How to raise money for charity

Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people. Crowdfunding is a form of crowdsourcing and alternative finance. In 2015, over US$34 billion was raised worldwide by crowdfunding.

A donation box is a phenomenal way of raising funds and you can multiply your funds raised by simply having multiple boxes!

But to really make your box a success there are a couple of guidelines you will need to follow, which we’ll get into further down…

Donation Tins will be successful for many different causes and organizations. As long as your cause can connect on a basic level with people in terms of it being “a worthy cause to donate to”.

You should also think carefully about how you can increase the donations into your boxes. Here come some tips on how to do this…

Donation Box Success Tips:

The most important aspect of your box’s success is where you place it. So with that in mind here are some points…

  • Place your boxes in high traffic areas. The more people who see the box, the more donations you’ll receive.
  • Place near cash turnover points. Places where people have their wallets out and are receiving change.
  • Catch people’s attention. Make your Donation Box stand out so that people notice it! Get eyeballs onto your box!
  • Have a short blurb that lets people know what the box is for. Just to connect that little bit more and encourage people to get their change out!
  • Include QR Codes in your design for people who want to Donate Online.

Where to Place your Donation Cans:

So we’ve already discussed that this is the most important part of your Donations Boxes’ success, and I’ve mentioned that High Traffic areas and Cash Points are the best locations.

But here are some suggestions for specific places to have your Donation Tins…

  • Grocery Stores
  • Convenience Stores
  • Party Stores
  • Pharmacies
  • Gas Stations
  • Doctors Offices
  • Churches – People are encouraged to give to charity at Church, so it’s the perfect place to have your box!
  • At Events
  • And at your Fundraising Stores

Remember though that you will need permission to have your donation boxes at all these locations. Your members will need to visit the locations you decide on and get permission from the owners or managers.

Always have a charity box (or charity boxes) with you when getting permission so that you don’t have to make a return trip.

Also make sure that you place the box out yourself, or at least go with the manager to place it. This will make sure that,

  1. It does get placed out, and,
  2. You can control where it gets placed to increase donations!

You must also always look for new locations for your boxes!

Collecting Your Donations:

The last thing you’ll need to do is collect your donations on a weekly or monthly basis.

Either do this yourself or send a trusted board member or volunteer.

Track Your Results:

You’ll then obviously count your donations… but you will also want to carefully record your results to analyze which boxes and locations work the best.

You can then use this information to increase your low performing boxes, and to find more and better locations!

QR Codes & Online Donations:

You can also incorporate your donation boxes into your Online Donations campaign through QR Codes.

A QR Code (Quick Response Code) is an image that if a Smart Phone scan will load a specific webpage on that Smart Phone.

This means that you can place a QR Code on your Box that will take people directly to your Online Donations page

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Money Boxes: How to raise funds & collect money for your charity

Looking to fund a new concept or business venture, Educate children about fiscal responsibility, do CSI for your company or raise funds for a charity?

In a different article, we explain some useful tips, guiding you in using money tins and donation boxes effectively to increase company revenue and promote your brand or charity.

In this article, we will explain who should be using donation boxes, how they should be using them, why you should also be using donation boxes and, ultimately, the effectiveness of crowd fundraising. But before we get to that, we want you to know that-

We are fundraising experts.

We have supplied millions of money boxes and cans to charities, companies, governmental organizations, non-profits and schools. As a result, thousands of charitable causes sustain themselves and earn their bread and butter by distributing custom branded money boxes and collection tins that we manufacture at Can It.

The money box provides a way to help the community around you or even greater causes, without feeling pressured or guilty. Thousands of charitable causes and small non-urban communities in South Africa sustain themselves and earn their bread and butter by distributing custom branded money boxes and collection tins that we manufacture at Can It.

Through Can Itโ€™s unique influence and insight into the industry, and country-wide reach, we form a vital part of the charity industry that enables NPOโ€™s to function.

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Fundraising is hard, and after a while you may end up looking like this:

Disappointed Baby Boy

But a successful fundraiser knows to never give up, even during the difficult times.

At Can It, we love helping charities and charitable causes sustain themselves. We love educating you about fundraising to help you earn your bread and butter in a productive way and to, ultimately, help your cause to remain operational during all those difficult times.

We’re here to tell you that you should keep going, keep making the world a better place, and that if you implement your strategy effectively, Donation Boxes offer charities a glimmer of hope during financially-struggling times. Such an approach takes your cause out of the charitable sphere, and puts you in a new league. The league of charities who take a business approach – charities who invest and thus receive the benefit of investment. Investment, while still being completely hands-on with your fundraising.

The money box provides a way to help the community around you or even greater causes, without feeling pressured or guilty.

Did you know?

Donation Boxes provide an effortless way for people and organisations to generate a passive income that covers their expenses at the least, while also giving people the option to donate to a good cause without being pressured by being asked if they would like to donate, as with some programs where tellers ask customers if they would like to make a donation.

Click Here For Our Step By Step Guide

How To Collect Money For Your Charity

Crowdfunding is the practice of funding a project or venture by raising monetary contributions from a large number of people. Money boxes at till checkout points are the ideal and most profitable form of crowdfunding for charity. Cause Marketing Forum, which assists charities and companies on fundraising partnerships, analyzed the 63 checkout campaigns in the United States that earned at least $1 million (R12 million) in 2012 and Combined, they raised $358.4 million (R4.3 Billion) โ€” more than a dollar for every American. (Source)

What are Money Tins?

A Money Box (sometimes referred to as charity cans, money tins or collection tins) is the traditional name of a coin container made out of metal with a slot in the top, for depositing coins. Money Boxes serve a multitude of purposes, but are normally used by charities for fundraising, by children for saving and by corporations for promotional purposes โ€“

Money Boxes are generally branded with a company logo or personal message and serve as a pedagogical device to teach the rudiments of thrift and savings. In South Africa and many other countries, money boxes form a vital part of the fundraising and charity industries; they can be seen at most till-points allowing for the passer-by to easily and safely donate their leftover coins and pocket shrapnel.

Although only recently popularized, the oldest Western find of a money box dates from the 2nd century BC Greek colony Priene, Asia Minor, and features the shape of a miniature Greek temple with a slit in the pediment. Money boxes of various forms were also excavated in Pompeii and Herculaneum, and appear quite frequently on late ancient provincial sites, particularly in Roman Britain and along the Rhine.

Can Itโ€™s money tins do not have an opening besides the slot for inserting coins, making them secure and safe, and would need to be opened with a can-opener or by other means, to obtain the money within. Make the most out of your money box by waiting until it is completely full before opening.

Charity Cans as part of your Corporate Social Investment (CSI)

Aligned with our country’s priorities and the Millennium Development Goals; Can It plays an important role in the socio-economic development of South Africa, supplying millions of money boxes and collection tins to charities, non-profits, schools and religious institutions for fundraising.

Within the South African context, corporate social investment has a pivotal role to play in bringing about meaningful transformation to the benefit of all.  The social needs facing our country are substantial and it is a moral duty for companies to make a difference by supporting projects that benefit historically disadvantaged sectors of our society.

With corporate social investment becoming more strategically focused, it makes sense for businesses to align their corporate social investment spend in such a way that it represents your company values correctly, markets your brand, and impacts the community positively as much as possible.

The Can It Money Box does just that.

  1. Your Logo, prominently branded around the tin, is a valuable marketing tool.
  1. Your Company Values and Imperatives will be on the label, becoming ever-more clear to the public.
  1. Money boxes distributed wisely will prove a ROI of over 1000%. Your CSI will blow through the roof without needing to increase actual spend.

Such an approach moves CSI out of the charitable sphere into one in which true partnerships with beneficiaries, government and NGOs bring about long-term sustainable development to the benefit of all.

It is against this background, and guided by the key social development needs highlighted by government, that Can It presents the Money Box as not only a brilliant fundraising item for non-profits but an item that will quadruple your company corporate social investment without needing to spend one cent more.

Collection Tins as an Educational Tool

If you are on our website to purchase money tins on behalf of a school, then you have come to the right place.

Can It offers an educational programme for schools. A Money Box and Workbook, together, will serve as a pedagogical device to teach and educate children the rudiments of thrift, saving and investment.

Can Itโ€™s unique experience, insight and powerhouse influence into the industry, as well as its country-wide reach, places Can It in an unparalleled position to fundamentally change and benefit the spending culture of our youth, by cultivating a savings culture of fiscal responsibility that will extend to the young and adults alike, creating a brighter and better future for all.

Our educational programme consists of the following elements:

  • A NAWA-BOX (Collection Tin) for each student

A Money Box (sometimes referred to as a charity can, money tin, savings tin or collection tin) is the traditional name of a coin container made out of metal with a slotted top, for depositing coins and banknotes.

Money Boxes serve a multitude of purposes, but are normally used by charities for fundraising, by children for saving, and by corporations and banks for promotional purposes and social investment programmes.

  • A specially designed educational workbook

A workbook designed, developed and structured by educational professionals, psychologists, and economists, that is filled with exercises and practical applications, and that will educate and instil in each student a new and profound first-world outlook at fiscal planning and productivity, both on a personal and professional level, with the end result being a new savings culture, one that will extend to the banking sector, and build the country as an international destination for world-class banking and foreign investment.

If investors believe in the ability of the population as effective and responsible financial individual managers, we can become a premier destination for investors across the globe.

*more information available upon request

Tzedakah Boxes โ€“ Charity in the Tanakh

Pirkei Avot 2:8: Hillel used to say, The more tzedakah, the more shalom.

Jews, who are only about 2% of the American population, are 30% of America’s most generous donors. Similarly, a 2003 study (reported in the Jewish Journal) found that 24.5% of all “mega-donors” (people who donate more than $10 million a year to charity) are Jewish.

Tzedakah” is the Hebrew word for the acts that we call “charity” in English: giving aid, assistance and money to the poor and needy or to other worthy causes. However, the nature of tzedakah is very different from the idea of charity. The word “charity” suggests benevolence and generosity, a magnanimous act by the wealthy and powerful for the benefit of the poor and needy. The word “tzedakah” is derived from the Hebrew root Tzadei-Dalet-Qof, meaning righteousness, justice or fairness.

In Judaism, giving to the poor is not only viewed as a generous, magnanimous act; it is simply an act of justice and righteousness, the performance of a duty, giving the poor their due. In practice, most Jews carry out tzedakah by donating a portion of their income to charitable institutions, or to needy people that they may encounter

Deuteronomy 16:17: Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the L-rd you G-d that He has given thee.

Tzedakah is considered to be one of the three main acts that can annul a less than favorable heavenly decree. It is taught that Tzedakah money was never yours to begin with, rather, it always belongs to God, who merely entrusts you with it so that you may use it properly. Hence, it is your obligation to ensure that it is received by those deserving of it.

Gemilut Hasadim means ‘the giving of loving-kindness’ and applies to all types of charitable works. It is a mitzvah (commandment) that an individual completes gemilut hasadim without expecting anything in return.

Baba Batra 9b: One who gives charity in secret is greater than Moses.

The second highest form of tzedakah is to give donations anonymously to unknown recipients. Can Itโ€™s collection tins or tzedakah boxes, at till-points, provide the ideal opportunity for individuals to discreetly and voluntarily donate to unknown recipients, without getting anything in return and also provide the means for charities to collect money without having to ask or pressure anyone.

Our collection tins or tzedakah boxes are widely used to raise funds for Shuls and Jewish organizations.

Charity Boxes โ€“ Charity in the Christian Bible

Have you ever just stopped and thought about the current state of our world? If you havenโ€™t, it would be wise for you to do so! When you turn on the news it seems all you see is pain; war, murder, infidelity, and crime are on every news report. But, every once in a while there is an inspiring story that warms the hearts of many and gives hope to those who have lost it due to living in this world.

The Bible is very similar in this regard. Much of whatโ€™s included in the Bible is bad; people die, sin abounds, and various crimes are committed. Yet, amidst all of that there is the message of hope.

Despite all of the evil, charity is often illuminated within the pages. But, what does charity mean in the Bible? Like usual, to find out, we must look into the Word of God and see where charity is talked about.

2 Corinthians 9:7 โ€œso let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.โ€

In the Bible, much like what we would believe today, charity is equated with giving. To be charitable, literally, would mean to be a giver. In the context of 2 Corinthians 9, the Apostle Paul is talking about money; however, charity is never limited to money within the Bible. Regardless, the Bible does tell us to bless others as much as we can.

Yet, it must be done cheerfully, otherwise it is meaningless. We should never feel obligated to be charitableโ€”we should want to be! After all, Jesus was incredibly charitable to us.

Proverbs 19:17 โ€œHe who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given.โ€

Charity involves helping those who need it. Often times, it will be through giving tithes to a church or through handing someone in need some money. But, there are other ways to be charitable to the less fortunate, too. If we know someone in need, we can always buy the groceries, give some type of gift card, or pay for a bill that we know is coming up.

Hebrews 13:2 โ€œDo not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.โ€

In order to be charitable, it is also important to be hospitable. The two often go hand-in-hand. Hospitality means we are willing to open up our homes and lives to those that need it. It doesnโ€™t mean that we have to allow strangers to sleep in our homes, but it does mean we are to be friendly, compassionate, and kind to anybody around usโ€”including strangers!

This is a perfect definition of charity found in the Bible. Again, it doesnโ€™t necessarily mean money has to be given (although thatโ€™s certainly included). The fact is, itโ€™s far greater than just handing out money or tithingโ€”it goes deep into our hearts. If we are a charitable person, we will start caring for other people more than we care for ourselves. We will start wanting to listen to other peopleโ€™s troubles more than we like to speak about our own. In other words, to be charitable according to the Bible is to be a sacrificial giver of every part of our life, from our money to our time. ~Source: Patheos

Can Itโ€™s collection tins or charity boxes, at till-points, provide the ideal opportunity for individuals to discreetly and voluntarily donate to unknown recipients, without getting anything in return and also provide the means for charities to collect money without having to ask or pressure anyone.

Our collection tins or charity boxes are widely used to raise funds for Churches and Christian organizations.

Sadaqah Boxes โ€“ Charity in the Quran

Muhammad said in a hadith that sadaqa removes seventy gates of evil

According to the Quran, the word Sadaqah means voluntary offering, whose amount is at the will of the “benefactor”. Related words are used to indicate “moral excellence”, such as al-siddiq (truthful), used to describe the prophet Joseph, or sadiq (trusted friend).

Kind words and “compassion” are better than sadaqa accompanied by “insult”, from the viewpoint of Quran, and it is better for the donations to be offered “discreetly” to those in need rather than doing it in public in order to be acknowledged by them.

The Quran also criticizes donating aimed at appearing generous or compromising the value of sadaqa by “ostentatious public behavior” done just to “render a normally charitable act purely self-serving.” Quran suggests that sadaqa is not meant only to support the poor, but also can be donated to others who “were not visibly in need” and also who either needed assistance to enhance their life or required to be directed towards new jobs and “economic opportunities”

The word is interchangeably used with Zakat and Nafaqa in some occasions, however, while zakat is obligatory, Sadaqa usually refers to voluntary donations.

Can Itโ€™s collection tins or Sadaqah boxes, at till-points, provide the ideal opportunity for individuals to discreetly and voluntarily donate to unknown recipients, without getting anything in return and also provide the means for charities to collect money without having to ask or pressure anyone.