Thursday, July 22, 2010
Faith enough to start a nonprofit
When I started textbook fundraising, it was an action taken in faith. I believed the idea was God-given and I decided to obey even though I never foresaw how successful it would be. Before long, God instilled a desire in me to do more good and I started to believe this project should be expanded. After much wise counsel, careful consideration, and a good deal of soul searching, I am diving in. As I encounter challenges and fears, I must fall back on trust in the grace and provision God has for me.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
A nonprofit for textbook fundraising
Anyone can start a textbook fundraiser and begin impacting the world. That was proven by a number of clubs conducting fundraisers last year (see my first post, "The birth of an idea" for more details), but my experience has convinced me that a nonprofit organization would greatly benefit students who want to take up this project.
Here's why:
1. Marketing - Who has ever heard of a textbook fundraiser?
Anyone can start a textbook fundraiser, but either they must have the idea independently or they have to hear about it somewhere. People need to be invited. A nonprofit would invite and encourage students and student groups to participate and then help them run with it!
2. Empower - Who has the time for a textbook fundraiser?
Students have more time than they think, but it is easy to understand that students may be too busy to figure out (let alone run) a textbook fundraiser's operations while in school. Some students have time to manage a fundraiser and others do not. I don't want to discourage the latter from participating and making a difference with their friends. Empowering comes in two ways: 1) advising students who want to conduct a fundraiser independently and 2) being the seller for individuals or groups that don't have the time to handle the necessary logistics.
3. Storage space, unsold inventory, and customer service
As the seller of textbooks for the participating students and student groups, a nonprofit would enable students to focus on the collection of textbooks rather than where to store them, how to organize and inventory them, what to do with unsold books, how to sell or ship them, or providing customer service. The nonprofit would provide logistical services and advice for fundraising groups.
4. Credibility and accountability
When a student or group chooses to help a cause by starting or contributing to a textbook fundraiser, they should feel comfortable knowing that their efforts are going to make a difference. Nonprofits are held responsible by the U.S. government, but a nonprofit would also offer detailed reports summarizing funds raised to participants to ensure the greatest credibility. In addition, proper accounting practices would be in place to ensure all the hard-earned funds go to helping a participant's cause as soon as possible.
5. Efficiency and expertise = maximized results
A nonprofit with the mission to help textbook fundraisers would develop a specialization in selling books that would bring both efficiency to the operations and expertise in maximizing funds raised. Additionally, a nonprofit would be able to conduct its work on a regular, daily basis and mobilize volunteers from many backgrounds to assist the varied causes of participating students.
I would greatly appreciate your comments and feedback about reasons good or bad about starting a nonprofit for textbook fundraising. You may email me at kurtis.griess@gmail.com if you do not want to comment below this post.
Here's why:
1. Marketing - Who has ever heard of a textbook fundraiser?
Anyone can start a textbook fundraiser, but either they must have the idea independently or they have to hear about it somewhere. People need to be invited. A nonprofit would invite and encourage students and student groups to participate and then help them run with it!
2. Empower - Who has the time for a textbook fundraiser?
Students have more time than they think, but it is easy to understand that students may be too busy to figure out (let alone run) a textbook fundraiser's operations while in school. Some students have time to manage a fundraiser and others do not. I don't want to discourage the latter from participating and making a difference with their friends. Empowering comes in two ways: 1) advising students who want to conduct a fundraiser independently and 2) being the seller for individuals or groups that don't have the time to handle the necessary logistics.
3. Storage space, unsold inventory, and customer service
As the seller of textbooks for the participating students and student groups, a nonprofit would enable students to focus on the collection of textbooks rather than where to store them, how to organize and inventory them, what to do with unsold books, how to sell or ship them, or providing customer service. The nonprofit would provide logistical services and advice for fundraising groups.
4. Credibility and accountability
When a student or group chooses to help a cause by starting or contributing to a textbook fundraiser, they should feel comfortable knowing that their efforts are going to make a difference. Nonprofits are held responsible by the U.S. government, but a nonprofit would also offer detailed reports summarizing funds raised to participants to ensure the greatest credibility. In addition, proper accounting practices would be in place to ensure all the hard-earned funds go to helping a participant's cause as soon as possible.
5. Efficiency and expertise = maximized results
A nonprofit with the mission to help textbook fundraisers would develop a specialization in selling books that would bring both efficiency to the operations and expertise in maximizing funds raised. Additionally, a nonprofit would be able to conduct its work on a regular, daily basis and mobilize volunteers from many backgrounds to assist the varied causes of participating students.
I would greatly appreciate your comments and feedback about reasons good or bad about starting a nonprofit for textbook fundraising. You may email me at kurtis.griess@gmail.com if you do not want to comment below this post.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Textbook Fundraising: the blog's purpose
Now that I have started this blog, I will define its purpose and goals.
1. Spread the idea of textbook fundraising
Textbook fundraising is an idea. And a good one too. But ideas don't act on their own; they require people to act on them. First, people need to hear the idea and be convinced to act. This blog is meant to convey the idea that college students can begin changing the world for the better by the simple donation of textbooks.
2. Share my experience ("expertise") with others
I have one year of experience in textbook fundraising, which in my estimation is more than almost anyone else in the world (at least for purely nonprofit purposes). That said, I have some tips that might be useful for the upstarting fundraiser that can spare them trouble and lighten their load.
3. Process a method to assist willing fundraisers
Students may have textbooks and they may be willing to donate them, but they may not have time or energy or resources to conduct their own fundraiser. It is my goal to enable students who want to make a difference by helping them start and sustain a fundraiser with tutorials and programs or by offering to be seller on their behalf. That said, I currently intend to create a nonprofit organization to carry out such tasks.This blog will document the process of the nonprofit's development/collaboration to advance this practice.
4. Engage others in this process
This is a team effort. Please share your thoughts, experiences, concerns, etc. in a comment or email to me (kurtis.griess@gmail.com). I would love and appreciate your help.
1. Spread the idea of textbook fundraising
Textbook fundraising is an idea. And a good one too. But ideas don't act on their own; they require people to act on them. First, people need to hear the idea and be convinced to act. This blog is meant to convey the idea that college students can begin changing the world for the better by the simple donation of textbooks.
2. Share my experience ("expertise") with others
I have one year of experience in textbook fundraising, which in my estimation is more than almost anyone else in the world (at least for purely nonprofit purposes). That said, I have some tips that might be useful for the upstarting fundraiser that can spare them trouble and lighten their load.
3. Process a method to assist willing fundraisers
Students may have textbooks and they may be willing to donate them, but they may not have time or energy or resources to conduct their own fundraiser. It is my goal to enable students who want to make a difference by helping them start and sustain a fundraiser with tutorials and programs or by offering to be seller on their behalf. That said, I currently intend to create a nonprofit organization to carry out such tasks.This blog will document the process of the nonprofit's development/collaboration to advance this practice.
4. Engage others in this process
This is a team effort. Please share your thoughts, experiences, concerns, etc. in a comment or email to me (kurtis.griess@gmail.com). I would love and appreciate your help.
What is textbook fundraising?
Textbook fundraising is very much like a bake sale, only imagine selling a cookie worth up to $100! It is the sale of a resource (that is, used textbooks) for the sake of raising money for a cause.
Who can fundraise?
Who can fundraise?
- Textbook fundraising is optimal for college students, since they have textbooks or have friends who do.
- Others can do this too, but they must be able to demonstrate their credibility and accountability to the students they work with. Don't blindly trust a person or organization with your precious textbooks. If you want your books to go to good use, make sure you know or research who is selling them first.
- First, you need a cause. We all can find something or someone that needs our help! What are you passionate about? Who do you want to help? (Note: this should not be yourself)
- Second, you need textbooks. Gather your textbooks and/or your friends. Make sure to tell them what your cause is and thank them for donating!
- Third, find a market. You may sell them to the school bookstore, but often there is a better deal to be found. If you can connect with friends or other students needing the book you can sell it to them directly. Otherwise, Amazon or another online marketplace will help.
- Last, you must give the money away. This is the best part! All your hard work goes to improving the world. Share your story with those who donated by sending them a copy of the receipt or telling them how much you were able to raise and give away!
Friday, July 9, 2010
The birth of an idea
After a long trip last summer (2009) I came home to an impossibly messy room and a mother strongly urging me to clean it (that's putting it lightly). She forced me to either put an item in a box or throw it away. At some point I came across all my school textbooks, which I had been waiting for my father to sell. Since he had no time, he told me I could sell them and keep the money.
The process began and when all was said and done, I had $600 extra in my bank account. As I was reveling in the success of my endeavor, the selfish thought surfaced: "I bet I can convince my friends to give me their old textbooks and I can sell them and make tons of money." Not a millisecond passed before the thought was interrupted and replaced with, "No, you should actually try to get some books to raise money for something greater than yourself." It immediately struck chords in my heart and I knew this was right.
I didn't set any goals for the project, but I believed it could raise at least $500. I suggested the idea to a friend of mine (citing my successes) and he was very supportive, so I created a Facebook event to try to get some books to fundraise for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The impersonal invitation had limited success (of two or three hundred invitees, 20 said "yes" and only three actually gave books). However, from those three donors about $200 was raised. I realized quickly that the Facebook event would not be as successful as personal requests. I proceeded by inviting specific friends to join the cause and donate their books.
After eight donors stepped forward, $1200 was raised for InterVarsity.
Positive reinforcement is a great motivator and after considering how well this worked, my vision for this project grew. Why shouldn't other students and groups know how much good they can do too? My excitement compounded when I shared the idea with others and they reacted positively. So, in spring 2010, I began inviting campus group leaders to start their own fundraising efforts and I offered to help them through the process and many more joined.
Shortly thereafter, an earthquake struck Haiti, which built steam for the project as many groups chose to send whatever they raised to Haiti relief organizations. The administration of the school caught wind of the project and soon the fundraiser was adopted and advertised school-wide. Between all the different fundraising groups, over $5000 was raised (over $3000 for Haiti).
Such big results for a little idea. Students have textbooks. Students want to make a difference. With little effort, those books can be collected, sold, and proceeds given to someone or something in need.
It was worth it and it still is. I want to encourage every college student to start making a difference now. I will gladly help and guide any student or group pursuing their own textbook fundraiser. I am committed to seeing this idea spread nation-wide, so that books save lives instead of collecting dust.
The process began and when all was said and done, I had $600 extra in my bank account. As I was reveling in the success of my endeavor, the selfish thought surfaced: "I bet I can convince my friends to give me their old textbooks and I can sell them and make tons of money." Not a millisecond passed before the thought was interrupted and replaced with, "No, you should actually try to get some books to raise money for something greater than yourself." It immediately struck chords in my heart and I knew this was right.
I didn't set any goals for the project, but I believed it could raise at least $500. I suggested the idea to a friend of mine (citing my successes) and he was very supportive, so I created a Facebook event to try to get some books to fundraise for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The impersonal invitation had limited success (of two or three hundred invitees, 20 said "yes" and only three actually gave books). However, from those three donors about $200 was raised. I realized quickly that the Facebook event would not be as successful as personal requests. I proceeded by inviting specific friends to join the cause and donate their books.
After eight donors stepped forward, $1200 was raised for InterVarsity.
Positive reinforcement is a great motivator and after considering how well this worked, my vision for this project grew. Why shouldn't other students and groups know how much good they can do too? My excitement compounded when I shared the idea with others and they reacted positively. So, in spring 2010, I began inviting campus group leaders to start their own fundraising efforts and I offered to help them through the process and many more joined.
Shortly thereafter, an earthquake struck Haiti, which built steam for the project as many groups chose to send whatever they raised to Haiti relief organizations. The administration of the school caught wind of the project and soon the fundraiser was adopted and advertised school-wide. Between all the different fundraising groups, over $5000 was raised (over $3000 for Haiti).
Such big results for a little idea. Students have textbooks. Students want to make a difference. With little effort, those books can be collected, sold, and proceeds given to someone or something in need.
It was worth it and it still is. I want to encourage every college student to start making a difference now. I will gladly help and guide any student or group pursuing their own textbook fundraiser. I am committed to seeing this idea spread nation-wide, so that books save lives instead of collecting dust.
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