How does a charity work?

Help with getting sponsors for charity?! How does it work.?

• Hey everybody, I am raising money for Duke Children's Hospital by kayaking along the Cape Fear River(in NC) all the way to Bald Head Island. This will be about a 200 mile trip, and I plan on embarking on this journey alone. Organizing a charity event is very new for me, and I was wondering how sponsorship might work? For instance, I just asked REI for sponsorship. Will they write a check to the foundation? I plan on asking neighbors, friends, family, and anyone else who wants to donate, but should my main focus for money be on businesses? Note: I have received approval from Duke Children's for this event. Oh, and just in case anyone is curious on how this will work, I plan on asking people to pledge a certain amount of money per mile or have people give flat donations. For anyone who might want to donate, my email is [email protected]. I need all the help I can get! Also, if you want to donate, I can figure out some way to prove that this event has be approved if you feel that is necessary. Thanks a lot, Patrick Kurtz

• Answer:

  The money needs to go DIRECTLY to the charity, not through you. That's to ensure you don't have to pay taxes, to keep you from having to handle money, and to ensure money gets where it's supposed to. Ask that anyone who makes a donation also write you to say they have made such a donation. You need a web site that tracks all pledges - that shows how much has been given based on your efforts. Most people prefer to give flat donations. More advice here: Fund Raising For a Cause or Organization http://www.coyotecommunications.com/stuff/fundraise.shtml