Fundraising: Tips and experiences

Fundraising takes time and great effort.
Being the recipient of the 2009 Senge scholarship does not mean that I would or should not fundraise. The actual scholarship pays for 50% (aprox. $1250) of my trip, so there is still another $1250 to raise.
My fundraising experience was quite unique, in that once I started the ramp down, I rapidly accelerated until we actually overraised money!
Let me explain. When I first received the packet for this trip in late-January, I was quite worried. Who wouldn't be? I saw the big $2300 on the page and glared at it as I said, "how will I raise you!"
You must understand that I am an independent blind man. I do not like getting people involved in business, especially a family who I am in disagreements with a lot.

Although I valued and appreciated the fact that my mom and sister wanted to help, my goal was to raise the money I need independently and through this hopefully show them that I can be completely independent in life (a belief they do not uphold)

For the first 2 months, there were small attempts made towards fundraising. These were minor things such as making an announcement about a jar which we placed in the cafeteria. A brief explanation of Global Explorers and my trip was constructed and put on the daily announcements for a period of around 5 days. We also showed my Blind Truth video on the TV in the cafeteria.
All in all, this raised around $9. (wow) but seeing that only students contributed in this, it really is a good start. I mean, a lot of kids wouldn't just have $10 to put in there and give away without hard consideration!

So I worked along MRS. Frazier (who also helped with the middle school connections) in sending out a letter to the faculty of my school.


Actually I should back up a moment! Between the faculty contact and the student fundraiser our distric PR team contacted the local newspaper here, the Chagrin Valley Times. So they came out and wrote a nice article about me, which really helped raise awareness. The article was published with a phone number people could call, and some readers were very keen at giving a few checks.

Then came the faculty! The e-mail was sent to the distribution list of everyone in my high school, and I think this raised a lot of money. By this time, I also head
My Leading the Way Add Page
Which summed the trip into the "who? Why? Where? When? What?" state. That website was something I constructed on a nice Saturday afternoon, and I think it helped a lot with letting people know of the trip in a short amount of time.

So, the article and the faculty contact generated quite the money! I also tried contacting TV stations without much success... But even without all that press we raised $1065, a nice chunk of money!

Then, around the end of March, came the scholarship news...
By this time, I had plans with my mom and various people at my church (St. Margaret's of Hungary to have a bake sale of poppyseed and chestnut rolls. A few outside sources already knew of it, so we couldn't really cancel the raise. Plans also started with Brenda from
Silpada Jewelry
, who was a great and well dedicated person trying to help with the fundraise. If I were not to have received the scholarship, I'm sure me, her, and the church would of most certainly raised more money than needed. So that is my recommendation: If you are thinking of selling things, hosting a Silpada party r even selling chocolate at your school are 2 excellent ways to raise thousands of dollars quickly! :)


The Senge Scholarship for me wasn't about money. I am not a person who likes to brag or boast about achievements, and anything dealing with money never means the money in my mind. Let me explain. I have a very low self esteem but a very high level of confidence in the work that I do. That might seem like a weird combination of personality, but it is true. I knew that I have good writing skills, so when I submitted that scholarship I was at least aware that I would receive feedback on my essay and how it was, regardless of receit of the money or not.
This was true. But what I did not expect from Mr. Senge and his daughter (who are of course founders), was the overwhelming complements about myself and what I do. Yes I knew that I do "good"in this world and my dreams are pretty high up there what with creating a society which lives in love, but I did not think to ever be given complements.
So the scholarship served more as a self-booster and a direct message, a push for me to climb up even higher and higher during life. This is what I mean when I said that it is not the money which counts.

Wow, well I'll leave it at that... For those who are struggling to fundraise, please consider my story here. And I hope what I said here will help you... help you a lot. If you need me for help, I would be more than glad to work with you on getting you started. My goal has always been and remains to this day: I want to see people smile and be happy. Not be in fear or feel like they can't do it... You can. You can do anything if you truly believe that you can and understand yourself. You know what I thought a few weeks after I began fundraising and what I told my mom? öh, don't worry. The press and people will have the heart to help me out, I doubt we'll need to "sell"items.". And that is how it exactly was.

But some people live in communities where perhaps individuals are not as generous. I am lucky to be surrounded by people with good hearts, but some are unfortunate to live in other places where crime rates are high. Where people cannot help their fellow neighbor. For these individuals, I want you to know that there are those, like myself and many others out there on the internet who you can always contact for help. I am dedicated to my goal and care for everyone equally.

With all due respect:
Tomi