giving

My name is Cooper Godfrey and I am 17 years old. I have been fundraising for Comfort Zone Camp for the past three years. My father died of a heart attack when I was 13 years old. After seeing the profound effect Comfort Zone Camp had on my little sister, I vowed to raise money for this unbelievable organization. Although the camp is completely free to the camper and their families, Comfort Zone Camp is always in need of funding because it costs the camp $500 to send a child to camp, $1,500 to send an out-of-state camper. This is why fundraising is an integral part of this organization, so I encourage you to do your part in helping this wonderful cause.

 See Cooper speak to campers about The Zone here.

How to Effectively Raise Funds

So you want to raise money for Comfort Zone Camp, but you don’t know where to start. Well I am here to tell you that fundraising is really not that hard. I have raised over $21,000 for Comfort Zone Camp in the span of three years, but like you, I initially did not know how to begin the process. I had many initial questions before I began fundraising: How should I start? What kind of fundraiser should I hold? How much money do I want to raise? Will people help me with the fundraiser?

Below are a few tips to help you get on your feet, but it is truly up to you to decide what approach you want to take in order to raise money for Comfort Zone Camp. Remember, even the smallest contribution is helpful and it allows this organization to operate at zero cost to the campers.

Getting Started and Pooling Your Resources

Fundraising can be really fun. The world is filled with great people who want to help you, but many of these people do not know how to help. It is up to you to take the initiative and encourage these people to help in any way possible.

• Take a look at your personal interests, is there something that you like, and/or are good at doing, that you can incorporate into your fundraiser? For me, it was Tennis.
• Pool your close family/friends together and brainstorm ideas on ways to raise funds for the camp.
• See what your family/friends have to offer to your cause.

For example, let's say that one of your close family friends works for the local supermarket, they can see if the supermarket will donate party platters to your fundraiser. Perhaps a close family friend works at the local auto center, they can potentially ask the auto center to donate a free oil change and tune up as an auction item or door prize. Maybe a family member knits handmade scarves; you can see if he or she would donate several custom scarves to you that can be raffled off at the fundraiser.

• Remember that what your friends/family may not have to offer in physical objects, they may be able to offer in connections. For example, my godmother helped me reach out to the fifty players who took part in my tennis tournament.

Decide on your type of fundraiser

After considering your interests and reviewing your resources, decide what type of fundraiser you can and would like to hold. Here’s a list of several ways to raise money that will not take too much effort, but could raise money for camp:

• Create a lemonade stand and donate the proceeds
• Hold a bake sale at your school or work
• Have a garage sale and donate the proceeds, or ask your neighborhood to jointly hold one and donate part of its proceeds
• Sell handmade items
• Throw a party or cookout and charge an entrance fee
• Create a sports tournament and charge an entrance fee
• Have a summer water balloon party for younger children in your backyard and have the parents give you an entry fee for their child

Approach Local Businesses

When fundraising, it is important to keep costs as low as possible to ensure your efforts have the greatest impact. After tapping into the connections within your family and friends, I recommend approaching local businesses to request free or discounted event space, or free or discounted catering. Here are a few tips when approaching local businesses:

• Be confident as well as sincere in your pitch - tell your personal relationship to Comfort Zone Camp and why you are fundraising for this organization. I have found many people can connect to the cause, and if you are sincere, most are willing to help. 
• Come prepared with the tax identification number (Comfort Zone's Tax ID Number: 54-1916517) and information about the organization, such as brochures, so the local businesses know that Comfort Zone Camp is a legitimate non-profit organization and an extremely worthwhile cause (the CZC team is always willing to help provide whatever you need).
• Don’t be afraid. The worst thing that they can do is say no.

Overall pointers

Every fundraiser is going to be different. In general, choose an event that interests you, and something you and your family and friends can get excited about. Below are a few more general pointers when holding a fundraiser.

• Ask friends, and ask friends to ask friends. Ask for monetary or in-kind donations, ask for attendence to your event, ask for support however you need it.

A close family friend helped me run the white elephant auction at my fundraiser. She emailed all of her friends to ask them to donate new or "nearly new" items, such as jewelry, china, artwork, or clothing. We received donations that ranged from a new sweater that one woman received for Christmas that was not her size, to various pieces of antique china.

• Be persistent and accomodating. Follow-up with potential donors, and offer to pick up donated items if needed.
• If someone says no, thank them for considering. While they may not be able to help with this fundraiser, maybe they can in the future. Or, maybe they'll be able to help Comfort Zone in other ways, like spreading the word now that you have introduced the camp to them.
• Ask Comfort Zone for help if you need it - the CZC employees can send you any information you need to help with your fundraiser.
• Have fun! Fundraising should be enjoyable. So, be creative, include your friends/family, and have fun while raising money for a great organization.
• Know that a great sense of accomplishment comes with raising money for a cause you believe in.