What is the mission and activities of the Oracle Gathering? This would help identify fundraising activities that align with the organization mission and goals.

I'm so glad you ask the question about fundraising. Sorry I don't have a good answer because I really want to know.

I'm invovled with a grassroots community development group in Uganda. We just beginning so just now exploring the fundraising universe.

As a matter of principle I think about the difference between "power over" and "empowerment." The latter is what the group is about and to the greatest extent possible our fundraising should be empowering. In other words fundraising activities should foster exchange and reciprocity. Well that's my theory anyway and so far haven't really worked it out.

A silly suggestion: paper hats. A couple of years back I made paper hats for a friend's 50th birthday. They're quite easy to make: 2" craft paper strips folded down the middle; a single sheet of tissue paper glued to one edge of the craft paper strip, then the strip joined to form a tube; the top of the tube can tied with string and excess tissue cut as a pom pom; or the top of the tube can be glued to a round of craft paper.

The hats are easy and fun to decorate. Why I think they may be a good fund raising item is that people really seem to value them. Everyone has fun with a hat. To my surprise the hats made for the birthday party keep showing up at other parties.

Hope others will address this important subject. Thanks Hope for bringing it up.

there're a lota excellent articles at www.grassrootsfundraising.org/

Kim Klein, a grassroots fundraising guru and a key contributor to the site, wrote a superb book called "Fundraising for Social Change".

Is this group a registered 501(c) 3?
If not I would suggest this first and foremost. The easiest way, especially if your just interested in fundraising; would be to form a "friends of..." This obviously allows your donors a tax deduction on all their donations. you could consider having membership fees for the "core" of the group, this also promotes some feeling of ownership which I have found is good for the success of any group. Also, if you are throwing events it would seem to me this is your best bet for funds... even non-profits can charge for services, and of course it could always be by donation. Remember there is nothing wrong with energy reciprocation and money can be used as a representation for value.