Inspiring Stories of Grassroots Activism
Inspiring Stories of Grassroots Activism
Santiago is eight years old, and like you, he is concerned about the men, women and children who are being killed in the Darfur genocide. Santiago knew he could do something to help the victims of genocide in Darfur. So he gathered up all of the money in his piggy bank — nickels and dimes, quarters and pennies — put them in a bag, and sent them to our office.
More than half of Santiago's $15 will go directly to supporting GI-NET's Civilian Protection Program, which operates in Darfur and other places where mass atrocities are being commited against innocent people. The remainder of Santiago’s donation will support GI-NET's ongoing education and advocacy efforts.
If you are able, we encourage you to join Santiago and support peacekeeping initiatives in Darfur and other areas of concern by visiting: http://www.genocideintervention.net/donate.
Read on to find stories and tips from our most successful and creative fundraisers.
Never Ignore, Never Forget
Art Auction
No Prom for Darfur
T-Shirt Design and Sales
DarfurFast
Triangles of Truth
Change Wars
Jog-A-Thon
Bat Mitzvah Brunch
Never Ignore, Never Forget
In September, 2007, members of the cross country team at East High School in Wichita, Kansas joked about making an extended run to Washington, DC. On June 2, 2008, nine runners turned this joke into a reality, leaving a heroes' farewell in Wichita to set off on the two-week, 1,300 mile Never Ignore, Never Forget relay run. At the same time they sought to raise awareness of past and on-going genocides and collect as much money for civilian protection in Darfur as possible.
Prior to this start date, the runners solicited the financial support of individual and corporate donors, providing the option of purchasing t-shirts, making donations, or sponsoring the run. They received the sponsorship of a local automotive group and the endorsement of Senator Sam Brownback and State Senator Donald Betts Jr. adding publicity and legitimacy to their run. The run was covered by local and national media outlets including the Wichita Eagle, the Lawrence Journal-World, and MTV. Compiling donations from friends in Wichita, new friends made on their cross-country trek, and admirers who first encountered them through media coverage, the Never Ignore runners collected over $25,000!
Fundraising Tip: Expand your network of supporters through media coverage and celebrity sponsorships.
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Art for Darfur
During the spring of 2007, Maya Smith held a spectacular fundraiser called "Art for Dafur" -- a series of art auctions held in New York, Houston and Berkley. To collect the artwork she would be auctioning off, Maya held an art workshop at a New York Boy and Gifls Club and posted an ad on Craigslist soliciting artists to donate works to her project. In addition, Maya created twenty original pieces of artwork herself. In order to supplement her auctions, Maya contacted corporations regarding fund-matching, eventually obtaining a $5,000 matching grant from the Bridgeway Foundation.
The Bay Area event held at Berkley included an interpretive dance by the African Diaspora Studies program and a lyrical rendition by the Cal Slam poetry team. An auction ensued following these performances, garnering over $1,000. In New York, an event at the Lower East Side Boys and Girls Club hosted a speaker on genocide, a full musician performing a full set, and an exhibition of photographs from Darfur donated by Newsday photographer J. Conrad Williams. Through this event, Maya raised nearly $1,500. At the fundraiser in Houston, John Montgomery, CEO of the Bridgeway Foundation made an appearance, helping Maya to raise $4,000 at this event. All told, Maya raised over $11,000 for GI-NET!
Fundraising Tip: Double your impact by applying for matching grants from your office, a local business, or a grant giving foundation.
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No Prom for Darfur
In 2007, members of the STAND chapter at
Fundraising Tip: Put the cost of donating in perspective by comparing it with an event for which people spend heavily.
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Africa Hope Apparel
In November, 2006, having recently graduated from college, Katie sought to use her talent for t-shirt design to educate her community on African issues and raise money for organization that focus on Africa along the way. With help from a friend who is a graphic design artist, Katie designed t-shirts that captured her theme of African Hope and set up a website, www.africahopeapparel.org from which to sell them. She then called different screen printers in her hometown and found a compnay so excited about African Hope that the owner gave her a discount on the screen printing. Using a PayPal account on her website, Katie allows customers to choose which non-profit organization their puchase will benefit. Every few months, Katie send a check to the organizations. To date, she has sent over $8,000 to GI-NET, Invisible Children, and the Blood Water Mission.
Fundraising Tip: Create your own website to promote your fundraiser.
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They Don't Eat, We Don't Eat
On October 6, 2006, Duke University's Human Rights Coalition joined with hundreds of STAND chapters in the nationwide DarfurFast campaign. Members asked students and faculty to fast for one day and donate the money they would have spent on food to GI-NET's Civilian Protection Program. The event also encouraged fasters to reflect on the plight of Darfur's displaced people. Speaking on this secondary goal, HRC co-chair Lindsay Adkin commented, "Fasting also served as a reminder of the hardships that refugees in Darfur must endure." Through this one fundraiser, Duke students raised $1,700.
Fundraising Tip: Encourage participants to learn about Darfur in addition to donating money.
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Triangles of Truth
Making a difference can be simple, as students of Boca Raton Community High School's Holocaust Class in Boca Raton, FL, have discovered. In April, 2007, they launched "Triangles of Truth" -- a program that honors victims of the Holocaust by raising money to protect potential victims of the current genocide in Darfur. The program is so simple, yet wonderfully effective: a colored triangle with the words: "In memory of Holocaust victim [name], I choose to help victims of genocide in Darfur today," is purchased for just $1. These triangles are then displayed throughout participating schools and synagogues. The program has raised $17,000 and counting for GI-NET and Save Darfur. 
The results reach further than just the money raised. Vera Hirschorn, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, saw a story about Triangles of Truth in a local newspaper. She was so touched by the idea that she sent a donation as well as a picture of her two cousins who were killed in Auschwitz when they were children. The students were so moved by the donation and Vera's story that they blew the picture up to poster size, wrote down Vera's story, and hung her 50 triangles around the picture. The class then invited Vera to their school to see the display — a wonderful demonstration of the power of this program to unite those who have suffered genocide in the past with those who are trying to end genocide now.
You can still get involved in this awesome fundraiser. Click here to find out how.
Fundraising Tip: Think simple! Your fundraiser doesn't have to be large or complicated in order to be effective.
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Change Wars
In 2006, students at McDougle Middle School in Chapel Hill organized a fundraiser entitled "Change Wars" to raise money for STAND. Several first period advisory groups competed to see which group could raise the most money for Darfur with the winner receiving a pizza party during lunch. Collecting loose change and other small amounts, a little change added up fast: the students raised a total of $1,163.25
Fundraising Tip: Make your event competitive and include a prize for the winning group.
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Jog-A-Thon
In March, 2008, Maria Sebastian and her friends in Students for Change in Darfur, a student-run advocacy organization at Northwest High School, organized a Jog-A-Thon to benefit GI-NET. They advertised at their high school and among local community groups, resulting in 150 participants and raising $6,300. Maria contacted GI-NET before their event, and bought GI-NET bumperstickers and "I Vote for Darfur" buttons to give out to participants -- a great token to commemorate each runners' efforts. A few weeks later, Students for Change in Darfur held a Hope for Darfur concert, featuring nine high-school bands and raising an additional $800 for GI-NET. On May 2, the group was able to present a check for $7,146 to a GI-NET representative!
Fundraising Tip: Have something small to hand out to event participants. Visit www.genocideintervention.net/resources/gear to find t-shirts, magnets and other items available from GI-NET.
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Bat Mitzvah Brunch
A granddaughter of Holocaust survivors, Leah Salama decided to team up with her friend Madison to raise money for GI-NET as her Bat Mitzvah project. In April of 2007, Leah and Rachel hosted a fundraising brunch at Leah's house for friends and family. At the brunch, they made a presentation on the Darfur genocide complete with posters and GI-NET informational fliers. At her Bat Mitzvah, Leah spoke to her congregation about Darfur and solicited additional support for her fundraiser. Having already raised $3,278.10, Leah donated 10% of her Bat Mitzvah money to GI-NET, netting a total of $3,945!
Fundraising Tip: Tie your fundraiser to a religious event.
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