11 Jul 2008 11 Comments
The Power of $1
You probably have one in your pocket right now. Here in Boston, we reminisce about the days when it only took one to ride the T. It is one of the humblest among our mediums of exchange. It is the $1 bill.
Sometimes we don’t think to give in small amounts because we don’t think it will be enough to make a difference. Giving a donation of $1 to a cause seems almost a joke. Consider, however, an often-cited statistic in the discourse of international development and aid: “Half of the world’s population lives on less than $1 a day.” This fact turns that kind of thinking on its head. $1 can mean life, education, food, water and health to millions of people around the world. And $1 mobilized from each person in a community or network has the power to effect a great deal of change (the pun, of course, is intended).
That is exactly the kind of intuition that some Firstgiving fundraisers are using to raise money for very worthy causes. Often cited is the fact that “every dollar helps,” but these fundraisers are specifically asking for donations in the amount of $1:
Dane Low is raising money for Room to Read to build a school in Vietnam by asking 17,000 people to each donate $1.
Bayne Upton is asking everyone he knows to donate $1 to the Lance Armstrong Foundation as he competes in the Ironman Coeur d’Alene.
Timothy Senechalle raised money for Special Olympics by participating in a polar bear swim and reserved messaging space on his body for a donation of $1 per letter.
Joseph Frambach is hiking the Appalachian trail this summer for Gildas Club Western Pennsylvania and asking for donations such as $1 per day and $1 per mile.
Fortunately for these forward-thinking fundraisers, Firstgiving’s minimum accepted donation is $1!
Inspired by the power of $1, I recently created my own fundraising page to raise money for Blood:Water Mission, an organization which itself proclaims the $1 message: “$1 provides clean water for 1 African for 1 year.” I asked my friends to donate $1 for every glass of water they drank the following Friday, and the response was overwhelmingly positive!
That $1 in your pocket may be worth more than you think, and Firstgiving fundraising pages can make it easy for you and people you know to give $1 away. That kind of giving could become a habit!
Julia R. Harrelson
Jul 30, 2008 @ 16:38:03
I need some information to help with a fund raiser for my outreach ministry.
Julia @919-638-2361
Sharon Hauser
Jul 31, 2008 @ 09:26:29
I am the County Director for a non-profit agency who serves those with disabilities. We are doing a fund raiser through Applebee’s. They will open on a Saturday morning from 7am to 10am and will will have apancake breakfast. Tickets cost $5.00 each and we get $3.50 of that amount. We do have to pay the cook $39.00 and part of food costs (the manager told me it would be minimal). I believe that this can be done at all Applebee’s. Sharon
Michele Parish
Jul 31, 2008 @ 10:07:14
Many people need to start somewhere, and if they missed out on giving a nickel every week in Sunday school, a $1 regularly to somewhere can get a person into the giving spirit. Great idea.
Dr. Thomas E. Duckworth, L.Ac.
Jul 31, 2008 @ 12:45:56
We operate volunteer clinics providing traditional oriental medicine to the underserved of St. Louis. I will try the $1.00 appeal for the purchase of acupuncture needles. Thanks for pointing out the obvious.
D. E. West
Jul 31, 2008 @ 14:38:29
How is the $1.00 donation handled? Are the one $ donations sent in as cash, check, online charge, etc? Otherwise, how does the actual transation take place?
BethP
Jul 31, 2008 @ 15:39:07
On any Firstgiving.com fundraising page, you can donate with your credit card directly through the site. The minimum donation is $1. On your credit card statement, this shows up as a payment to Firstgiving. Firstgiving deducts a small transaction fee and sends your donation to the nonprofit. Read more on our website: http://www.firstgiving.com/Design/1/about_us.asp
Marianne Lynch
Aug 04, 2008 @ 09:16:42
Our organization is beginning to tap into the power of one through the internet. It is set up so that you can give $1 to help build a house. We just launched and are already starting to see results…You can click through and donate through on-line giving directly to our donation software with your credit card. It was very easy to set up and is secure!
http://www.onegreenseed.org/
Jane Myers
Aug 08, 2008 @ 16:45:06
We are in desperate need of a fundraiser for a men’s ministry. The ministry is for men who suffer from substance and alcohol abuse. Last year “Open Door Ministry” helped repair and to heal families for 104 men. It’s a great ministry but due to the economy we need cash flow. We are a non-profit ministry. Any ideas on how to get the $1.00 fund raiser started? Thank you for any suggestions.
BethP
Aug 11, 2008 @ 11:12:54
Hi Jane,
I’ve been raising money for Blood:Water Mission with a $1-themed fundraiser on firstgiving.com. You can take a look at my fundraising page for inspiration(www.firstgiving.com/bapbwm) or any of the other pages linked in this blog. I received a great response by creating an event in which my friends could participate and by specifically asking for $1 donations. Creating a fundraising page is very easy to do, and our blog has lots of other tips, tricks and resources for you. Hope that helps; let us know when you’ve got your page going!
Grant
Aug 18, 2008 @ 09:09:48
Beth- check this org on Firstgiving at http://www.firstgiving.com/npo/14687 or their site at http://www.1dollarclub.org.
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