Fundraising

On April 29, 2006 community activists, students, and major peace movement leaders will gather in New York City to show their support for an end to the war in Iraq. In order to make that happen, we need feminists to mobilize their communities and join us in NYC. Not everyone has spare money for travel, lodging, and food for such a trip, so fundraising can make a huge difference in your efforts. The more you can earn through fundraising, the more pro-peace voices you can bring to this mobilization.

• First assess your costs and fundraising goals. Figure out how much it is going to cost for your delegation to go to the March and calculate the amount you need to raise.
• Keep track of your progress and goals as you fundraise—this builds momentum and excitement for your delegation.

Create a fundraising coalition of other progressive groups in your community:

• Ask other groups if they would be willing to put some of their budget towards your fundraising efforts.
• Meet with other group's fundraising officers to get suggestions and share ideas.
• If you ask outside organizations for funding, give them a rough estimate of how much the trip will cost per marcher. Create a program where a group can "sponsor a marcher" and their members can put money towards sending one or more marcher to the March.
• Ask local small businesses if they will donate fundraising items for your March delegation or contribute money to your delegation.
• Partner with other progressive community groups to do a joint fundraiser. Half of the proceeds can go to them and half towards your delegation.

Sell peace products and let people know that the proceeds go towards sending people to the March:

• Sell bus tickets for more than they cost to make extra money for your group. You'll want to plan for extra costs and use any remaining money raised for future programming.
• Make or buy buttons with peace and justice slogans and sell them.
• Host an open-mic night or coffeehouse and charge for admission and snacks.
• Invite a feminist vendor or artist to sell their products at an event and ask for 20-25% of the proceeds.

Get Creative

• For supportive individuals who can't join the March, have them join your delegation in spirit and solidarity by having them write a message and their name on a special banner that your delegation can hold during the March. Try to collect a 5-10 dollar donation for the March from each person who signs this "solidarity banner."
• Make and sell a feminist calendar with important dates in women's history and photographs of community and/or nationally-known feminists.
• Hold a women's/feminist art show and charge admission.
• Use the artistic talents of your group members to your advantage—offer to design flyers and posters for other groups in exchange for a donation to the March fund.
• Put your athletic skills to work and organize a sporting event, such as a 5K run, softball/soccer/volleyball tournament, or rugby game and charge a fee per player or team. This is also a great way to spread the word about the March.