Our local (NJ) chapter of the Real Estate Staging Association has been asked to take on the design of 15+ rooms in a new Covenant house for homeless young people in Montclair, NJ. We need to raise money for furniture, rugs, lighting, bedding, art, and accessories with a target date of July. I am co-chair, but since I have never done fund-raising, this is unknown territory. Anyone have suggestions on resources? Tips on approaching stores and business owners or agents about donating supplies? We will need all the help we can get for this huge project, with the details and $$ needed to be decided.
Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR
Amy, I've done a lot of fundraisers with church and school over the years. One thing to keep in mind that most businesses have an allotted amount to donate each month. So if you contact them at the end of the month they may be out of funds. So contact them as soon as possible.
Apr 03, 2011 03:34 PM
Great Impressions Home Staging/Interiors - Montville, NJ
Styling Homes for Selling and Staying
Ashley, thanks, and I agree completely! I only agreed to be co-chair because no one else stepped forward, and I feel so strongly about helping others -- especially young people who come from abused or neglectful homes.
Donna -- thanks for that advice, something I never heard of! I would think businesses would have a YEARLY budget for donations, not a monthly one, so that's interesting. I have to talk to the director of Covenant House about using their resources, including fund-raising personnel and letterhead, mailing lists, etc. Wish me luck!
Apr 03, 2011 04:05 PM
Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. 250.486.6369 - Summerland, BC
The FlufftasticStager from Summerland, BC
Amy, what a wonderful project! I should see if there's anything like that in our area!
Apr 03, 2011 04:32 PM
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
Amy--what a wonderful project your local chapter has undertaken. I haven't done a lot of fund raising, but my attitude has always been to cast a wide net. Here many of the businesses are overtaxed from the many organizations and event to contribute to, so my usual attitude is ask for a little from a lot of folks. Good luck to you and your chapter.
Apr 03, 2011 09:41 PM
Great Impressions Home Staging/Interiors - Montville, NJ
Styling Homes for Selling and Staying
Thanks, Peg, whatever any of us can do -- little or big -- to help, makes a difference.
Janet -- Good point, I've heard that too, thanks for the advice!
Apr 04, 2011 01:36 AM
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager
Hi Amy! How about appealing to fellow Stagers? I know I'm ready to turn over some accessories, lamps, etc. I'll bet your NJ Staging community would be happy to help out. Julie
Apr 04, 2011 06:25 AM
Great Impressions Home Staging/Interiors - Montville, NJ
Styling Homes for Selling and Staying
GREAT idea, Julia! We must've had ESP because I just was thinking about that in the last half-hour and then saw your comment. Maybe you're willing to donate some of your things to us -- I'd come up that way to pick them up! (Well, let me double-check how far away you are -- I know Westport is about an hour from me, but I have a feeling you're further.) At any rate, I'll suggest it to other stagers as well as stagers in our RESA chapter. Maybe there's a stager going out of business (but I hope not!) who could donate things as well.
Apr 04, 2011 07:01 AM
Nestings: Connecticut Home Staging and Model Homes - Fairfield, CT
Connecticut Home Stager
Amy - I can check with CT RESA chapter for you - perhaps we can put together enough items to warrant your trip to CT - perhaps we can meet in Westport, for example! Julie
Apr 04, 2011 09:45 AM
House Dressing - Branchville, NJ
House Dressing, New Jersey
Have you considered partnering with Habitat for Humanity and maybe using some items from their Re-Store? Is the location confidential or is there an oportunity for a "show home" type of event? Other philanthropic organizations in the area, think Rotary, Lions, Knights of Columbus may be able to help you out also as well as any organization involved in housing or building, ie local real estate associations, builders groups.
Hope that helps a little. Good Luck!
Apr 06, 2011 09:24 AM
Great Impressions Home Staging/Interiors - Montville, NJ
Styling Homes for Selling and Staying
Julia, thanks so much for your generous offer -- that would be wonderful. We won't know for at least a couple of weeks the scope of our staging and whether we will, in fact, do some rooms in the new Covenant House or revert to the original plan of re-doing 2-3 community rooms in the existing shelter in Newark. I'll keep you posted! I don't think we will need the accessories until June or July, at the earliest.
Debra, another stager in my group mentioned the Habitat ReStores. I had never heard of them, but have already looked into where the nearest one is to me and been put on their email list. If we do the new house, we were talking about planning a "show home" event, absolutely! Thanks for your other words of advice. We are probably not going to be doing any direct fundraising, just seeking furniture donations from stores or sellers who don't want what they have, as long as the pieces are in good condition.
Apr 06, 2011 11:01 AM
Rainer
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Amy Bly
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