Using your hobby as a way to raise funds for charities adds another level of appreciation to your passion. If you enjoy building something, why not share your creations and help others in the process? Raising money for a cause not only helps fund research for a specific illness or people in need, but it helps raise awareness for a cause that might not be well known to the general public. Many times, as you will see in the examples below, a specific hobbyist gains a reputation and the public begins to look forward to new items year after year.
2007 Dollhouse Raffle Fundraiser
The Lupus Alliance of America raised over $2000 at their Long Island event last year raffling off a dollhouse that somebody made and donated. This year, the same person that donated last year's dollhouse has created another one to raise even more money for the organization. This year's creation has nine rooms spread out over three levels. A nursery, living room, kitchen and bedrooms are scattered throughout the house and its wrap-around porch adds a lifelike appeal. The entire house has a market value of more than $2200, but the person who donated simply wants to contribute to this important cause.
The Fitzgibbon Hospital Cancer Center
In July 2006, Wesley and Elizabeth Kessler donated their homemade dollhouse to the Fitzgibbon Hospital Auxiliary to help raise money for cancer research and awareness. Wesley began building the dollhouse for his wife in the 1970s as a gift for his wife. When they moved, he donated the dollhouse to the hospital. Before the dollhouse went up for auction, two hospital workers added several touches of their own. Valued at nearly $8,000 by an appraiser, it helped to bring money to the hospital's cancer center while at the same time provided a project that brought people closer together.
The Patricia Gage Liver Transplant Fund Committee
Exorbitant medical expenses often hit us when we're least prepared to deal with them. When a distinguished member of the faculty at the University of Vermont had been diagnosed with a rare liver disease in 2003, the rest of the staff jumped in to help the family do what they could to help pay the medical bills. Patricia's husband built a customized dollhouse for his wife and offered it to the committee for auction in a raffle. The structure brought in thousands of dollars and helped the family pay off some of the medical bills accumulated since her diagnosis.
If you're in charge of an organization that needs to raise funds, auctioning off a specially-made dollhouse is an ideal way to generate large donations. Find somebody experienced in this craft to build a one-of-a-kind creation or simply ask some specialty stores if they would consider donating one of their finished products. Some companies will do this for a tax write-off. Since each dollhouse is unique and special, people will likely pay thousands of dollars to own one, especially if their money is going for a good cause.
Related Articles
Seven Steps You Need To Take Now To Compete In The Twenty-First Century
By: Jim Gould | 11/04/2007 | Management
Every year is finding nonprofits with more challenging environments for funding their programs and operations. There is less support from Federal and State Governments as they reallocate resources to meet their own expanding needs. Grants from foundations are harder to qualify for, and more difficult to obtain. Yet expenditures keep...
21 Things You Must Do To Stay Competitive In The 21st Century
By: Jim Gould | 21/04/2007 | Business
We have seen in the previous article "It is a Dog Eat Dog Nonprofit World" that the romantic and idealized notion that many of us carry around that the nonprofit world is a better place to be, may be flawed. Instead of cooperation, we encounter competition; instead of collaboration we...
How to Sell Raffle Tickets & Promote your Raffle
By: Bruce Hassel | 28/06/2007 | Non Profit Organizations
You will need to organize ticket sellers, keep a record of ticket distribution, and collect cash. Numbered raffle tickets make it easy to keep track of which tickets are given to which sellers. Adding a little friendly competition into the mix might be a good idea; offer a reward or prize for whomever sells the most raffle tickets. Allow at least one month for raffle ticket sales, and keep a chart or graph that highlights the progress of sellers.
Nine Conditions For Selecting A New Member Of A Nonprofit Board Of Trustees
By: Jim Gould | 19/03/2007 | Management
Many nonprofit organizations contain term limits in their by-laws for members of their Boards of Trustees. Some of the Boards on which I have served have different provisions. One provided for three year terms, with no more than three consecutive terms before the member was required to take...
Is the Non-Profit Niche for Copywriting All It's Cracked Up to Be?
By: Chris Marlow | 08/09/2006 | Copywriting
Landmark survey of dozens of freelance non-profit copywriters and interviews with five non-profit copywriters, including gurus Jerry Huntsinger and Mal Warwick, reveals the truth about this unique and mysterious market.
10 Tips For Better Fundraising
By: Willaim Stewart | 09/11/2006 | Advice
If, you're looking for a fundraising project for a school, sports team or construction project you will the following useful for you.
Use these 10 tips to catapult you fund raising efforts and raise more funds.
1. Examine you database of supporters.
Fund Raising Without Cookie Dough
By: Silvana Clark | 26/03/2008 | K-12 Education
Tired of helping your kids sell cookie dough and candy? Try these creative and no-calorie ways to raise money for your school or organization.
Unique Fundraising Ideas
By: Colleen Maloney | 14/11/2006 | Non Profit Organizations
Many fundraisers stick with the money raising tactics that they have used for years.
How would you like to try something different as far as your fundraising activities are concerned?
Take a walk on the wild side and you will be more then happy with the monetary results!!!
Latest Art and Entertainment Articles
Take Care of Your Gold Watches
By: Tiraton Athiwat | 19/07/2008
The luster and warm tone of gold never appears to go off out of fashion and style. Rather with the years, it has become more appealing choice for the jewelry buyers and designers. Gold is the softest metal and if kept with proper care, it lasts forever. This is the reason that there has been much demand for the gold watches too.
W.C. Handy, the Quintessential Memphis Musician
By: Phoenix Delray | 19/07/2008
This article tells about some of the musicians in Memphis
The History of Memphis Blues Music
By: Phoenix Delray | 18/07/2008
This article discusses about the origin of the blues music in Memphis
Meet The Famous Musicians From Memphis
By: Phoenix Delray | 18/07/2008
This article tells more about the Memphis musicians.
7 Beatrix Potter Quotes to Celebrate a Childhood Favorite
By: Noel Jameson | 18/07/2008
Beatrix Potter wrote her way into the hearts of millions of children with her Peter Rabbit tales. While her body left us decades ago, her spirit and her legacy still live on. Let's commemorate this year's anniversary of her birth with these seven Beatrix Potter quotes.
Cigars: A Great Bachelorette Party Gift
By: Ann Knapp | 18/07/2008
Unlike many wedding customs, it's not so hard to get to the bottom of the origin of the bachelorette party. It's a fairly recent innovation, the result of the cross-breeding of the traditional bachelorette's tea
with the idea of the bachelor party, with a bit of the even-more-traditional bridal shower mixed in.
Get Going With Race Games
By: Ajeet Khurana | 17/07/2008
When you play racing games you probably feel happier because you really enjoy them. Physiologically playing a game can make us feel better because of the effects on the brain. It is amazing that people become addicted to these games because after all they are just entertainment option. However, when...
Online and Offline Car Race Games
By: Ajeet Khurana | 17/07/2008
If you want to play race car games then the best way to do so is to play online. The Internet is chock full of websites that have such sports so your best option is to search different websites and find the ones that you would love. Of course, there...
More from Veronica Scott
Going Live - Selling Your Crafts Online
By: Veronica Scott | 15/02/2008 | Art and Entertainment
Any type of money-making adventure requires a lot of thought and dedication. This is especially true when you are planning to open a business to sell your craft. You might have the greatest product on earth, but if you don't market it correctly, people won't know about it and your...
School Fundraising
By: Veronica Scott | 10/02/2008 | Education
When it comes to school fundraising, it can be a jungle out there. Competition is fierce and fundraising for schools can be taken very seriously between the teachers, kids, and parents involved. With a few friendly tips and ideas, however, that ferociousness and competitive spirit can be replaced with gracious,...
Quality Family Time
By: Veronica Scott | 07/02/2008 | Home and Family
Spending time with loved ones and family is an incredible experience. Children love to spend time with their families and bask in the love and joy that comes with it, so it's not surprising that quality family time ranks up there as one of the most important values in the...
Miniature Artists
By: Veronica Scott | 05/02/2008 | Art and Entertainment
Artists of miniature works have often been set aside as being insignificant, unfortunately, as a result of the larger-than-life work of their "big art" counterparts, but the art of miniatures is certainly an art form worth looking at and examining closer. Miniature artists, meaning those that work on small-scale artistic...
Making Good Investments With Collectibles
By: Veronica Scott | 03/02/2008 | Home Improvement
Watching The Antique Road Show and other programs that appraise collectibles often gives people the idea that they might have something valuable hidden away in their attic or basement. Others simply want to purchase a specific antique or one with potential for an antique in the future. But what exactly...
Making A Dollhouse Using Household Objects
By: Veronica Scott | 02/02/2008 | Art and Entertainment
You can make a creative and perfect dollhouse with your family, just by using a variety of household objects. With imagination and creativity, making a dollhouse can be fun and easy. The best part about designing your own dollhouse using household objects is that there are no limitations as to...
Great Birthday Party Ideas For Kids
By: Veronica Scott | 29/01/2008 | Parenting
Everyone loves a great party, especially kids. Birthdays mark milestones in a child's life and each one should be a memorable event. When it comes time to host your child's birthday party, there are some fun and creative ways to make it a memorable event for everyone, especially the birthday...
Insuring Your Collectible Investment
By: Veronica Scott | 26/01/2008 | Home Improvement
Stamps, baseball cards and rare books are just a few items that people collect, but there are thousands of items some people never think of as collectables. In fact, you've probably seen people who collect hub caps, shot glasses and buttons just to name a few. Collections are as varied...
Art and Entertainment 
