The World’s Finest Chocolate company has been producing high quality candy for over 50 years. They make a variety of candy bars including milk chocolate with almonds and crispy bars.

They offer a variety of chocolate bars and boxed chocolates that are great for:

• Fundraising with $1 and $2 bars and even $5 boxed chocolates
• Romance and Anniversary Gifts so any day can be Valentine’s Day!
• Business and Corporate Gifts with your business logo included free
• Christmas Gifts for everyone on your list
• Chocolate Gifts for any occasion
  

Candy can be one of the best fundraisers, because just about everyone likes chocolate. It’s easy to sell chocolate bar and boxed chocolates as a fundraiser. World’s Finest Chocolate offers several premium chocolate products as fundraisers.

Unlike other candy bar fundraiser programs, World’s Finest Chocolate is not as readily available as other brands. While WFC can be purchased retail online, it’s not available in most retail stores. Since they can’t get it just anywhere, your supporters will have more incentive to buy from you. The brand is a high quality chocolate, comparable to Russel Stover. This high quality will also foster more sales.

There are several types of chocolate bars available including milk chocolate, crisp bars, almonds and caramel bars.Variety packs include free carrying cases / display boxes and give your supporters more choices, making it easy for them to buy from you.

Remember that with candy bar fundraiser programs, especially low dollar
items, a high quantity of sales is important. With a large number of
sellers, the program will likely be more successful. Request each participant
sell a minimum number of items. Offering prizes for high sellers is
also an encouragement.

Candy can be one of the best school fundraisers, if students can sell
at school and school events. High school sports, soccer, band or other
groups with many active sellers can benefit.

A World’s Finest Chocolate Fundraiser:

• Offers high quality, delicious chocolate in a variety of flavors
• You can choose to sell one flavor or a variety
• Variety packs include free carrying case / display boxes
• There are three price levels with $1 and $2 bars and $5 boxed chocolates - choose the one that’s right for you
• Up to 50% profit for your group

PLUS…just for Step by Step Fundraising Customers…You’ll get free shipping on your chocolate order when you also participate in the online magazine program. There’s no additional cost and you’ll be earning more profit for your group.

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At the conclusion of our week long focus on international organizations is a site from Action Without Borders, Idealist.org.

Action Without Borders is a nonprofit organization founded in New York City in 1995. Our mission is to connect people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives.

The Idealist site has gone through several transformations over the years. It has a strong history of involvement from many leading social activists, business people and foundations. The newest incarnation of the website which was launched on November 3, 2006 has an even stronger social networking focus.

You can search for organizations and other announcements without registering. There are additional benefits to joining, such as being able to post jobs, volunteer opportunities, events, and get email alerts.

Visit Idealist.org and get connected with other like minded people and organizations around the world.

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More Around the World News…

This comes from Marc Gold, founder of the 100 Friends Project.

I first talked with Marc a couple of years ago and have been inspired by his work ever since. The concept of the Project is simple. Marc Gold collects donations from about 100 people and then takes the money to third world countries to distribute as directly and intelligently as possible. He helps people one on one, some groups and non profits, but often individuals who have no one else.

His method of fundraising is also one on one and those how donate feel a special connection to the project. It’s a lesson for anyone who raises funds for a cause - keep your mission and your donors connection to that mission central to fundraising efforts.

In November, an article about the project was featured in the San Francisco Chronicle.

Here’s Marc’s latest update from the field…

The project is going extraordinarily well this year. I am very much enjoying Indonesia. I went back Bandeh Aceh for a week to help tsunami survivors and the other I donated $2,000 for earthquake victims to get back to work with micro-loans. This will result in dozens of people gaining employment.

Tomorrow going to an orphanage to make donation. It was totally destroyed in the quake and 100 boys live in tents; also donating to the girls orphanage. Then we’ll visit a small poor hospital and bring books, toys, sweets, etc. Lots of donations also made in Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Cambodia.

Find out more about the 100 Friends Project

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Have you signed up for Guidestar.org?

Up until recently I had assumed that Guidestar was just for US organizations. Not so! This website has many international charities and foundations listed. Once you register (takes two minutes) you can search by keyword, organization name and/or location. One drawback is that it only allows you to search by US location. However, you can just put a country name in the keyword box.

While the majority of organizations listed are located in the United States, there are many that support work outside the US. For example, I searched for Brazil and discovered several charities that are US based but support work there, such as Brazil Foundation and Action for Brazil’s Children. Using these search tools organizations who serve specific countries and/or missions can connect with one another for mutual benefit.

Non profit organizations will benefit in several ways:

• Get your name out there - a basic listing of your organization is free
• Search and connect with other non profits
• Use Guidestar’s many research tools (some require a small fee; grant explorer starts at $49)
• Read its informative publications such as newsletters and reports

You don’t have to be part of a NPO to register. Individuals can use the search tool to verify a nonprofit’s legitimacy, learn whether a contribution will be tax deductible, view a nonprofit’s recent Forms 990, or find out more about its mission, programs, and finances.

Go to Guidestar.org

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By using a program called “scrip” schools and other groups can sell gift cards and make a commission on each and every one. One of the keys to a winning scrip program is offering cards for retailers where your supporters already shop.

Canadian scrip company FundScrip had grocery giant Loblaw enlisted — until a new Loblaw’s corporate policy changed that. Customers however, were none too pleased. The FundScrip program is currently used by 700 non-profit groups and participants expressed their disappointment through letters and a petition — which garnered over 1,300 signatures.

Now after pressure from customers Loblaw has reversed its decision and is once again participating in the fundraising program. Many schools and other non profit groups are relieved.

Carol Blake, who started the Loblaw Internet petition from Kincardine, Ont., praised the company’s turnaround. Blake has raised $16,000 through FundScrip for Kincardine Township Tiverton Public School since 2004. Yesterday, she placed an $8,000 order for gift cards, $2,000 more than last week’s order.

“It’s fantastic they’re back,” Blake said. “It’s pennies that we raise on each card, but $2,000 a week is a lot of pennies.”

Source: Montreal Gazette

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After posting on Tuesday about fundraising around the world, I thought I’d check my web stats again. The statistics show the number of visitors to this website, what pages have been viewed the most, etc. One of the cool stats is the “pages by country” where you can see the many countries where people live that have visited this website.

Over the years I’ve talked by email with people around the world…Greece, China, Australia, UK, Brazil…just last week I got an email from Azerbaijan!

I feel truly blessed to be able to share fundraising ideas with people from many cultures, languages and places. It is a joy to see a common thread…people doing good where they can, helping others to make this big wide world a better place.

This table shows the top 25 countries from November and the number of web pages viewed…

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While my own experience is only with charities in the United States, I find the differences in non profit organizations around the world and the environment they work in quite interesting.

Culture, governmental system and economy are the underlying factors that determine charitable giving. A new report published by Charities Aid Foundation explores individual giving in 12 countries.

For a brief summary see PNN Online

or review the entire report at the CAF web site.

Related Resources:
Fundraising Resources Outside the United States

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Do you volunteer for an animal related group - a humane society or rescue? Many of these groups are truly grassroots efforts. Founders and workers are often very passionate about helping animals. Of course it takes money to keep these efforts going so fundraising is essential.

Earlier this year Danielle Hamilton and I began collaborating on a website just for animal related groups. Danielle Hamilton has been working with animal rescues since 1998. She started fostering heartworm positive dogs, and quickly took on the role of publicity representative to increase adoptions and awareness of animal rescues in the area.

She has been sharing her creative fundraising ideas online since 2000 and is a moderator of the popular Humane Fundraising yahoo group. The new site contains hundreds of ideas, tips and themes for fundraising, designed specifically for animal groups, from animal rescues to humane societies, wildlife rehabbers to dog parks, and spay/ neuter groups to TNR feral cat colonies.

Visit Humane Fundraising to find out more.

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Would you like personalized help with learning how to ask for donations? Marc Pitman will be leading a Fundraising Master Mind Group, limited to 12 participants, who will be getting intense training on Face-to-Face Solicitation.

As part of this Fundraising Master Mind Group, you’ll learn incredibly practical tips to incorporate immediately into your current work and life.

Over the course of six weeks, you’ll learn:

• The 7 most common mistakes people make–how to avoid stop them.
• A simple 4-part “Get R.E.A.L.” system to structure your solicitation.
• Research your fundraising program
• Engage your prospects and Ask
• A simple 3-step tool to help you articulate your message

This training series starts January 9, 2007. Find out more

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