thinking

[kendermom]

I'm thinking about trying to organize a faire in our town to benefit the American Cancer Society. Any tips on how to start?

[webmistress]

Just my own opinion here - but I would advise against trying to organize a faire a sa fundraiser. Faires are incredibly costly and time-consuming, and they often require you to get insurance, etc. A good fundraiser will be one that isn't going to cost you a fortune to set up - and its been my experience that faires are not that.

Would you be opposed to something a little more traditional, like a walk, a car wash, etc? These fundraising events are much less expensive, which means more of the money coming in can go the cause. And with some creativity, you can probably put a rennie spin on a traditional fundraiser, to make it a little more fun and unique.

(Just my two cents)

[cyd]

I'll second that. Faires are VERY difficult to do and a whole lot of work for not a lot of profit.

However, something that we've done with Team Wench is create a couple of theme-based feasts to sponsor our charities. The first feast we put together was the Privateer Feast (http://www.privateerfeast.com/), where we have several of the local faire pirate or pirate-related performing groups, with a changing storyline every year. It's nicknamed the "Save the Boobies" feast, and all the proceeds go to the Avon Breast Cancer Walk, and the Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Walk. The second event we started was the MS Fantasy Ball (http://www.MSFantasyBall.com), where the theme was based on "A Midsummer Night's Dream", and the storyline weaves itself around costuming contests and different styles of dancing throughout the night. This event sponsors the MS Challenge Walk for Multiple Sclerosis. Both of these events have raffles throughout the night, where the many of our raffle items have been donated by local faire merchants and patrons.

Other charity fundraisers we've done have been things like the "Prepare for Faire" yardsale, where all of the yardsale items are faire related in some manner (garb, feast gear, accessories, etc). Or one of our members did her "moose nugget" campaign (little favors shaped like moose 'nuggets') to support her Colon Cancer walk. We've discussed having a "wench wash" car wash (hey, nothing like a bunch of ladies in garb to sell car washing). And all of these sponsor various charity events.

We've done turban and pillow making for cancer patients, sponsored clothing and accessories for battered women's shelters, and we're discussing blankets for Project Linus, and quilting for fundraising.

All of these activities are easier than putting together a faire, and with a much higher rate of return, while generally still in keeping with the faire theme.

Not trying to discourage you from the wonderful idea, but I think you may want to work with something more manageable. What I have addressed take a lot of work to put together, from many people working together, but they have worked, and produce more and more every year.

[kendermom]

Thanks for the in-put... I hadn't realized how much of a cash vacuum a faire is..... I'll look into those and hopefully decide on something between the kidlet wear and putting the fear of me into the kender-monsters.

[justLori]

Or one of our members did her "moose nugget" campaign (little favors shaped like moose 'nuggets') to support her Colon Cancer walk.

Cyd, they weren't "shaped like" moose nuggets--they WERE moose nuggets. Well shellacked, of course. But Katherine assured us that they were the real thing.

just Lori

[Ysobelle]

Thanks for the in-put... I hadn't realized how much of a cash vacuum a faire is.....


Mm. Have a chat with Lars about that some day. But I'd wait a decade or two.