We’re looking for a fund raising organization or ideas that are tried and tested.
We are providing needed services for foster children and parents. Equine therapy is our focus, weekend and summer camps for children and respite care for families. We are also developing affordable housing and building homes and apartments for qualified foster families. We need funds!
Any referrals or ideas please…??
Jenny
It sounds to me like you’re biting off more than you can chew at this point. Start small, something doable. Then as you learn the NFP ropes, you can build that small something into a bigger something.
Since you don’t give much background information, who are “we”? Are you a group of friends that likes this idea? Does anyone have equine therapy experience? Fund raising organizations usually work for the majority of the money raised. I think they also only work for legitimare 501-C-3 charities. In other words, they’re businesses. If you’re small, you might do some grassroots fundraising (like bake sales, car washes, etc.) and sponser a couple kids at a summer riding program. Or one kid at sleep-away camp. I’d save buiilding houses for later. Although I will mentioned that a local de-commissioned air force base recently sold base housing at very low costs to families that foster or adopt hard-to-place kids.
Make sure you protect against liability lawsuits by incorporating or becoming an LLC. Last thing you need is for a kid to fall from a horse or get felt up by a camp counselor and decide to sue you because you made the dream possible.
Good luck.
StG
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Let’s send this over to IMHO.
GQ > IMHO
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Horses AND home building? There seems to be a lack of focus.
Also, home building for foster families? I’m not sure what this means… aren’t foster familes ones that are willing to take kids in? Do they need bigger homes to do this? What exactly is the rationale here?
Thanks for doing this. A member of my family has benefitted greatly from equine therapy, dealing with various emotional issues.
Your operation is a little similar to a place around here. I’ll email you about them. Beyond that, I’m not sure where to point you. I assume that you are a member of EAGALA.
UPDATE: I should mention that we have applied for a 501 <c> <3> status
We are only looking for info and not collecting funds until our status is approved. Just looking for suggestions.
In response…we do have 2 distinct branches of the organization; Ranch Operations and Development of properties. We currently are in development of two multi-family projects.
Consider contacting your local 4H or Pony Club to find out if they would be willing to benefit you at one of their already-established horse shows, or work with you in another way that mirrors their existing fundraising activities. On a smaller scale, allowing a related charity to run the concession stand at a local horse show is common.
Other ideas:
-Charity auction – tie in to your local equine community to get donated goods and services. Tack stores, feed stores, local instructors, horse show organizers, and horse owners may be interested in donating. Assuming that you are knowledgable and reputable in your care of horses, local horsepeople will probably be interested in supporting your cause. Things to obtain for auction include: items like tack and supplies, horse-related services like lessons, show entries, and breeding services, equine massage or chiropractor. Human related services, like sports massage, pilates lessons, and yoga. Again for maximum impact tie in with existing horse event already run by another reputable organization: awards dinner held by local association, horse show, etc.
BTW, if you are not experienced in keeping and managing horses, it is unlikely that the local horse community will support you. There have been a lot of “rescue” tragedies lately with 501(c)(3) orgs that bit off way more than they could chew and ended up with starving horses. It takes a lot more than good intentions to keep a working horse healthy. Don’t be these guys. So expect to prove yourself to this community to some degree.
Again, we need more background info. What kind of group are you, what backgrounds and resources? Where are you located? Foster care is usually a government program.
You say you’re “In development of two multi-family projects”. What exactly does this mean? In development can be anything from saying “Let’s see how much it would cost to build four duplexes” to “we’ve hired an architect and have the down payment.” Any good charitable organization has a clear-cut plan and mission statement. People who go into this sort of thing (or pet rescue, or saving the rainforest) without specific plans and goals can do more harm than good. Animals rescued from shelters where they might be euthanized, only to be in horrible conditions starving because the “rescuers” didn’t plan beforehand how they were going to feed and vet these animals they thought they could rehome. Half-built medical clinics in Haiti with no money to finish or buy drugs or hire staff.
If you do have knowledgeable horse therapy people in your organization, you’ll usually find horse people very generous. Locally a couple of the polo clubs put on an annual charity tournament to benefit one of the therapeutic riding programs. PetSmart Charities also will contributed to many animal related causes. They have an entire department just to help animal charities.
Please tell us more.
StG
Two things that have been highly successful for me are horse shows and Ranch/kids rodeos. I run a ranch/kids rodeo once a year (over 3 days - 1 day for the kids rodeo, 1 day for the slack/qualifyers, and 1 day for the big show). They are hugely popular and we raise @10,000.00 a year profit without trying. On the otherhand, almost all the stock is donated (Except the rough stock). It is the highlight of the year for most local ranchers and horseman, who are tired of the usual events and realze that most ranch rodeo events are things they can compete in without being a pro. It is a lot of work, though.
We also run a local horse show circuit that raises about 1,200 - 1,500 per show, but most of that profit goes to prizes. If people are willing to do it for ribbons and bragging rights alone, it can be profitable.
Also, you might try a judging or training clinic. If you get a knowledgable trainer or judge who will donate some time, it can be a big money maker.
If you need more info on any of these, I am here to serve.
Oh, and I haven’t done it, but I have a friend who has done a really successful “Special Olympics Rodeo”. It was only a moderate fundraiser without local donations, but a wonderful experience on top of the profit making.
Have you looked int oogrants? There are many out there. Check out this website for general information
Thank you! Your info took us to the website of a local grant writer in our area. What a great connection…we’ll keep in touch.
Our last message sent without us finishing it, pretty funny response! We’ll send more info tomorrow, thanks for your words of wisdom.
Thank you so much. Your ideas are very valuable, you must have a great vision. I will file your suggestions away and as we get going we will have a 'ranch manager who will be in charge of such events.
we will be in touch later. Again, thank you. Jenny
Thanks so much for the idea. It sounds like a lot of fun and very beneficial to those involved.
we shall have to try that.
Jenny
Thanks so much for your ideas, you really put some thought to these things. Most of our staff have already been involved with events like these and would be able to tap into the local scene.
we are pretty well aquainted with the many stables and ranches around here, both English and Western, I didn’t think about tapping in to their events. We are getting more and more support so it wouldn’t surprise me if that would work. As you probably know, the exposure alone would be a tremendous benefit
We don’t take in rescue horses, we focus on the kids and their families. But there are many around us that do a great job with that already.
We have done a lot of research on Equine Therapy and will be looking for a specialist in the near future. There are some incredible reports on the success of this intervention, even topping the majority of other kinds.
I myself have owned horses my whole life and done some jumping in the past. We have 5 now and have had a lesson program for children. As we hire a ranch manager and equine therapy specialist I’m sure more will come along.
I have 6 children, 4 are grown now, but my heart for needy children will always be with me. There are currently 200 foster children in Oregon waiting for a foster home. There are 140 homeless children in our own school district.
these numbers are too large to ignore, and thankfully we have a community of “doers” in our region who are available to help. With the large variety of professionals ready to join the board of directors, and folk like you around the country, we will be in good hands and our prayer is that many children will find the right family and resources to meet their needs.
Thanks again for answering. We’ll keep in touch!
Jenny
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Again, we need more background info. What kind of group are you, what backgrounds and resources? Where are you located? Foster care is usually a government program.
You say you’re “In development of two multi-family projects”. What exactly does this mean? In development can be anything from saying “Let’s see how much it would cost to build four duplexes” to “we’ve hired an architect and have the down payment.” Any good charitable organization has a clear-cut plan and mission statement. People who go into this sort of thing (or pet rescue, or saving the rainforest) without specific plans and goals can do more harm than good. Animals rescued from shelters where they might be euthanized, only to be in horrible conditions starving because the “rescuers” didn’t plan beforehand how they were going to feed and vet these animals they thought they could rehome. Half-built medical clinics in Haiti with no money to finish or buy drugs or hire staff.
If you do have knowledgeable horse therapy people in your organization, you’ll usually find horse people very generous. Locally a couple of the polo clubs put on an annual charity tournament to benefit one of the therapeutic riding programs. PetSmart Charities also will contributed to many animal related causes. They have an entire department just to help animal charities.
Please tell us more.
Jenny did a good job explaining more about Walking Horse Kids Ranch and Housing. If you read some of her comments, these will give you more perspective on what she and I are doing. Thanks for your support. Dan
Well, no, she’s told us almost nothing about what kind of organization you are. It sounds like you have an existing business that you are trying to convert to a not-for-profit, is that right? You already have staff and programs, but you don’t have 501c3 status yet?
I’d like to know how this housing project fits in with the horse program. They seem to have such entirely different goals that if might be beneficial to create two separate organizations to pursue them, even if it’s the same group of people behind both.
Thanks, Boyo Jim - I thought I was being obtuse. I just don’t see any specifics about this organization. It’s sounding more and more like a well-meaning family. It’s good that they’re well-meaning, but I wonder if they’re unrealistically dreaming for the stars. We just can’t tell from the info given.
StG
I’m not sure if this is the same type of riding facility as you have in mind, but this place is in my current home town: Peace Area Riding for the Disabled Society (PARDS)
They’ve done some fund-raising for the future facility, and I was thinking they might be a good source of ideas, as well as other input on what kind of services they offer.
S^G