Chapter Fundraising
 

I did a search on this subject first, and didn't find any threads...so, here we go:

Sorors: What fundraisers has your chapter implemented and how successful have they been? This question will really vary for Undergraduate and Graduate chapters. My chapter is really taking some time out to brainstorm on fundraising programs and as a part of that committee, I would really like to hear about some other chapters' fundraising programs. I am most interested in Graduate Chapter fundraisers.

Sisterfriends: Have you attended any fundraising events sponsored by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incororated or any other organization (not necessarily greek) that have seemed to be successful? I'd also love to hear your input.

Thanks in advance for all of your input.

Many chapters of the Divine Nine take on the Ebony Fashion Fair annually as a fundraiser.

Other options include, but are not limited to: calendar girl pageants, debutantes, beautillions, our own "Fashionetta". Even those baby pageants.

The chapter I am a member of does not "fund raise". Thank God. :D Each Soror is assessed a certain amount annually which will cover costs for a "fund raiser". I know this is what turned me on to this chapter. I hate to sell tickets, etc. When I paid my dues/assessments last month, all of that is covered, so no fundraisers for us. :D

Good luck! :D

My chapter's big fund-raiser is the annual debutante ball. :)
Down here in LoCal, Ebony Fashion Fair has been sponsored by Las Munecas (dolls) Auxiliary and benefits the Children's Home Society of California.

Also, you may want to contact some amusement parks in your area. When I was in City Year, we worked at Paramount's King's Island. The money that they would have paid us in wages went to our fundraising pot. Girl, that mess was no joke! Needless to say, I was not cut out for all that, but it was a good way to raise some money.

Also, check into theaters (that show plays, I don't know about movies). They may do the same as the amusement park, or they may pay a bulk rate if you all volunteer as ushers or bartenders or something like that.

There is always grant writing. I'm not sure if you can do that on a chapter level, though, we'd have to check our documents on that one. Even if you've never written one, it's not that hard, and they have books to assist you!

There is ALWAYS the carwash, bake sale, spaghetti dinners, etc. that you could do!

Also, if one of you in the chapter is crafty, you can make stuff (candles, candy, cookies, jewelery, etc.) and sell for your chapter at Cluster or something like that.

That's all I can think of off hand. But, Soror, I remember the Bruhs had a similar thread in their forum. You might want to check over there and see if there are more ideas that you can use! :)

Good luck!

In addition....
 

Greeting sorors and sisterfriends:

In addition to the cotillion/fashionetta/beautillion:

- Lip Sync Contest (Kappas did this)
- Fashion Show
- Women's Forum (with dinner/several speakers)
- Ball (jazz ensemble)
- Graduate Step Show
- Bowl-a-thon (Alphas did this every year)
- Apollo (talent show -- Alpha's as well)
- Golf Tourny (expensive, but if you have a good turn-out it could be well worth it)


I'll get back with you if I think of anything else. And yes...these are all graduate chapter events.

BTW, that is nice soror AKA2d...I don't like selling stuff either, but I think I hate paying expensive dues/assessments even more (smile). But you know a soror has to stay active...so its either one or the other (smile)

My chapter has been really successful with our "Conversation with Authors" fundraiser. We invite prominent writers, i.e. Eric Jerome Dickey, J. California Cooper, Soror BeBe Moore Campbell, Omar Tyree, to come and talk about their books. We partner with local African-American owned bookstores that come in and sell copies of the books, which the writers sign after the event. It's been really successful and it promotes literacy while raising funds. By the way, each soror is assessed a certain number of tickets to sell for the event.

Soror AKA2D'91 - You're lucky that your chapter doesn't fundraise. A lot of Sorors start twitching in their seats when the word "assessment" comes up, but I personally see nothing wrong with it. I really like how your chapter does it - assessments are an annual thing and that's it - and then everything is covered and the chapter can carry out their programs all year long. You know from jump what your assessment is and you can plan for it accordingly. I will add this to my list of suggestions.

Sorors - thank you to all of you who have responded so far. These are great suggestions to add to our brainstorm and planning.

It is great!
 

If I'm not mistaken, the assessment (less than $150) isn't due until September '02, but our dues was due by OUR DUE date.;) I paid all of mine together, that way, I don't have to worry about giving up the $$$ at a later date.

I think that something should be done to RETAIN our Sorors. ;) Graduate chapters can become VERY, VERY expensive. Shucks, it would be great if we could have a MONTHLY payment plan. :p (Wishful thinking)

Those SFs out there OBSERVING ;), dues/assessments VARY from chapter to chapter, region to region. In OTHER words, NO 2 chapters (undergrad or Grad) operate the SAME way. :p

Re: It is great!
 

Even though it's "wishful thinking," Soror, your idea's a good one, especially in view of the emphasis on retention.
:cool:

It does vary...
 

A lot of chapters (I've been in 2 grad chapters thus far and visited several of them)...do allow you to pay dues on installments. However, the installment plan is opened in September of the the current year for the next year. Therefore, Sorors attempting to reactivate miss out because of National deadline for monies as well as other things.

The installment plan really helped. I would always take advantage of it! Just add it in with your monthly bills. By the time January would roll around, you would be DONE!

To regain some of our lost souls on the grad level, we need to just let go of C---! That 1992 assessment still is the reason a lot of people just say no! I'm glad I paid it undergrad!

Right that C*&^ is a so and so. If a Soror does want to come back and hasn't paid that, plus has to pay the reactivation fee, THEN pay dues/assessments.... CLAWD HA MURCY! :D :p

Installments for the NEXT year is great.
It would be great if ALL Grad chapters did that.
:D

I like that idea. I hate selling things, too.

I remember when I was on line, our big sisters used to tell us that joining the sorority was a luxury and pinkngreen was expensive. I have never forgotten that!

The first grad chapter I was in made a cookbook and sold it around Christmas time, it made a good gift and the chapter made alot of money.

hahahhaha!
 

Jody...that's the same thing my graduate adviosr used to tell us (well, very similar). She would always say "Alpha Kappa Alpha is a luxury and not a necessity". And now, I truly know what she means!

One of the chapters in South Central also did a cookbook. All you have to pay for is the printing/binding. Sorors contributed the recipes

Happydaysf91, the year we did the cookbook it was like the first fundraiser after our chapter was chartered. EVERYBODY was supposed to submit a recipe, but being the microwave cooker that I was (2nd year out of college) I didn't submit a recipe. When the book came out sorors were congratulating me on my
spinach quiche. The sorors on the committee wanted to make sure every member was included in the book, so they just gave me a recipe. I gave a cookbook to my mother and she called me like, when did YOU learn how to cook!