Green fundraising

Green fundraising is the process of soliciting and gathering money or donations through the sale of organic, all natural, or environmentall friendly items. The green fundraising concept originated in 2007 and has become one of the fastest growing subsets of the fundraising industry.

Reasons for green fundraisers

The inherent nature of fundraising is being changed as a result of changes within the fundraising industry, as well as the economic downturn, and the green movement that has been popularized since the mid 1990's.

Economic Downturn

The economic downturn of the latter part of the decade is leading to a number of changes in the fundraising world. Organizations that typically host a catalogue or direct sell fundraiser, such as schools and churches, are having to face reduced funding. With property values down as much as 30% in areas like Las Vegas some cities are facing unprecedented budget shortfalls and schools budgets are being cut as a result..

On the other end, families that have been struggling to make payments on their mortgages are increasingly less likely to be willing to donate to organizations they may not be directly involved with.

Changes for fundraising suppliers

Some major fundraising suppliers, specifically chocolate manufacturers, have begun to notify distributors that they will no longer be supplying chocolate bars for fundraising beginning in the Spring Fundraising season of 2009. Rising input costs had previously forced a reduction in the size of the candy bars, but the manufacturers realized that further reductions would lead to a decrease in sales. Many smaller fundraising product suppliers are also facing shortfalls and the real possibility of closure due to increasing costs and decreasing sales. \

Green movement

With the founding of Earth Day on April 22nd 1968, the green movement was begun. Today, the concept of greening up one's life is everywhere. Auto manufacturers use it to advertise the latest fuel efficient automobiles. Cleaning product companies are eschewing the earth friendliness of their cleaning supplies. And talk of the greenest energy supplies has played a major roll in the discussions of the political races in 2008. With major corporations and the government both pouring vast resources into the green concept, people are more focused on the environment now than ever before.

Types of green fundraisers

Organizations that want to focus on raising money and promoting a healthy environment have a number of options, all of which fall under the green fundraiser umbrella.

Plant fundraisers

Arguably the most green fundraisers available are plant and seed kit fundraisers. Fundraising organizations have many options from which to choose when it comes to plant and seed kit fundraisers. They include:

Flower Bulb Fundraisers Flower Seed Fundraisers Tree Seed Fundraisers Live Tree Fundraisers Vegetable Garden Fundraisers Fruit Plant Fundraisers

Recycling fundraisers

Recycling fundraisers are either fundraisers where an organization is paying to have used items turned in for recycling, such as dead batteries or old cellur phones, or where a group is selling an item made from recycled materials.

Organic product fundraisers

In 2003, the state of Texas banned the sale of unhealthy foods such as candy and cookie dough on public school campuses during school hours.. As a result, some companies began offering schools the option of selling healthy food items for fundraisers. Other organic product fundraisers include fair trade coffee fundraisers, organic candle fundraisers, and organic body care fundraisers.

Reusable product fundraisers

Reusable product fundraisers are very earth friendly. Reusable shopping bags are a popular choice because using a reusable shopping just 11 times makes it more envrionmentally friendly than the plastic equivalents.