This spring, 123 nonprofits trained and coached by Raising More Money collectively raised $24 million in gifts and pledges, an average of $184,000 per group (not including a $2 million gift). It was our best fundraising season ever. Chapters of the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Easter Seals, MADD, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and the Humane Society, as well as high schools, colleges, seminaries, domestic violence shelters, food banks, community foundations and arts groups had successful fundraising events. Among the successes:
- The Salvation Army raised $748,018 in gifts and pledges from six Texas corps. In Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., an anonymous donor gave $2 million. This comes after Target, Inc., halted solicitations during the holiday season, causing an estimated loss of $9 million.
- The HIV Alliance in Eugene, Ore., raised $260,800 in an emotional fundraising event that included a woman standing up and thanking her employer for not firing her because she has HIV.
- Women's Economic Ventures in Santa Barbara raised $309,000 for providing loans and support for women-owned enterprises.
- The Wreck, a group of Christian teenagers in tiny Kendallville, Ind., raised $47,375 with just 69 people in attendance.
- The Make-A-Wish Foundation of California Orange County and Inland Empire raised $480,000.
- Phoenix Christian Junior and Senior High School brought in $605,000 with just 161 people attending.
- The American Red Cross chapter in Denver raised $276,000 and the chapter in Louisville brought in $309,384, proving that the tsunami didn't have a negative effect on local fundraising.
- The Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, providing 24-hour emergency care for children facing abuse and neglect, raised $541,171 from 421 donors -- 262 were first-time donors. This comes after losses in state and county funding that forced service cutbacks.
- The Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia, S.C., raised $385,000.
- The Center for Children and Families in Norman, Okla., raised $300,000 to support its many programs, including foster care and divorce mediation.
- The Boys & Girls Club in Manchester, N.H., raised $347,000 for a three-year total of $1.15 million -- this in a state with the lowest charitable giving levels, according to the Catalogue for Philanthropy.
