I know it is difficult to do Fundraising during Coronavirus. Social distancing and Fundraising seem like totally opposite sides of the Spectrum. They are unless you realize new opportunities.
BibleBoardGames.com launched right before COVID-19 spread. We manufactured 1,000 copies of our flag-ship game ‘Search for Salvation’. Our model was based upon helping families and doing church fundraisers. The only problem was it was the first time that church fundraising stopped everywhere.
For some groups, this is an inconvenience. for others, it is absolutely critical to help feed the hungry, the poor, the sick, or the unemployed. We are somewhere in the middle, not at a critical point yet, but we can’t stop or we will be there too and that won’t help anyone. We are continuing on for as long as we can and encourage you to think of new ways to do things.
Stay Calm
The first thing we did was to try and stay calm. Taking each day as it comes, as Jesus taught, is very helpful. We can get through today and that has been our approach. Learn each day, work hard to make adjustments, and re-adjust our plan.
The New Normal
I think it is practical to say, at the moment of this article, that we won’t be returning to community meetings, group dinners, Mass, services, or in-person Fundraising anytime soon or quite as we did before. Even if we are able to do so legally, many people will be reluctant to do so in person until there is a cure or vaccine for COVID-19. That is an obstacle for Fundraising. But we have a new plan.
The New Plan
Necessity is sometimes the mother of invention. We came up with a new plan, one that is Coronavirus safe and will work with every social distancing measure we have heard so far. As a Fundraiser you would sign-up as one of our Affiliates. We give you a message you can send out to others with a unique affiliate link. They get a nice Bible board game and you raise some funds.
All you do is email the message to those you know or on your email list. If email is not your thing, you can call people and give them a coupon code, but we find email will result in the least amount of mistakes.
It’s Actually Easier
Setting up the system on BBG was hard work, but we are glad we did it. I think this actually makes Fundraising easier. With in-person Fundraising, I had to…
- Make artwork or find it.
- Print up Posters and Flyers
- Stand at church for several weeks collecting money
- Stress about tracking everyone’s orders
- Not lose any of the money
- People wanting to order but pay later
- Ordering copies in bulk
- Figure out how to deliver it back to each person
- Late Orders
It was good work but it could also be tiring.
With the new BibleBoardGames.com Fundraising system, all I have to do is send out the pre-made email message. None of that other work. It is easier. At the end of the campaign, I get paid. I am not worrying about tracking everyone’s orders or money. It is actually a bit of a relief.
When Is The Right Time To Do Fundraising?
With Social Distancing staying with us for a while, keep in mind there will not be a perfect time to raise funds. We can only try and do so in a respectful way while also continuing forward at a pace that brings others along gracefully.
Here is what we propose…
If you have the opportunity to get messages out to your group.
- Start with some basics like how you are doing and how they are doing.
- If you have any online resources that can help them.
- Where Social Distancing prevents normal activity you are going to try some ideas.
In a follow-up email, you can tell people you are going to try a Fun Bible Board Game Fundraiser together. If it is the first Fundraiser you are doing after Coronavirus, pick something of high priority like helping others in need or paying critical bills that most people will support. Asking for money for yourself or 1 small group of your church likely will not go over well so pray and choose a critical cause if it is your first one since the virus hit.
- It is something you can try together
- It is positive to try something good
- The game will be good for families stuck inside
- It can raise some much-needed funds
If your first Fundraising together is positive and successful you may be able to do more later.
Ready to do a Bible board game Fundraiser? [START HERE]
Keep thinking of good things that you can do regardless of the circumstances.
