Question about quilt raffles for charity

[LynnS]

I belong to a non-profit group which is made of stay at home moms. Each year we complete several service projects. I am the only quilter in the whole group that I know of. In thinking of a good way to raise money for charity I have been thinking of the quilt raffles that many of you do.

I have not suggested this to the group yet. They don't know what the effort will be like since it'll just be me making a quilt to raffle. What I'd like to know is if I will be able to recover my costs out of the raffle tickets and then donate the remnainder. It would be costs for fabric, pattern (if any), and quilting. If I can recover my costs, how do you word the "advertising" for the raffle? "Profits benefit X charity"?

I would probably do a baby quilt so it would be able to be done in a short time by just myself.

[kenderosa]

Lynn- Maybe people could donate the fabric so you wouldn't have the expense. Sort of like a one sided swap? Just an idea. Some people would love to help, but don't have the time to complete a quilt.

Sue

[gardenquilter]

it has been my experience that if you do it in advance you do not recoup your costs - i usually have the group buy the fabric and athen i donate my time and labor - i am sure others may do it differently though

[Kittyquilt9292]

I would certainly ask for group members to either donate fabric, you could show them a pattern and then ask them to donate so much fabric per person, let them know sort of what kind of fabric you'll be using so it fits the quilt. Or they could donate money for fabric and you buy it, you could tell them how much the fabric will cost and maybe everyone could chip in a portion.
As others say, I'm sure you won't recoup your costs and still be able to donate a significant amount of money if you try to do it yourself. Your time and talent will be a great donation from you.
Just my thoughts. carol/kittyquilt

[knitnoid]

The quilt club I'm in is doing a raffle quilt. Since it's scrappy each member is donating the fabric for the blocks they make, and then we'll each contribute money toward the cost of the sashing, border, backing, quilting, etc. Last year we raised over $300 since we did next to no advertising. This year I want to get the tickets out once we have the top completed and the quilt in the LA's hands - which should give us another 2 - 3 months to sell tickets.

[LynnS]

So how do you sell the tickets? Do you display the quilt with contact info? How do you avoid having to pay mailing costs to send people their tickets after they pay? I guess I want to know how you handle gathering the money and sending out/giving out tickets so that it's convenient for people and easy to do?

[knitnoid]

Our group had a photo of the quilt on an envelope that we had tickets in. We sold them $1 each or 6 for $5. There was basic contact inforamtion for the person buying the ticket - name, address, phone & cell phone. Each member of the group was asked to sell at least 30 tickets. A couple of the ladies sent the packet to work with their husbands, or took it to work themselves. The quilt itself was displayed in our LQS and the shop owner also had tickets to sell. The tickets last year were one piece tickets so there was nothing for the purchaser to take. I think I prefer 2 piece tickets.

This year, I would like to take the quilt and set up during one of the street festvals and maybe on a Saturday in front of the grocery store. I'd also like to see if I can get the quilt put on display at one of the shops on Main Street.

I've bought numerous raffle tickets for quilts over the years, but never on line, I have however seen a couple of raffles either by groups I know or quilters with strong reputations. In those cases, the instructions were to send in your money/check w/a self addressed stamped envelope for your portion of the raffle ticket. Of course, if someone outside of the local area wins, there is the expense of shipping the quilt. A baby or lap quilt will easily fit into a Priority Mail box, so that's not too expensive.

[justdawne]

Lynn,
I've never done this but I have done a lot of fundraising. I can tell you that it seems unlikely that you'd be able to recoup the fabric costs AND your labour and have any money left over to give.

Have you thought of asking a LQS to donate some part of the quilt? Perhaps the batting? Other women in your group can help shop for fabric. You can donate your time.

In an endeavour I can tell you - PR, PR, PR with a side of promotion with a side of marketing and heaping dose of PR is what you'll need.

Your other option would be to pick a simple pattern and ask friends here on the forum to donate FQs. I'd happily send you one to help out. Well, unless you ask for a specific fabric that I can't get here in NS. Something to consider anyway.

As for wording I would contact the charity. I've always done this. They often send supporting materials if they have them. A smaller charity might be able to send someone to speak at an event. AND some of them have logos they can send you as a digital file. It helps your posters look legit and polished.

Suggestions from the top of my head:

Thank you for buying a raffle ticket. Your donation will go to XXX and support _________ (services) that help (area or people).
**You can often pull the most meaningful part of a charity's mission statement and use that. Or you can use the most easily recognized phrase.

or

100% of the profit from this raffle will go to "___________".

I think you have a good idea and it can work with good ticket sales and donations from others to help you along. Let us know if we can help.

dawne

[LynnS]

Good ideas Dawne! Maybe I'll bring it up at our next Moms Club business meeting. We have one once a month. This month we raised over $325 to benefit a Breast Cancer research organization. We did a yard sale with donated items...mostly childrens' clothes and toys, and some household items also. Unsold items were donated to Goodwill. So it was win win all around!

I want to finish my 2 I Spy quilts before I commit to making another project. I thought I'd start asking questions because there is a lot of planning to go into it.

[knitnoid]

Last night was the club meeting and I asked the ladies for ideas about getting more ticket sales this year. I didn't want to just display the quilt in the quilt shop, because then only quilters would see it - I'm looking for a broader audience.

April through Oct the town has a car show/rally on the last Friday night of the month. Anyone can setup a table, so as soon as we get the quilt finished - I hope by August - we'll setup there. Additionally, one of the ladies is checking to see if a couple of the downtown merchants would setup a coffee can & picture of the quilt to sell tickets. We've got a tenative agreement for Chamber of Commerence to sell tickets for us.