While working for a neighborhood organization in Chicago, I was in charge of running a weekly bingo that netted $30,000 a year.
My organization ran a total of five bingos, pulling in a total of around $150,000 from bingo alone. They raised 70% of their total budget through grassroots fundraising. They could spend it any way they wanted, even for food. They weren't dependent on outsiders, either foundations or government, for their existence. In turn, they felt more self-assured and immune from retaliation when they needed to criticize government for, say inadaquate police protection. Here are some other grassroots fundraisers that I know from personal experience can be done by any neighborhood organization and which can bring in thousands of dollars: Raffle Direct Mail Business Directory Volunteer Canvass Neighborhood groups should also be making mucho money on their summer wingdings, and not see them solely as social extravaganzas. Neighborhood groups should be getting two-thirds of their funds from non-governmental sources. If you are getting 90%-100% of your money from the government, your finances are in a precarious state even if you are balancing your books for the time being. Being so dependent on one source of funding endangers the very existence of your organization. For those who advise against neighborhood groups doing charitable gambling, I assume that you have alternative grassroots fundraisers that are at least as lucrative. Please share them with us. Jay Clark Cooper _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
