The Joy of Giving (and Receiving)

Recently I was blessed to be invited to serve as an honorary chair of the Mary E. Peoples Scholarship Luncheon at Jackson State University. This is the first time I’ve ever been asked to serve in a fundraising capacity because usually I’m asked to utilize my PR and marketing skills to promote the event. However, I was pleasantly surprised to get the call, and I gladly accepted. There’s just one small, tiny issue…my fundraising skills could use an upgrade.

I don’t like asking people for money, even for a good cause. I guess I could blame my parents for my lack of sales skills. While all the other kids were hustling door-to-door to sell Girl Scout Cookies and honing their sales pitch, my parents decided they would simply buy a case of Trefoils and Thin Mints and call it a day! They couldn’t care less if I got the cool prize at the 500 boxes sold mark. In their minds, they could buy me that prize for less money and time than it took to earn it via sales. Sigh! So here I am, an adult with the acumen of a salesman selling swampland in Florida. So, why did I agree to raise $10,000???

Give for the Children

I’m not a glutton for punishment, but I am an advocate for higher education! I remember what it was like getting the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship that saved my parents 75 percent of my tuition to Florida A&M University. I remember writing essays to get additional scholarships to put a little change in my pocket for emergencies. And I realize that some students are not as lucky as I was to have family support. There are thousands of gifted, ambitious students who come to college and work to pay their tuition, and even send some money back home to help their family. In some instances, students learn that a loan may cover their tuition, but it won’t be enough for housing or food. So, yes, asking people to give money to raise money for scholarships may feel unusual to me now, but my temporary discomfort is a small price to pay if it means a deserving student will get one step closer to making their financial ends meet!

Thus far I’ve contacted friends and family and I’ve had modest success (thank you to the Kinsey, Davis and Scoggins families!), but I’ve still got a way to go. I even volun-told my parents to give and they gladly accepted the challenge! Next, I went bigger and ventured into pitching companies for a sponsorship. Those are looking promising although I realize that I missed the budget cycle for most corporate gifts. So, I think I’ve done all I can on the “silent phase” of my fundraising, and now it’s time to go public and pull out the big guns. I’m transitioning to raising these dollars GoFundMe style!

Give for the Incentives

Many organizations achieve fundraising success by incentivizing donation milestones. If you love getting something in return for your generosity, today’s your lucky day! In gratitude for giving, I will barter my 20+ years of PR experience to those who support my campaign at the following donation levels. Donors who give $500 through my scholarship fundraising link will receive a press release written by yours truly! Donate $1,000 and receive a press release AND media pitching support. Or you may want to go for the whole kit and caboodle with option number three! If you donate $2,500, I will write a strategic media plan for you! (Execution not included, however, I can refer consultants.) Like most things, this offer won’t last! It is only good until I reach my $10K goal or July 31, whichever comes first, so don’t delay! If you’ve ever hired a publicist then you know these rates are a steal!

Alright, I’ll get off my soapbox now. Thanks in advance for your support for our students, and Go Tigers!