| Brick fundraising is an easy way to raise | | | | services will be needed to support a project |
| money for schools, hospitals, religious | | | | of this size, and of those, which services |
| institutions, non-profits, government | | | | might be donated? |
| buildings, or any worthwhile project. | | | | |
| | | | Does someone on the school fundraising |
| Engraved names on brick are great as a | | | | committee know a brick mason who'll donate |
| fundraiser or to appropriately honor donors. | | | | their time to lay the brick or build the |
| A donor wall or walkway will be meaningful | | | | wall? What about a landscape architect? |
| for years to come - outliving the life of the | | | | What lighting, plants or shrubbery will |
| donor. | | | | accent the structure? What fundraising |
| | | | information will be sent - and how? Make a |
| Larry Cannon - brick fundraising since 1988 ( | | | | list of ALL the expected tasks, projected |
| suggests that before beginning a brick | | | | expenses and projected service donations. |
| fundraising project, start with a few | | | | This list will enable the school to set a |
| questions. Think it through and get good | | | | realistic budget. |
| answers to give the brick fundraising project | | | | |
| the direction it needs. | | | | It's now time to thing about the amount of |
| | | | individual donations - or the price of each |
| First, think about how much money needs to be | | | | brick. After adding up the expected |
| raised. Come into the project with an | | | | expenses, the school determines that the |
| established goal. This is the first, and | | | | expected expenses will be around $100,000. |
| often overlooked part of the project. A | | | | Therefore, they must raise $200,000 in order |
| brick fundraising project can generate funds | | | | to offset the expected expenses of $100,000 |
| for years (by just adding more bricks), but | | | | and end with their goal of $100,000. |
| clear goals give a project structure. | | | | $200,000 / 4,000 (20% of the donors) bricks = |
| | | | $50 for each brick. Therefore each brick |
| Let's assume that a school wishes to raise | | | | will be priced at $50.00. |
| $100,000 for landscaping and sports | | | | |
| equipment. Their 20,000 member database | | | | With a few simple questions, this project has |
| consists of students, alumni, parents, and | | | | determined the amount to raise, the amount to |
| community leaders. A rule of thumb is that | | | | ask for each brick, and determined the size |
| 20% of a database should be willing to | | | | of their project. The school can now assess |
| contribute. Given this formula, 4,000 (20% | | | | if these figures are reasonable. Do they |
| of 20,000) will donate to participate in a | | | | want a project that size? Is that a |
| brick donor wall, walkway or structure. So | | | | reasonable amount to expect as a contribution |
| the school will have a project with an | | | | from the people on their database? |
| estimated 4,000 bricks. The school has now | | | | |
| determined the size of the project. | | | | Whatever the answers, these fundamental |
| | | | questions need clear, specific answers to get |
| Given this, the school needs to be thinking | | | | the project off to a good start. |
| of the type of structure they wish. Which | | | | |