Preparing for Give to the Max Day 2015

Preparing for Give to the Max Day 2015

 

Minnesotans around the state are gearing themselves for Give to the Max Day in hopes of breaking last year’s record of  $18 million donated to schools and nonprofits throughout the land of 10,000 lakes.

Give to the Max day is extremely important for nonprofits because it strengthens the nonprofit community by making their organizations more well known in the area. Creating relationships with community members helps find supporters that are passionate about the same goals and missions of making the community a better place.

GiveMn is a resource to help connect people with organizations within Minnesota. Every year, GiveMn sets aside one day to fundraise as much as possible for local schools and nonprofits in our community called Give to the Max Day. Fundraising is a major part of Give to the Max Day. Fundraising for your favorite organization can be difficult, but don’t let that stop you- there are tons of simple ways to get involved:

Use the Media

Using media to your advantage helps get the word out to all people in your communities. Contacting news stations, local newspapers, radio talk shows, and social media help spread the world about your passion for fundraising. The more people that know about the event, the more donors you receive.

MORE is More

Focus on getting multiple donors rather than focusing on the amount each individual donor gives. If you spend your time getting people to donate, they will be more interested in the cause with which you are participating rather than just solely asking for a number. Fundraising is all about the way you present it. Grab your audience’s attention making them want to support your mission.

Cite your Source

If you want people to donate to an organization because it means something special to you, tell them why it is important. Explain to potential donors why the organization is important to you and what, in your eyes, makes it special and worth funding. genuine appreciation through the eyes of someone involved will speak much louder than any other selling tactic you can think of.

This year, Give to the Max day is set for November 12, 2015, so grab your best fundraising skills, make a plan,  and let’s do our best to earn some funds for Minnesota Schools and nonprofits! If you have yet to choose a nonprofit, make WACOSA your organization of choice by visiting our Give MN page.

The Benefits of Volunteering

Some say the greatest gift you can give a person is your time. In today’s fast paced society, time is of the essence and is greatly valued when it is freely offered. These days, a person’s time is very valuable. With the average American working nearly 47 hours per week, there is rarely extra time in one’s day. This is troubling for businesses and nonprofits who are looking for volunteers. Here are some reasons why offering your time and volunteering for WACOSA can be beneficial:

Increases Self Confidence and Overall Happiness

Volunteering allows people the opportunity to change lives directly. At WACOSA, we offer many volunteer opportunities that allow you to interact and help others directly. One of these opportunities includes a wellness specialist. In this position, you get to help people learn various healthy living skills including yoga, aerobics, walking and meditation as well as healthy eating skills. This in-turn can be very beneficial to the volunteer because you are directly affecting someone’s life. You are seeing the results and the effect you are causing; which can increase your self-confidence and overall happiness.

 

Fulfillment

Overall, the biggest benefit of volunteering has to be the overall fulfillment of helping others. Since the beginning of time, humans have always had a relenting passion to help one another. It is at the core of our being and it is natural to want to help. That is why when we do volunteer, we receive a sense of gratification and fulfillment. And that is something money cannot buy.

Connections

Often times people shy away from volunteering because there is no compensation. While there is no pay, volunteering can still assist you in advancing your career. It allows you to get out and connect with people and is a great addition to your resume. For instance, someone who is looking to become an event planner may want to volunteer in our special event support position. This opportunity would look great on a resume, and it would allow you to meet others who can help you reach your ultimate goal of starting your career.

At WACOSA we are always looking for volunteers, and we have a wide range of opportunities. For more information on WACOSA’s volunteer positions, visit our website.

How To Teach Your Children About Giving and Donating

It may be easy for you to go through your house and find things you no longer need or have grown out of, but, it can be more difficult for a child to give up their possessions. Children tend to develop attachments to the toys they have. Although your child may put up a fuss, it’s important to teach them about caring, goodwill and compassion for others.

One of the best ways to teach your child about selflessness can be to have them go through their room and find gently used toys, books or clothes they’d like to give or donate. When you are approaching them, make sure to tell them why you want them to pick out these items, instead of simply telling them to find things they don’t want anymore. While explaining the importance of giving, keep their age and maturity in mind. You can say something such as “some people don’t have money to buy toys. I know you haven’t played with that truck in a long time, and it could make another little child very happy.” Consider the timing as well -- having them go through their toys before Christmas because other children may not receive anything during that time, or around their birthday because other children may not receive birthday presents. You don’t need to guilt them, but it’s a good reminder that they understand not everyone is as lucky or fortunate as they are.

After they understand why you want them to find items, ask for their input on what they think your household doesn’t need anymore. Once you have your child on-board with donating, the process can be very fun for them! Include them in bringing the gently used items to the location, so they can better understand the process of what happens to those items after they are donated. Remember to reward them for their efforts with acknowledgment and praise.

Not only will this process give your child the experience of giving, it may also open their eyes to all the things they can be grateful for in their own life.

Consider donating to ThriftWorks!, a thrift store owned and operated by WACOSA, a nonprofit serving adults with disabilities. All proceeds from ThriftWorks! benefit the mission to provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to work and live in their community.

We can accept:

• Women’s, men’s and children’s clothing & shoes
• Books, movies, games
• Toys
• Small household appliances
• Housewares
• Jewelry & accessories
• Linen & bedding
• Tools
• Furniture (after reviewed and approved)

Give to The Max with WACOSA!

It’s one of the biggest philanthropic days of the year here in Minnesota, and it’s right around the corner - Give to The Max Day is November 13th!

Now, in case you’re unfamiliar, here’s what you need to know: each November, organizations and institutions all around the state rally their legions of supporters for a 24 hour fundraising blitz. Now in it’s 6th year, Give to the Max Day has raised a total of $17 million for hundreds of nonprofit organizations - just like WACOSA!

Here at WACOSA, we strive to serve by providing individuals with developmental disabilities with a multitude of ways to live and work in the community. This access is our passion - but we can’t do it alone. We need your support.

So, what makes Give to the Max Day different than any other day in the year? By giving to the organization of your choice on November 13, you increase the chances for that organization to receive matching funds. What’s more - you’ll be eligible to receive prizes and other incentives, just by giving.

We’ve still got a few days until the big show, but the race is on; Give MN is already accepting scheduled donations.

This year, we encourage you, a dear friend of WACOSA, to chip in to strengthen the work we do with individuals with disabilities each day in central MN with your Give to the Max gift. Together, we can make the world a better place!

Simply fill out the donate form below, or visit WACOSA's Give to The Max page! We sincerely thank you for your support.

AgVenture Gives!

Watkins Farming Company Will Donate $500 to Local Charities

 AgVenture focuses on providing exceptional value and service to their customers. Their main goal is to deliver a superior service to customers in all areas of the farming enterprise. AgVenture believes in doing the right thing and to maintain high moral standards even if it may compromise short-term profitability. They are also willing to be sufficiently creative and flexible and, at the core, always operate under a high moral, ethical and legal standard.

 Sandy Hansen, owner of AgVenture Feed and Seed Inc, sees beyond the bottom line and is always mindful of the needs of her community. For her, a successful business is one that gives back to its customers, its employees, and its community. Sandy’s goal is to give ten percent of the company’s net profits away each year to various needs and causes.

Hansen's “pay it forward” state of mind contributed to the birth of a charitable Facebook contest. AgVenture will give back by donating $250 to the two charities who receive the most votes by December 22nd, 2013. Anyone who has a Facebook profile can vote once per day.

By voting for WACOSA, you are supporting our mission: provide individuals with disabilities the opportunity to work and live in their communities. We want individuals of all abilities to reach their full potential. We would greatly appreciate it if you took a few seconds out of your day to vote for WACOSA. Thank you for your help.

WACOSA

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