News

News: Phil Mickelson to Play on Behalf of Homes for Our Troops

December 2004  Phil Mickelson will be donating $100 for each birdie and $500 for each eagle he makes on TOUR this season. Homes for Our Troops is asking you to follow Phil's progress and match his donation throughout the year. Already the Palencia Club in St. Augustine, Fla., is planning a year-long pledge drive to match or exceed Mickelson’s contribution an is extending the challenge to other area clubs.

December 2004 Billy Joel, singer, songwriter and active supporter of many community and environmental causes, has made a $10,000 contribution to Homes for Our Troops. This contribution will further support Homes for Our Troops efforts to help our most severely wounded soldiers live more comfortable lives after they have returned home from war.

December 2004 Groundbreaking ceremony held for the very first home to be built by Homes for Our Troops. The home will be built in Middleboro, MA for Sgt. Peter Damon and his wife and two children. Peter lost both arms while repairing a Black Hawk helicopter in Iraq.

November 2004 The Defense Department launched a new program Nov. 19 to showcase America's support for the men and women of the armed forces and the myriad ways the country is expressing that support. Homes for Our Troops has been invited to be a part of this American effort! http://www.dod.mil/americasupportsyou/index.html

October 2004 Homes for Our Troops is proud to announce the launch of their new website, Kids for Our Troops! We have provided kids of all ages with lots of information about the needs of our disabled veterans and what they can do to help! Kids, parents, teachers, and club leaders will find lots of fundraising how to's, sample fundraising and thank you letters to download and use as well as historical information about veterans, flags and our patriotic holidays observed by Americans.

Guest Article: Fundraising Fundamentals by Sandra Simms

When you are fundraising for charity, there are MANY different ways to go about it. You might feel a little overwhelmed at first. But really fundraising can be simple, if you know the steps! On this site you will find objective reviews of fundraising strategies, products and events. I will help you get your fundraising activities started on the right foot!

Your first step is to learn about the basic principles of fundraising. The e-report The 5 Keys to Successful Fundraising (free) will give you a good introduction to fundraising.

Second, decide on the goals for your fundraising campaign. Goals are extremely important for every fundraiser event and for your campaign as a whole.

Next, learn as much as possible about the various fundraising options available. Think about the pros and cons of each and if they will apply to you or your organization.

Many charities encourage sending letters to request donations. There is a reason for this. Fundraising letters work!

Letters are an inexpensive fundraising tool. You can send letters to ANYONE you know. Your mom, your co-workers, your dentist, even cousin Joe you haven't seen since 1986. (Don't get me started on family reunions!)

Check out the Letters section of this site and you will find a detailed, Step By Step Guide to Writing a Fundraising Letter, plus some examples.

Many groups sell merchandise to raise money. You see these ALL the time! Candy, candles, gift wrap, popcorn...and the list goes on. A word of caution with product fundraisers. So many groups including scouts, schools, etc. are using these. You may find that people are truly overwhelmed with requests to buy something.

Be sure that you check out the article How to Choose a Product Fundraiser to find out if a product fundraiser is right for you.

Fundraising events are where the real fun begins! There are so many great fundraising strategies that can be called "events." These include auctions, dinners, golf tournaments and more. Of course the run/walks are events in themselves!

There are many great fundraising options available. Match your organization and your goals with the right fundraiser, and you are on your way to success!

Next Step - Gather Fundraising Ideas:

The 5 Keys to Successful Fundraising (Free) found on my website

© 2004 Sandra Sims

About the Author Sandra Sims, “The Fundraising Coach" has been raising money by participating in charity walks for over 10 years. To get more fundraising tips and a free copy of the special report "The 5 Keys to Successful Fundraising" sign up for the monthly Step By Step Fundraising Ideas Newsletter.
Visit our site www.stepbystepfundraising.com

Start Planning Early!

Planning a Veterans Day fundraiser?  Start right now! Plan and advertise your event in store windows, at school, church and in department stores. (Ask permission first) Make sure you add who the donations will be going to (Homes for Our Troops) and what is being done with the generous donations you will receive. (Build and Adapt Handicapped Accessible Homes for Our Returning Disabled Veterans)
Don't forget to email us the details of your fundraiser and we will help you promote it by adding it to our events section!

Learn More:

Visit our main site, www.homesforourtroops.org to see the progress on our home building projects!