Fundraising for Today

H. Kalka, Keeper Gr.1, Toronto Zoo

AAZK Southern Ontario Chapter

Ontario , Canada

hkalka@rogers.com  

Times are tough, funds are tight and yet your chapter still thrives to meet its goals. Lead by fearless leaders the march continues, where you might ask? Onwards and upwards to new and great fundraising ideas. Ideas that will make people feel they are getting more for their money or maybe that they are not really donating that much money at all. But bit-by-bit the bank total grows. Off in the distance you can see your goals no longer a mirage, you grasp them in your hands and hold on for dear life.

Money seems to be tight everywhere we look, including in our own bank accounts. We all feel the pressure in these economical times. Only thing is that there are many things that cannot wait. Conservations projects need to continue, and need our help more then ever. Animals on the verge of extinction are not going to wait for the gas prices to go down just so that we can lend a hand.

I am a firm believer that each AAZK chapter can still do their part, they just need to know how. In my presentation I will discuss various fundraisers that the Southern Ontario Chapter has used in the past. Including the wildly successful “Keeper-For-A-Day” program, which since it began in 1997 has enabled the chapter to donate $33,000.00 to member chosen conservation projects, as well as an amazing $30,000.00 to keeper education. I will go into detail on how to achieve these fundraisers, how much work was really involved, how much revenue it generated, how often it is done and the most important question would we do it again! Some of the ideas I will cover are: “Keeper-For-A-Day”, Hard Rock Café-with live bands, Poker Nights, Online Magazine subscriptions, Raffles, Bowling for Rhinos, Loonie-For-A- Look, Candy Grams and Wishing Wells. I will also touch on a list of other ideas that are currently in the planning stages.

I believe that this is just what we need to help boost our momentum and get the discussion going on additional ideas that others have had success with.