50 for the Future Participant Stories

I thought I would‘t be able to sell many, so I set my contribution at $100.00. but I sold enough to send $762.00 to MoveOn.org Political Action.

Several people bought more than one bread and some people gave me more than the $15.00 because they believe what I was doing was worth while. I explained what I was doing to several groups I belong to and many signed up for the bread which, in effect, I made “to order.”

Although not everyone would bake bread or anything else, I think it is easier to ask for money if you offer something in return for the donation. It also helps if you go to people who believe in the same causes that you do.

We invited everyone we knew by email, and asked them to invite everyone they knew. People were asked to bring a minimum donation of $10 and a fingerfood or beverage to share. We included in the email a condensed summary of how MoveOn would use the funds.

By holding this party in the Commons Room and big lawn of my complex and asking people to bring refreshments, we created an event that could grow as big as possible: we didn't have to know how many people were coming in advance in order to make enough food or make sure we could fit them all into my house. And it was also very inexpensive for us: we just provided the space, music, and some starter drinks and munchies.

People are so eager to get Bush out of office that many people donated more than the minimum, and many people we didn't even know showed up, thanks to word of mouth.

We had a big finger-shaped sign up that we colored in each time we collected another $100.

We collected over $1800 that day, and more checks keep rolling in from people who wanted to attend but couldn't.

I invited about 40 people, 25 or so who came and donated $1500. I was quite pleased.

I'm not one to try to change people's minds, so I felt more comfortable raising money so others can use their voices for change. My daughter and her friends from Next Generation (of student activists) helped serve the ice cream. We had may flavors, one of which was Fair Trade Chocolate chip. Most were made with locally grown organic produce.

MoveOn down to Grand Old Day!
Grand Old Day Street Festival
Sunday, June 6, 2004, 10am-5pm
Ruminator Books
1648 Grand Ave.St. Paul, MN

Be a part of 50 for the Future - a plan to raise $50 million to take our country back. It's the $50 Million Plan for MoveOn. $10 million to support the biggest get-out-the-vote in American history. $20 million for advertisements to reach millions of voters in swing states - ads that will cut through thespin and set the record straight. $20 million to support candidates from state senators to John Kerry.

Sip lemonade and savor sweet desserts while you make a donation to MoveOn's $50 Million Plan. We will have a voter registration table. Bring yourunregistered neighbors, family, and friends.Neighbors for Peace yard signs, t-shirts, tote bags,and other merchandise will also be available.Sponsored by Crocus Hill / W. 7th Neighbors for Peace, Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace, and Ruminator Books.

<followed by contact information>.

Won't likely have 20, more like 16 because some people can't come but sent a check anyway. Lots of wine... we're even printing out 'bushisms' to tape around the stems of the wine glasses to distinguish one from another. Great excuse to have a party.

It's a dinner party in our yard for 10 couples at $100 per couple. The wonderful part is that even when people can't come, they're still donating to the cause! Everyone seems excited -- we all have kids so this is a great excuse to get a babysitter and have an adult party!

Advice to others: It doesn't have to be a fancy dinner. People want to come and enjoy themselves along with contributing. I think it's important to make people feel like they can actually do something about the sad state of our country, not just sit around and fume. Get donations before the party with rsvp card.

If only 20 people gave $50, then there was our $1000. My husband made a short speech when there was a number of people (the event was from 12-2pm) about why were doing this. In retrospect I would have put what this money was going to be used for in the original invitation also.

We managed to raise $1000 in those two hours. Just under 20 people/couples came.

We sent an email to everyone we could think of. If they did not answer, it was not a problem. We did not bug them again. We sent invitations through email and reminders to those who accepted

In lieu of gifts, I asked them to donate to MoveOn.org Political Action. (the same idea would work for anniversaries, Father's Day, etc.)

We had a front yard brownie sale on Derby Eve in Louisville- a time when people flow down the street from party to party.

Friends made the brownies and the sign. All we had to do was tell them what we were doing- our friends were ready to do anything for the cause! We had a musician friend with his guitar to sing peace songs on the front porch- We must have had 60 people stop by.

We're considering a yard sale for our next event.

I called people AND sent out invitations. I was surprised that people were extremely happy to be invited. People WANT to have something to do to help get Bush out of office.

So many people said, "It's great that you are doing this." Almost everyone I invited came. It was particularly gratifying that neighbors with whom I am not close came, had a good time, gave money, and got to see which other neighbors are really concerned and willing to do something.

People told me that the party made them feel less isolated and discouraged about the political situation. I charged $25 per person, though a couple of people gave more. Nobody made me feel funny about charging money for a party.

I felt great about the whole thing. I had felt nervous ahead of time, but it turned out to be a terrific event that made me feel fantastic about doing something that made a difference.

We sold tons of stuff and raised alot of money. We also had voter registration forms and MoveOn hand outs.

And we put a MoveOnPAC sticker on every item we sold. We also set-up a lemonade stand and sold cookies which was great for passers-by who didn't want to shop.

All you need is a few friends with junk and a high-traffic area. People really took to the idea because they could help a little (give junk), a little more (make cookies) or help alot (load junk and sell it all day).

Before I actually pledged, I emailed my friends about the fundraiser and said that if everyone gave $15 I could make a $500 pledge. I asked them to tell me how much they could donate so I could verify the pledge amount. Some people pledged more, some less, some none (some had given a lot of money already to either MoveOnPAC or Kerry).

As checks and online donations started coming in, I'd update the group as a sort of inspiration for those who hadn't yet donated, and I made sure to let people know, individually, that I received their check. It all worked smoothly and it didn't take that long to reach my pledge goal.

I generally hate fundraisers (I was a PTA & Boy Scout mom - lots of involvment in fundraisers). This was a piece of cake and my friends were thanking ME for taking this on!!

On my first e-mail, I raised five times my goal (and was not able to afford to stick to my matching pledge).

I've met my goal, but I have learned that there are plently of people I know who are very happy to give.

The important thing is to ask, because there are a lot of people who feel very strongly about the need to change administrations for the good of the country.

We provided food and drinks (and the games), and used evite.com to send out invitations, including information about what MoveOn was planning to do with the money. We just held the party in our apartment, nothing fancy.

My wife and I went in together with another couple (go in together with friends -- you can split up the work that way, and reach more people) and we put our heads together to come up with a list of everyone we knew who might be sympathetic to MoveOn's cause. We sent an invitation to about 50 people, and had about a 40% acceptance rate. Most people were thrilled to have some way to contribute to getting Bush out of office.

And don't be too nervous about it -- we'd never done a fundraiser before, and it turned out to be both fun and wildly successful!

We made $300 from that sale, and added $200 from our own funds to meet our pledge of $500.

It was fun and a good opportunity to socialize with friends that we don't see often enough.

I approached people via e-mail so that if they weren’t interested in helping they wouldn’t feel obligated to respond. Then I gave them a commemorative illustration for their pledge.

Not only did people jump on the chance to pledge, but 5 people walked with me! I raised $1300 ($800 above my pledge).

People were made to feel very much a part of the event as we all roasted Bush or shared our "favorite" quote or action from the President. Huge success!

My goal was to raise $500 and the event sold out and we more than doubled the goal!

Tip: Give people something! Dinner, wine, people are more willing to donate if they are getting something as well. Make them feel critical to the success, because they are!! Thank them, thank them. Give them something to do to be part of it, be it the "roasting idea" or bringing a dessert or making phone calls.

I think the approach in cyber space is brilliant. And it has worked for me. I took a big leap and pledged to raise $10,000 on, I believe, April 22

As of today, June 10, my toolkit shows $7,034 and I know two checks are in the mail.

I'm a democrat, in Ohio, in an office fully of Republicans. I only pledged a little amount because I thought raising the money would be hard for me. But, I was able to raise half of my pledge on the first day just by asking a few coworkers to give $10.

It seems my Republican co-workers are "Anybody But Bush" people. GO FIGURE! And now, all of them monitor the MoveOn.org website (all this started with the anti-Bush commercial contest. My co-workers got a kick out of that and have been interested in MoveOn ever since!).

If you ask I think you'll find there are many people out there wanting to do something to help get Bush out of office. All you have to do is just ask. For those that were uncomfortable with giving, being able to give a small amount of money anonymously really helped.