Fundraising Ideas

Work with veterinarians

Be proactive. 

• Negotiate a payment plan with your vet. If you're a client in good standing, she may be happy to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you don't have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. However, don't expect a vet you've never been to before to agree to such a plan; she doesn't know you and understandably doesn't want to get stuck with an unpaid bill.
• Offer to perform a service for your vet like cleaning kennels, answering phones or other work in lieu of actual cash.  
• Get a second opinion. You'll pay a consultation fee, but another vet may have other, less expensive ways to treat your pet.
• Use a vet in a less expensive area. Vets in smaller towns tend to charge lower fees.
• Check out local veterinary schools.  Many run low-cost clinics for limited income clients. The American Veterinary Medical Association's website and Veterinaryschools.com have lists of veterinary schools by state.

Cash in

Explore ways to bring in some extra cash.

• Have a yard sale. One's man's trash is another man's treasure.
• If your birthday or a holiday is near, ask for cash in lieu of a present.
• Sell things on an online auction site such as eBay.
• Consider getting a second or part-time job or working for a temp agency.
• Ask your employer for a salary advance.

Fundraising

One of RCF's primary services is providing fundraising tools needed to close the gap between how much you can afford, the financial aid you may qualify for, and how much it will cost to treat your pet's cancer.

You will quickly learn that members who were successful raising money did not depend solely on web-based appeals. They were faced with a big goal and decided to include out of the box ideas in the mix of things they would do. They sought donations ranging from money to goods and services. We do not become involved in any aspect of what you do off of this site on your own, and donations of cash, goods or services made directly to you are not protected by our status as a 501c3.  

For further insight into how to use off the web ideas to support your effort we suggest you read about a success achieved by one of our very first member’s. (Read about Angel Sullens, or view the full 10-minute video about Angel, Kristie and Johnny Sullens). Angel needed a bone marrow transplant costing $16,000. Learn how Angel’s mom and dad, Kristie and Johnny, who live in New Orleans, raised quite a bit in cash as well as donated goods and services. In the end, the many creative "out of the box" fund ideas they tried allowed them to reach their goal and save the life of their beloved Angel!

While RCF cannot get directly involved in your local fundraising event, we can provide you with access to case histories like Angel’s where members were successful with off-line ideas to raise money. You will also learn how they used social media tools like Facebook and Twitter to reach and engage thousands of new potential donors. The more ways you can involve a potential donor in the sincerity and urgency of your need, the more successful you will be.

The Tried and True… Bake Sales, Car Washes, Walk Your Dog Charity Walks and More…

Some of the best off-the-web fund raising ideas are the tried and true local events.

As we continue to grow and expand our content, we will provide case histories with advice on whom you should contact to help (involvement of local organizations such as the Scouts, student or Church groups are essential to your success), how to publicize your fund raising event, things-to-do checklists, and much more to help you make your version of these old favorites a big success. These ideas work and could help you raise thousands of dollars towards cancer care for your pet.

As mentioned earlier, RCF is not directly involved in these types of fundraising activities, so we cannot be involved in collecting the donations, credit card processing or reporting tax deductibility.

Fundable – a fundraising/donation site that allows individuals to request money for a specific project or event. If goal is not met, no money is exchanged. Funds paid by check or PayPal.

ChipIn – a fundraiser/donation site that allows individuals to ask for money for a specific purpose, using social networks and other websites. Requires a PayPal account for deposits.

GiveForward enables you to create a personal fundraising page to raise funds for pet medical care. They charge a small percentage of funds raised.