Raising $$s for Good Causes
I’m constantly trying to raise money for NGOs, charities, work, etc. Since most of the standard ideas are currently being overused (telethons, fun runs, bake sales, garage sales, infomercials, public service ads, proposal writing, etc.), I think it is time to try some new ideas.
Robert Kirby in his Saturday column in the SL Trib suggested that for those offended by the Mormon practice of baptism for the dead he could, for $250, “commit some horrible proxy sin on behalf of your ancestor that will get him (or her) excommunicated from the LDS Church.” I think proxy excommunications might have a real future as a viable fundraiser. You not only get your dead relative removed from potential LDS membership, but you also contribute to a worthy cause. Two deeds — one noble and one not-so-noble — for the price of one! And I think you would probably qualify for a charitable tax deduction (better check with your CPA on this one).
Recently I brought back a fertility goddess (small statue) from Uganda for an acquaintance. She was having trouble getting pregnant. She works at a food mart with her sister and another woman. After I brought the idol back, all three women working at the food mart got pregnant. One delivered in January and the other two are due in June. Given the high cost of fertility treatments these days, the goddess statue racket could be a real gold mine. For, say $250 each, I would be willing to bring back a African fertility symbol. There would, of course, be no guarantee, and the recipient would need to sign a waver, I don’t want any law suits for child support if it happens to works.
Another area that needs to be explored are low-cost funerals. Today, the average cost for a funeral is way too high. I’m thinking you could charge $3,000 for a nice funeral (with actual costs at $1,000). The difference would go to charity. There would be a plain wooden casket taken to the cemetary (in the bed of a pickup truck) for a simple graveside testimonial and/or roast. There would be only a few flowers. Again, the $2,000 donation might be tax deductable.
Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
May 19th, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Why not instead of a bed in the back of a pickup, you strap it on the top of my Volkswagen Beetle? For a nominal fee from your charge, I would happily transport the coffin to the cemetery, lol.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:31 am
A relative of a friend has an old Volkswagen minibus that was rumored to have belonged to Jerry Garcia. It’s painted with psychodelic designs. With a little work it could be used in lieu of a pickup (or hearst). The coffin could be carried on the top of the minivan. Some contraption would need to be devised for easy lifting and lowering of the coffin. For those offended by 60’s or 70’s culture, a pickup could be used.
July 24th, 2009 at 8:43 am
De-baptism might also be a good money maker. Maybe for $500 (food and music extra), the organization needing money could de-baptize someone who no longer wants to be a member of a specific church. According to an article by G. Jeffery MacDonald in the SLTrib (from the Religious News Service):
“Until last summer, Jennifer Gray considered herself a “weak Christian” whose baptism at age 11 came to mean less and less to her as she gradually lost faith in God.
The 32-year-old medical transcriptionist from Columbus, Ohio, took a decisive step, one that previously hadn’t been available. She got “de-baptized.”
In a type of mock ceremony that now has been performed in at least four states, a robed “priest” used a hairdryer marked “reason” in an apparent bid to blow away the waters of baptism. Several dozen participants then fed on a “de-sacrament” (crackers with peanut butter) and received certificates assuring they had “freely renounced a previous mistake, and accepted reason over superstition.”"
It would seem that the de-baptism ceremony could either be solemn or light-hearted, depending on the needs of the individual. With a little thought, better symbolism than a robed priest, hairdryer, and peanut-butter crackers could be found. The ceremony need not mock religion; maybe it could just provide a definitive moment of separation.
Again some of the costs for the de-baptism could be considered charitable contributions.
September 23rd, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I might be willing to consider tithing as a option, if the allocation of the money was left up to the individual and if there is financial transparency on the part of the donee.