It's easy, now You and your group can fundraise for BRAC!

"The Task Force members offer to discuss what they learned from their campaign with other communities such as clubs, churches, mosques, synagogues and temples interested in initiating a similar program"
-- Stephen Smith, Professor of Economics and International Affairs at George Washington University

Last month we blogged about the amazing work of Stephen Smith and the fundraising efforts of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA's Ending Global Poverty Task Force. They spent over a year educating themselves about poverty in Africa and then selected BRAC USA as the recipient for a major fundraising drive which raised $30,000.

Here’s how you can recreate a similar event in your community, with some specifics on their campaign:

1.) Form a Task Force.
The Task Force should spend significant time learning about poverty in Africa and Asia. After educating themselves with the myriad issues afflicting these areas, the Task Force should work to focus in on a region and specific topic that is consistent with the community’s interests and mission.

2.) Contact a member of BRAC USA (see contact below)
A staff member at BRAC USA can help you to identify a specific area of interest or project that BRAC is working on. Check out our website for ideas http://www.brac.net/.

We can also put you in touch with members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, VA's Ending Global Poverty Task Force.

3.) Educate your community
· Bring in a speaker that specializes in the geographic region or topic of
interest
· Invite a BRAC staff member or Advisory Board member to speak to your
organization
· Show films specific to the cause
· Invite musical groups or performers that come from your chosen region

4.) Start fundraising!
· Phone calls
· Hold a dinner featuring speakers, music, art or performances from the region
· Host musical events or shows of people from the region
· “Share the plate month” – declare one month where a certain percentage of all donations to the organization will go to your BRAC project


5) Some specifics on how the Ending Global Poverty Task Force conducted their campaign:
· A congregation educational program ensued in September and October. An area specialist on Africa spoke at one event, and an area expert on poverty spoke at another. There was a film night in which the movie War Dance was played.
· An extensive phone calling effort by all the members of the committee reached about 500 members of the congregation.
· The major November fundraising dinner featured African music presented by area performers and talks about BRAC and poverty in Africa.
· Another important fundraising event, a concert by the interdenominational gospel music choir “Mosaic Harmony,” was also successful.
· The drive was topped off in December with a “share the plate” month in which one third of cash presented in the offering was also donated to BRAC.
· Including some major donors within the congregation, the fundraising goal was met.

If you or your organization is interested in fundraising for BRAC USA, please contact:
Alyssa Herman
212-808-5615
alyssa@bracusa.org