[Rfu-station] Re: [Rfu-finance] Fundraising Ideas and How to Help

[Lynsee Melchi]

Greeting RFU Family...from sunny South Africa (even though it's winter...)

I got this email also (from Mike) and just wanted to add my 2 cents as
fundraising for RFU was one of the many things I was involved with
when I was still in CU.

Fundraising isn't as hard as it seems.  It just takes an idea, a
person to see it thru til the end, and...well that's about it.  Here's
some simple things to think of when doing fundraising.

1.  Think of the resources you have around you and use them

On the fundraising side of things...RFU has a lot of resources:

a radio station to advertise on (thru PSAs, live reads, interviewing
bands that might play, etc)
a venue (the IMC) to host the events...that you get to use for FREE
a network of people that come from all diffferent backgrounds in CU
(this comes in handy when advertising the event and recruiting people
to attend)

etc etc

Take those resources and use them to make an event or whatever
fundraising thing you want to get going (be it Tshirts, etc)  We have
a lot more than a lot of other organizations have in place...use it!!!

Get your hustle on!  It's an important part of fundraising.  My most
successful event only cost $30 to put on and raised over $700.  There
was food, music, bonfires, and camping.  It can be done!  You just
need to hustle a bit!!!  Think of the people you know and the services
they provide and then get them to come along.  The event I speak of
was a camping/music event out at Bill Taylor's place in Monticello.
There was food that was sold by the Red Herring at night and then they
provided a free breakfast in the morning.  All the bands played for
free.  The sound was provided by the IMC shows group.  Bill let us use
the venue for free.  The only cost was for flyers.  I hustled all that
cos I thought of what I wanted and then went to the people that
provided those services and made a deal with them.  Don't be scared to
ask!  Also we have non-profit tax standing...which goes a very very
long way!

2.   Making events people want to come to...i.e what will people pay
for and show up to?

This is difficult at times because you may really be into death metal
and want to host a death metal party at the IMC...but sadly there may
only be a few other people in town that are also so hard core into
death metal that they will 1) remember to attend 2) actually attend.
You need to think of holistic events because WRFU is an
all-encompassing organization.  Don't plan an event only you will want
to attend.  Plan an event that you will have enough people attend to
make some money.  A great example of this (sorry Claire!) was the 1
year anniversary of WRFU.  An 80s party...Zernial Bogan and Patsy will
not be at an 80s party and their friends won't be there and that means
we won't make any money.  The theme is too narrow.  The more bases you
cover...the more likely it is that you will have something that
interests someone enough that they will come and throw down their $5.
There's a lot happening in CU on any given date that you are up
against, so you have to get people's attention.  Something like a
Bowl-a-thon would be an event that everyone from Zernial's flock to
Claire's ska chicks to Ray's med students might be inclined to attend.
 You don't have to hit every group with every event, but having
diverse events will help bring in more people.  Remember...you are
trying to make money!

It helps to think about what networks people at RFU have and then
exploit those networks.  In this case it would be okay to plan a
narrow event as long as you know enough people will attend it.  For
example...we have a lot of people in the church community in CU at
RFU.  Why haven't these people pooled their respect networks such that
they get them to attend an event together?  Zernial had a great idea
awhile back for a Gospel Fest at the IMC.  This is a fantastic idea
and I think would bring in a lot of people to the IMC that maybe have
never been there.  Bonus bonus bonus!!!

So, think of the networks of people you can access and then do it.  If
you don't have a network to work from then make an event that a
diverse crowd will be into!

3.  Ideas

Think of cool stuff to do!  It's one of the best ways to get people's
attention...like I said there's a lot happening in CU (whether u
believe me or not).  My first RFU fundraiser was the same day as a
tsunami survivor fundraiser...and we still made money.  But you gotta
get people's attention.

It might be helpful to talk to the Prometheus people and see what
other small stations are pulling off around the USA.  They print a
pretty cool fundraising brochure/info document that will be helpful to
you.

Google...it's the bomb.  Use it to find out what other groups are
doing and copy them!!  As long as those groups aren't in CU.... ;)

***
I don't see RFU pulling off any events that raise a few thousand in
one shot.  The organization it takes to do that just isn't there.  If
you think I'm full of crap...prove me wrong!  I think the key is to
try to set up one event every month.  At least.  They can be small
events or bigger events.  THEY JUST NEED TO BE DONE.  Talking doesn't
go very far.  Walking is what gets you there.  Talk to the Books to
Prisoners people.  Their Slam Jam Romp Stomp has been wildly
successful and besides that is just a damn good event.  I'd like to
see RFU pull off an event like that.  It can be done...

That's all I can think of for right now.  If you want help or have
questions...email me!  I'm always there for RFU...even if I'm on
another continent!!!

Good luck and get crackin'
Lynsee

On 8/10/07, Mike Lehman <rebelmike at earthlink.net> wrote:
> I've received a number of replies to the email about our struggling
> financial situation. Thanks, as I appreciate the fact that people want
> to do something about this problem. I can't answer them all, in fact, so
> please look for answers to your questions and suggestions below.
>
> However, let's remember how we got into this situation, as we prepare to
> do something about it. It is the lack of an organized and active
> RFU-finance group that is the root of our problem.
>
> I am not really in a position to take all these ideas, organize them,
> and suggest a way forward. Remember, I am trying to step down as station
> manager. I'm just not going to be able to trade that hat for a
> fundraising hat. I really need to step back from things and let y'all
> get something going together.
>
> I suggest that people who want to contribute to RFU's fundraising
> efforts sign up for the RFU-Finance list at:
> http://lists.ucimc.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/rfu-finance
>
> If anyone who wants to help has a problem signing up for it, let me, Ray
> or Dan know, as we are all admins for this list.
>
> Currently, there are just a handful of active members on it. It has seen
> very little use, with the last message to it in April 2007. Making this
> list work, using it to organize RFU-Finance meetings, regularly
> communicating the minutes of those meetings to the rest of the RFU
> membership, and putting those plans into action is what needs to be
> done. Join the RFU-France list and make it happen!
>
> Here's some suggestions about the situation on what we can do.
>
> We can do underwriting. We spent a lot of time getting a policy in place
> to accept underwriting funding from those who want to help us. Yet,
> AFAIK, we have never had ANY underwriting.
>
> Other than the funds from the $20/year RFU membership, underwriting and
> special events are the only other ways we can raise funds for station
> operations. It doesn't take much money to run the station, which is why
> we made a policy at the beginning of RFU that we would NOT do regular
> on-air fund drives for this purpose. Excess underwriting funds over and
> above basic station expenses COULD be used to fund internet streaming. I
> say COULD, because we've yet to see ANY underwriting income.
>
> This is also the BIG reason why I keep suggesting to those who want to
> do streaming that they must identify a specific source of funding to
> sustain streaming. It's true there can be a little, and I do mean a
> little, support for streaming from membership dues -- we did agree to do
> that, assuming there was anything left in the budget. But all you need
> to do is the math to figure out that even at $20/year, IF we had 150
> members (we don't!) that would only bring in $3,000/year. We have $1200
> in studio overhead, $420 in phone bills, and $580 in broadcast copyright
> licensing, a total of $2,200/year in expenses.
>
> Since we have LESS than 150 members, having money left for internet
> streaming copyright licensing requires that we either get more members
> signed up or that we identify another source of funds for it to happen.
> Let's please quit holding all other station fundraising priorities
> hostage to doing something first about streaming unless you've already
> got a plan you are acting on to raise funds for streaming. Streaming is
> an option, not a necessity, and it will cost us money for every listener
> we add beyond the limited capacity of the station server, further adding
> to the need to have a source of funding for it separate from other
> station operations. Internet listeners need to be the source of funds
> for this, not everything else at the station, if underwriting income is
> not tehre to support it. We simply don't have the funds to afford it
> right now and will only be able to make a contribution of excess funds
> from memberships and/or underwriting once we've gotten steadily on our feet.
>
> If we can't do on-air fund drives for operating expenses, then how do we
> raise money? Why do we even need money?
>
> Our policy on on-air fundraising that I mentioned earlier EXCLUDES
> fundraising needed for specific equipment. We CAN do a fund drive for
> the permanent tower and studio equipment, for instance. That is why I've
> been suggesting we do that for the last year, among other options. I
> don't know whether people want to set up a short fund drive or simply
> want to read a PSA on _every_ show about our fundraising needs and where
> people can contribute to help. But we now know it needs to be done,
> whatever we decide.
>
> We definitely need to produce at least one, preferably several, spots to
> place into automation so that it plays once an hour when we are in
> automation until we've got the funds raised for our equipment needs.
> Producing such spots should be a high priority!
>
> The idea of a big event to raise funds could be a good one. I'll remind
> everyone that such an event needs to be self-financing and needs to
> bring in substantial money to succeed. That is hard to pull off. We
> can't afford to invest $500 to raise $200. We need to invest $200 to
> raise $5,000 or more for that to work.
>
> A permanent tower is a necessity. The one on the roof works, but doesn't
> get us to all the listeners who could be willing to contribute to our
> fund appeals. It would also expand the incentive for underwriters to
> contribute, because their underwriting spots would reach a bigger
> audience. Once again, raising income that might contribute to streaming
> is directly connected to the station as a whole being better off.
>
> Another thing is that we have a two-year window to replace the current
> tower with one that is NOT on the roof. That window closes on Nov. 13.
> This is not an absolutely firm deadline, but it is one that could
> eventually cause a shut down of the station if we are not clearly seen
> to be working on a solution for it. Would you rather raise funds while
> we are on the air or take the risk of doing it without being able to
> broadcast? This is a no-brainer to me, which is also part of the reason
> I'm starting to sound a little desperate about the need to get something
> done about the tower ASAP.
>
> Studio equipment? Heck yeah, new stuff would be great! But given that
> we've done practically no fundraising over the 21 months we've been on
> the air, we simply can't afford to spend any money that is not
> absolutely necessary until the new tower is funded. Otherwise, it's
> _again_ a no-brainer to me, which is again part of the reason I'm
> starting to sound a little desperate about the need to get something
> done about the tower ASAP.
>
> What are our needs? We need about $10,000 to put up a permanent tower.
> We have about $1,000 for it so far, with another $1,000 pledged. We need
> another $8,000 for it.
>
> Ray says we need a new board. That will run at _least_ $2,500, actually
> probably closer to $4,000 for a high quality board that gives us all the
> options we'd like. We could also use new CD players, so the current ones
> could be backups. We need a station amplifier/receiver for the monitors
> (although this is the one place where a contribution of a consumer-grade
> item by someone could work.) It would be nice to have two good
> turntables, replacement mics, high quality remote broadcast gear, all
> kinds of other stuff. Make your list and give us a total to add to the
> tower funds needed. I'll bet we can do it all for $20,000 or even less.
>
> Sell T-shirts? Sure, heck every RFU member should buy a T-shirt to
> support the station. We have a few left and can make more. But it takes
> a lot of T-shirts to make the kind of change we need.
>
> Renew your membership? Heck yeah! Do it now.
>
> Passing the hat? Yes, a few of us can kick in something more than
> $20/year. Why not, if you can afford it?
>
> That's enough for now. I said I wasn't going to be able to do this for
> you. All these ideas have been brought up before, but I think it's
> important to point out that taken all together, it is within your
> capacity to raise these funds. But we need to quit talking about it as
> soon as we have a plan in place and start DOING IT!
>
> What's the first thing to do if you personally are ready to act?
>
> Sign up for the RFU-Finance list!
> http://lists.ucimc.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/rfu-finance
>
> I know you all can do this. RFU is the largest group of active IMCistas
> at the IMC. We have a radio station at our disposal. There's no reason
> we can't fix our financial problems and have all this funding in place
> by the end of the year -- unless you're waiting on someone else to do it!
> Regards,
> Mike Lehman
> _______________________________________________
> Rfu-finance mailing list
> Rfu-finance at lists.ucimc.org
> http://lists.ucimc.org/cgi-bin/listinfo/rfu-finance
>


-- 
Join me in Pretoria, South Africa and abroad at my blog (online
journal): http://lynseemelchi.blogspot.com

Tune in to WRFU-LP...Radio Free Urbana 104.5FM online at: www.wrfu.net.

          ***************************************************
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-Desiderata