Fundraising attempts
Definitions:
- Donation
- When someone gives us gizmos, often accompanied by a donation of money.
- Contribution
- When someone gives us money, but it is not accompanied by a donation of gizmos.
When looking for past grants, one page is Successful Grants page, which has links to some of the past successful grants.
2000
Free Geek opens doors, gains 501(c)(3) status, creates database of contacts.
No paid staff. A few contributors. Started asking for money with donations.
Grants received: Oregon DEQ 2000
2001
Grants received: Samual S. Johnson Foundation
Staff began getting paid in September.
Failed grant attempt: DEQ
2002
First successful direct mailing. Offering tax receipt to all donors as a service along with an ask for contributions.
Thrift Store opens.
Attempt to set up a sustainers' program, with varying
Grants received: Oregon DEQ 2002, Kelley Family Foundation
Started development of a sustainers program (see 3x5 index cards) with different levels of support pledged. This involved a second mailing (that probably met costs), and a concerted effort to get pledge cards out to donors, etc. The effort lacked sufficient follow up and it died out a year later.
2003
Grants received: Juan Young Trust, Meyer Memorial Trust, Collins Foundation
Collaborative Technologies program started. Proved to be a big money drain for the organization.
2004
Grants received: Flora Family Foundation
Failed Grants: Campbell Foundation, Holland Family Foundation
Mailing: Fundraising Letter 0412 (M. Deatherage appeal to her contacts)
2005
Grants received: Mt. Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, we turned the money down.
2006
Free Geek broken into. Push in media to ask for help. Money comes in from far and wide. $3,000+.
About $10,000 in employee matching. $12,000 in larger grants.
2007
About $10,000 in 5 contributions of $1,000 or better. $4,700 in employee matching.
2008
About $3,500 in medium to large contributions. $14,500 in employee matching. (~ $9,000 from one individual.) Online $1,400.
Give! Guide. $6,400.
2009
About $3,300 in medium to large contributions. $8,600 in employee matching. (~ $9,000 from one individual.) Online $1,400.
Give! Guide. $4,100
Misc: $575
30HourDay: $1,700
2010
Other Free Geeks' major grants
- Vancity Project Fund Oct 2007, FG Vancouver
- United Way, CARC, FG Toronto