Give Guide

Willamette Week Give Guide

• The Give Guide is an incentives system and tracking process created by WW, which ran from Nov 13 - Dec 31. In 2008, the Give Guide raised over $800K.
• Last year FG participated in Give Guide was 2004
• For 2008 the cost for 1/2 page ad in the Give Guide booklet and website [1] = $600
• Final total of donations through Give Guide = $6416.00
• Contents of 2008 Ad

• Side Bar: In partnership with the City of Portland, Free Geek just kicked off a new initiative to provide more computers to schools and their students in the Portland school districts. Please support our effort!
• Testimonial: “I used to sit at home and think about my surgeries. Now I’m functioning and taking part. I will use my [adopted computer] to get connected to friends because I will be going to the hospital soon and the computer will be my only contact to the outside.” —Ron McClintock, Free Geek volunteer
• What We Do: We are a nonprofit community organization that recycles and refurbishes used technology to provide computers, education, and job skills training to individuals in exchange for their volunteer service. We also grant computers to schools and charitable organizations in our community who in turn benefit others.
• Why We’re Great: Since 2000 we’ve refurbished over 15,000 computers and recycled 2,000 tons of e-waste. Free Geek would never be able to accomplish this without the commitment of our 700 active volunteers. In turn, we provide classes and technical support to our volunteers to ensure successful reuse. What we don’t reuse gets recycled to the toughest standard through the Oregon E-cycles program to keep toxic e-waste chemicals out of our landfills. This year Free Geek was honored with the prestigious Green Giant Award.
• Volunteer! / What We Need:

• Adoption Program: Volunteer for 24 hours to earn a free computer.

• Build Program: Learn to build computers and earn one for yourself in the process.

• Volunteer Internships: Focused volunteering for gung-ho individuals—see the full list at freegeek.org/internships.

• Logo and Slogan: Connecting our Community one Computer at a time
• Contact Info: 1731 SE 10th Ave., Portland, OR 97214 | kevin.berg@freegeek.org | freegeek.org | 503.232.9350

• Lessons Learned

• Organizations which have been consistently in the Give Guide each year with established donor bases did well
• FG attracted approx 150 new donors - it is important to maintain contact with them for the next fundraising opportunity
• Quick thank you emails to donors as donations were received through the site were effective--facilitated by board
• A donation station at the FG front desk was moderately successful

• Most of the money transactions at the front desk involved mandatory fees, so could not use Give Guide to process
• Difficult to ask donor to pay suggested/mandatory fees THEN contribute to the Give Guide online

• Other organizations had various fundraisers/strategies to support their efforts.

• Silent Auctions, Dinners, Big Donor Parties, Partnerships with businesses to give promotional coupons for each donation
• Matching Donor for all contributions

• Direct mail is not a cost effective method to encourage Give Guide donations
• Creating promotional material to advertise FG virtues and incentives of Give Guide helped at front desk, but hard to measure success
• Advertised in E-newsletter and special E-Greeting card with appeal from board member--some success with latter