Receiving car donations can be a low-stress fundraising option for your charity. If you are based in the UK, the car donation program Giveacar offers you the chance to receive cash donations from people’s old and unwanted cars.

Here’s how it works:

Giveacar receives a request from someone looking to donate a car. The car will then be collected from the donor by Giveacar’s salvage partners free of charge and at a time that suits the customer. Depending on the state of the vehicle, it will either be scrapped or sold at a car auction. A donation will then be created based on the value of the scrap car or on the auction price, which Giveacar will pass on to the donor’s chosen charity.

Most people who use the service are just looking for a free and easy way to get rid of their unwanted vehicle, and are happy for the money raised to be given to a charitable cause. Others may have given up their car in favour of a more environmentally friendly mode of transport, and some just want to give a little extra to their favourite cause.

Any UK registered charity can benefit from theis fundraising program. If you wish to add your organisation to the Giveacar website and start receiving donations, all you have to do is fill out the online form at Giveacar.co.uk with you charity’s details. This involves writing a short summary of your charity’s activities that will catch the eye of undecided donors.

If your charity promotes your partnership with Giveacar, you are far more likely to receive donations. So in order to make the most of the program, charities should let all of their existing donors know about this new way to donate and make a point of telling new members or donors.

Giveacar accepts all kinds of vehicles, including motorbikes and scrap vans. If you would like more information about charity car scrappage, Please visit the Giveacar website – Giveacar.co.uk.

Fundraising Awareness: March 2010

If you’re looking for a cause to raise funds for, the month of March has a few National awareness campaigns that are always in need of your support.

Poison Prevention Week

United States, second only to motor vehicle crashes. This national awareness week is organized annually by a coalition of national organizations that work actively to prevent poisonings.

National Poison Prevention Week runs from March 15-21, 2010. Any poison control center in your area can help you participate in a poison prevention event, and poison prevention educators can be reached at their toll free number 24/7 at 1-800-222-1222. Their call centers provide specialized assistance with poisoning emergencies and answer questions about specific poisons and poison prevention.

If you plan to host a poison prevention event yourself, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has last year’s National Poison Prevention Week Event Planner available for review here.

Red Cross Month

March was officially declared Red Cross Month by order of a Presidential Proclamation signed by President Barack Obama, marking the 66th time the month of March was designated to honor this organization, starting with Franklin D Roosevelt in 1943.

Besides running your own fundraiser, other suggested methods to support The Red Cross are to contact your local chapter for information about getting involved, to find any local blood drive to donate to, and to follow the Red Cross on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, and LinkedIn.

National Nutrition Month

March is also National Nutrition Month, the American Dietary Association's nutrition information campaign. The ADA promotes healthy eating by providing practical nutrition and physical activity tips throughout the month.

There are many ways to raise money for all of these good causes throughout the month and throughout the year. Let campaigning for a national cause serve you as an opportunity to raise awareness of your own group and its goals.

FUNDRAISING FOR HAITI:
HOW YOU CAN HELP!

Currently, the largest fundraising opportunity in world news and events is the urgent need to raise funds for Haiti’s earthquake victims. Here is how you can help to provide aid in the wake of this devastating natural disaster.

One way to get involved in the Haitian relief project is to donate to larger philanthropic aid organizations and national charities such as The American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, and the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Donations are secure, and providing support is as simple as clicking on one of the above links and choosing a denomination.

Independent groups and small community efforts have also convened to help keep relief efforts active. Fundraising your own Haiti relief effort is easy and there are numerous resources to help you decide on how to best proceed.

A good start is at MusicForRelief.org, where you can listen and download previously unreleased music from today's most popular musicians. Any donation to their “download to donate” campaign will be divided equally among the United Nations Foundation, Habitat For Humanity, and Dave Matthews Band BAMA Works Haitian relief program.

Since last week, 10,000 nurses have volunteered to provide health care aid to Haiti, however their chartered flights require the funded donations of people like you. You can choose to donate any dollar value to National Nurses United to send professionals to Port au Prince and surrounding areas.

Children tend to be the most vulnerable victims/survivors of any tragedy. UNICEF is one major organization that specializes in children's aid and has gone publicly active in promoting their Haiti Earthquake fund. Save the Children is another emergency relief effort that is focusing on providing medical attention and clean water to young residents struck by the disaster.

It is always a good idea to check with an established relief organization in your community for further advice on how to help. Collecting supplies for donation is a well-intentioned gesture; unfortunately, Haiti does not currently have the full infrastructure necessary in order to distribute things such as bottled water, clothing, and other household supplies. In this case it is more practical to donate funds through a secure organization.

Working with the above organizations is a perfect way for you to get involved in the fundraising efforts for the Haitian relief project. It is both hassle-free and rewarding and every cent donated makes a difference to this nation in immediate need.

Additional resources to donate: Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, UNICEF (1-800-4UNICEF), Direct Relief, Yele Haiti, Partners in Health, Red Cross, World Food Program, Mercy Corps (1-888-256-1900), Save the Children, Lambi Fund, Doctors Without Borders, The International Rescue Committee, Care, William J. Clinton Foundation, Meds & Food For Kids, Feed the Children, Habitat for Humanity, Mayor's Fund for NYC

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