Free Money for Your Organization

Did you know many local independent business owners are willing to help with your fundraising efforts? On example is your local AVON Representative. 

When deciding on a fundraising program, there are several factors to consider:

• Ease of execution – What efforts will be required on the part of your organization? What will the business do to help you? Can fundraising be done online?
• Product- In a time of cut backs, is it something people need and are likely to use, or is it a want?
• End user cost- It can be easier to sell many lower priced items and therefore realize greater profits
• Return on investment- How much money will your organization receive?  What expenses are involved?
• Lastly, how will supporting this fundraiser with your business affect your local economy? Utilizing a local business will not only profit your organization in the short-term, but have long term implications as well.

How do you make your fundraising choices?

Picture found HERE.

Free Money-Grant Warning

Grants
There are billions of dollars available through over 900 grants available for small business owners, community development programs, non-profit organizations, import/export initiatives, research & development, students, art projects, and more. There are even grants for helping pay general expenses and getting out of debt. The key is knowing which ones to apply for, meeting the eligibility criteria and knowing how to apply. 

However, there are scams claiming to offer free money from the government. Watch out for programs claiming:

• no application needed
• guaranteed grants
• phone calls asking for personal information
• phone calls claiming to be from the government offering a grant

Grants must have applications filled out, it is rare for the government to contact those approved for grants by phone and they will not ask for personal information over the phone.

While Money Pop advertises  Canadian Grant Programs Assistance Directory as giving “you a list of the various grants available and how to apply for them for a one time fee of $54.00”. I don’t see how this can be considered as giving. You are, after all, paying for it!  Think I’ll keep surfing and searching for info.

Adapted from: How to Get Free Money from the Canadian Government

Free Money! - Grant Writing Tips

Do’s and Don’ts of Grant Writing: I just found these great tips on the J.W. McConnell Family Foundation site:

 Don’t:

• Send a generic, "one size fits all" request without reference to the foundation's guidelines or interests;
• Send a list of possible project ideas and invite the foundation to select the one that most interests them;
• Tell the foundation that their funds are required to match a government grant;
• Ask for all of the funds you need from a single source;
• Send too much or too little ie a 20-page proposal with numerous attachments—or a one-page letter with minimal information;
• Use jargon or acronyms that are not spelled out;
• Request a meeting (or feedback on an idea by telephone) in advance of sending anything in writing;
• Approach a family member (if a family foundation) or board members directly to ask for their support;
• Send a request to the wrong name at the right address or the right name at the wrong address.

Do consider the following:

• Find out as much as you can about a foundation before approaching them (research their website, annual reports, etc.);
• Tailor your request to the interests of the particular foundation (we're all different);
• Send your request in the form specified by the foundation. For example, some foundations do not accept applications by email, while others prefer that format;
• Make sure you send your letter of enquiry to the identified contact person. Sending it to someone else could delay the processing of your application.
• Send brief letters of enquiry containing all of the pertinent information;
• When submitting a full proposal, include an executive summary;
• Come to the point. Somewhere near the beginning of your proposal, state in one or two sentences precisely what you want to do, and what part of the project the foundation’s grant would be used for;
• Advise the foundation of other potential or actual funders, any prior evaluations that have been conducted, and how you plan to evaluate the project over the course of the grant;
• Demonstrate that you are submitting the proposal as part of a longer-term strategy and that if the project is not slated to end, steps will be taken to ensure it is sustainable beyond the period of foundation funding;
• Demonstrate community support (volunteer hours, financial contributions, etc.). Indeed it can be effective to have a board member or other active volunteer write the covering letter;
• Whenever possible, show that you will be collaborating with other organizations in implementing your project;
• Continue to approach a foundation from time to time (but not too frequently!) even if you have been declined; foundations evolve and priorities change (be sure to do your homework—have another look at their website, annual reports, etc.).

J.W. McConnell Family Foundation is a private family foundation funding programs, often innovative, to foster a more inclusive, sustainable and resilient society. Their vision is a Canada where all people feel a sense of belonging and contribute as active citizens to improving the well-being of all. (from their Website)

 

Free Money for your Child’s Education-Smart Saver Project

On the SmartSaver.org site you can get information on how to get FREE money for your child’s education from the government when you open an RESP for them even without putting any money in the account yourself, as well as matching percentages based on your income. In addition, there are links to Social Insurance Number Application forms,and a chart to compare different RESP Plans. At first glance there seems to be a bit of bias towards four financial institutions which have direct links on the site:  Bank of Nova Scotia(site sponsor)  ,Royal Bank of Canada (site sponsor),Bank of Montreal ,and TD Bank.  However, RESPs from these providers are cited as having:

• No enrolment fee
• No annual fee
• No minimum contribution
• 100% guaranteed investment option

I was surprised not to find my financial institution in the list. Is yours there?

The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development,  announced the launch of the SmartSaver project on September 24, 2010. The aim of the Smart Saver project is to  provide families with financial information in plain language, making it easier to understand and invest in an RESP.

The Government of Canada and the Omega Foundation have teamed up to increase awareness of and participation in Registered Education Savings Plans (RESPs).  Although the target audience of this three-year partnership is low- and middle-income families living in the Great Toronto Area, the layman’s terms explaining how to get FREE money for your child’s education will be helpful to everyone.

“Our government believes that access to post-secondary education is essential to securing future opportunities for young Canadians,” said Minister Finley. “This investment will help encourage low- and middle-income families to save early for their children’s future education.”

Read the article that inspired this blog.

Free Money to Help Your Child with Disabilities

Do you have a child with a physical or developmental disability? Are they 18 years of age or under? Do they need help with mobility equipment, an environmental modification or therapy?

HOW TO APPLY FOR FUNDS

Free $10 Gift Card (Can, exp.Oct 27) & Enter to Win A $500 shopping spree!

Get a Free $10 Gift Card for your choice of: Amazon.ca, Chapters Indigo, Sears, Starbucks, The Source, Shoebuy.com, and shop!^™ card (wishabi's shopping card)

This is a neat site for comparing Canada vs. US prices for cross border shopping.

For: Legal Residents of Canada 18+ (except QC)

Last date to qualify: October 27th, 2009 at 5:00 PM EST

How to Get Your Free Gift Card: No purchase necessary.Sign up for a free account . Refer 10 friends who sign up = $10 Gift card

Plus You get 10 entries  into a draw for a $500 Shopping Spree!  The more people you tell, the more entries you get! (Min Entries  10)

Click Here for more details.

FREE Sweepstakes Tickets

What's faster than going out to buy a Lotto ticket & has better odds? Surveys! Contests with a bit of effort have greater odds. Decrease your time & effort & increase your odds by using this free RoboForm Download.. The more surveys you complete, the more entries you get!

Tip: Use the free RoboForm Download to complete surveys faster.

Win with Surveys

• Global TestMarket (Some pay cash too!)
• Jewellery Council - VERY Short Surveys Win VERY Good Jewellery

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Free Cash When you go into Hospital

(Wish I got this call last November.)
Hmmm... to do...Sign up for free month of hospital cash insurance. Get sick. Go to hospital. Collect $100/day!

Going into hospital in Canada, can be like a mini all-inclusive vacation.Your food, medicine,room and care are covered. That's a relief! However, day to day expenses still mount up. EI Sick benefits help a bit, but there's usually a large shortfall. How can you cover those expenses? Rainy day savings run out too! Then What?

Eligibility :RBC customers (open an account to be eligible) RBC is offering its customers one month of free hospitalization coverage right now.(No medical needed)

How it works (In Canada)
If you have this hospitalization coverage on, go into hospital, the plan pays you $100 per day for up to a year of your hospital stay into your bank account. (some restrictions apply so read the fine print)

How to Cancel
If you decide you don't want to keep the insurance coverage, just call1-888-659-0199 to cancel. I was told that you could cancel up to the last day of the month before premiums are to taken from your account to pay for the plan, (but I'd be on the safe side and cancel at least 2 days before the end of the month.)

So how are you feeling? Check out the details on RBC.com on the hospitalization page Canada. US International (Plans vary by country.)

(Wish that telemarketer had called before my gall bladder operation.)