford $1,000.00 or more time after time. I have a very strong opinion that new blood is needed and that more voices, positive voices, were being priced out.
Soooo...working with an ideal candidate, a wish to expand involvement past that of the same group, and wanting to do something that was good not only for the candidate, but for our community, we developed a fundraiser with a double purpose.
I contacted a local food bank and asked them if they would allow us to use the Denish event to also raise goods and funds for their organization. They were pleased with the idea and I explained that I would be contacting them in the near future with details.
The procedure outlined in my previous diary was followed (with a bit of scrambling as my travel schedule had me out of country quite a bit) with the following additions:
- The fundraiser was $50.00 per head. However to be allowed into the event each individual was required to bring a canned good or non-perishable food item for the food bank. No item, no entry.
- If an individual forgot their food item a selection of canned goods was available for purchase at $5.00 a piece with all proceeds going to the local food bank.
- Individuals were also offered to donate to the local food bank at a minimum of $20.00 per donation.
I purchased plastic baskets and brown paper bags at the local dollar store. Each of these was filled with food items. For each donating individual or company a sign (poster paper stapled onto wooden stakes) with the donor's name was placed in a "basket". These were placed throughout the area and made a great visual for the event.
The donors table was set up at the event entry and staffed throughout the event. The table contained not only the regular entry list and name tags but also was surrounded by extra 'baskets' which were available for last minute purchase, along with cans and boxes of food "for sale".
A separate glass container with lid was used for donations to the food bank.
I asked two representatives of the good bank to attend so that they could mix with the donors and answer any questions about their organization.
The result? A fabulous evening with our next Governor, a very surprised and pleased food bank who received enough goods to fill not only the back of a truck, but the passenger seat as well, plus approx. $1,500.00 in cash, political donations that were twice the amount that the campaign first requested....and a Democratic candidate for our U.S. House of Representatives in attendance who would like to do something along the same lines.
This can be transferred to something larger or smaller...but the effect was as pleasant as I hoped for. Shoot, one of our Republican State Senators even showed up with a case of canned goods to donate. Doing something upbeat politically and locally is a good thing.
By the way, I learned something new from our food bank representatives. They also are in great need of those small soaps, shampoos, etc., that are in our hotel rooms. Many of their clients do not have these basics...so save them and donate them to your local food bank when you have a small bag full.