Fundraising Solutions Limited
Adcard Limited
Media Release
December 23, 2008
New Year answer to school fundraising crisis
Two new initiatives where schools take healthy commissions on goods and services bought by their communities are set to
bring in thousands of dollars in 2009 and save them just as other fundraising sources are drying up.
The new programmes are timely as it was revealed late in 2008 that Canterbury schools are struggling after a $42 million
slump in locally raised funds.
A local business has developed a system where schools and other groups receive commission from goods bought from a
catalogue that the schools send to their communities.
“People have 10 days to place their orders for products in our Sure to Raise catalogue and the schools take between 20
and 40 percent of the purchase price for everything sold,” says Fundraising Solutions Director Rob Ballantyne.
The products available are mainly household necessities. They are all environmentally friendly.
“By encouraging parents to buy some of their goods like laundry powder from the catalogue, they can help their schools
without needing to spend extra money,” says Mr Ballantyne.
The second initiative is an affiliate programme offered by local company, Adcard Limited. It provides business card
advertising systems in high foot traffic areas.
“Our system is called Autopilot Fundraising. It’s referral-based and requires no selling on behalf of the school,” says
Adcard Director, Nic Dale.
“It’s simple and effective. The school introduces us to a business that then hosts or is promoted in an AdCard display.
The school in turn gets 10 percent of the ongoing income earned. Autopilot Fundraising provides an income stream for
schools by working with businesses rather than putting more pressure on busy families within the school community,” says
Mr Dale.
Schools are heavily reliant on fundraising. In 2007 a massive 38 percent of school funding came from charitable goodwill
or optional fees.
“If the slump continues, our pupils will ultimately pay the price. The beauty of our systems is that they provide
ongoing income for 2009 and beyond and don’t require staff time or parents digging deep into their pockets,” Messrs
Ballantyne and Dale conclude.
ENDS