Behind the Button

Damn the Lemons! Buttons of Hope a Finalist

Sometimes when you lose you win! A couple of weeks ago Buttons of Hope was a finalist at the Charlotte Research Institute's  Five Ventures Entrepreneurial Competition. It was truly an honor to be part of this prestigious competition ~ to make it through the semi-finals and then the finals.

It was tough and in the end I faced a real challenge having to do a mock sales pitch: Buttons of Hope to a fictionalized retailer Tall-Mart (yes that retailer). So I did what so many of my customers and friends in the non profit/fundraising world do every day I did my best to turn lemons into lemonade! My pitch...encourage Walmart to put a face on their corporate giving by having their two million associates wear photo buttons -- bold idea (see lemons above) I did not win came out third in a category of three...yikes!

As my sweetest daughter Emily cautioned me...
Dad, good luck with that!

I wished I had the opportunity to pitch Buttons of Hope to a Susan Komen, American cancer Society or March of Dimes. I had a great presentation at the ready talking about how custom photo buttons are a way to personalize a cause and a way to engage both fundraisers and donors alike. About how colored ribbons, wristbands and names scribbled on placards become anonymous and pale in comparison to the picture of a loved one or a friend! About how Non-Profits need to embrace bold, unique approaches...right now! (sorry couldn't resist)

Those of you (me) who have made buttons know what I am talking about ~ how the very act of choosing the picture, holding and pinning on the button makes such a huge difference - the button becomes a tangible expression of your pride, honor and love!

If you like...the Charlotte Observer's Kirsten Valle did a really nice job in her story about the competition and Buttons of Hope.

But, I'd still like to give that preferred presentation ~ so if you're a non-profit looking for a new way to engage motivate and inspire your grassroots fundraisers and donors well we need to meet. I am ready to talk. And to all my awesome customers if you know a fundraising event/cause that could use a little (or giant) push please tell them about Buttons of Hope!

Fundraising How to(s) at Step By Step Fundraising

For many of us fundraising is anything but FUN, truth be told. It's not easy to ask the same friends, co-workers and family for money year after year - especially if they just bought 15 boxes of Thin Mints!! The 2009 charity walks** season will be here before we know it -- so if you're looking for some tips and ways to stand out in 2009 you should spend some (maybe a bunch) time on Sandra Sims' Step By Step Fundraising website and blog. (click here for my award winning Charity Walk lens on Squidoo)

I don't know how Sandra does it but between here original writing and the trolling for the best of the internet she has compiled maybe the most comprehensive fundraising resource on the web and she's a genuinely nice person to boot! Be sure to check out Sandra's Charity Mile website too where people doing charity walks, runs, bike rides and triathlons connect.

You can start by subscribing here to her jam-packed email newsletter - I do!

Everyone is gearing up or the charity walk season Relay for Life, Komen for the Cure, Walk to Cure diabetes, Heartwalk, March for Babies are all a robin's tweet away! So this year spend a little time on your fundraising strategy - you may find it's easier than you think. I picked out a few interesting articles to get you started:

Recently From Charity Mile
Social Networking: A New, Cool Fundraising Tool
Fundraising — Seven Tips for Getting Started
Focus on Your Message for a Successful Athletic Charity Event
Host a Jewelry Party Fundraiser

Recently From Step by Step Fundraising
Throw a Party, Raise Funds for Your Favorite Cause
An Important Fundraising Safety Message
Free Online Fundraising eBooks: Download These Today

So that should get you started, I hope you'll find Sandra's sites helpful in reaching your fundraising goals. And I hope that when you learn it all over there you'll remember to come back here to make your Button of Hope so that you can share your powerful story and put a face on your cause in 2009!