* Austin Duus is a senior at Eldorado High School where he is the president of Speech and Debate. This article was written with the guidance of William H. Bennett in the CDE class on “Writing for Publication.”

Speech and debate is an expensive endeavor. The list is long: business formalwear; subscriptions and briefs; airlines and hotel rooms; entry fees; etc. Most squads have neither the administrative support nor natural affluence to afford the various expenses of running a team. The overhead for any team can range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands. Unless your team has a rich benefactor, fundraising will usually fill in what membership dues do not. Often the gap between cost and dues is very large.

Eighty percent of our anxiety about soliciting others for funding comes from our own relationship with money [1]. The truth is people give away money--a lot of money. Every year in the United States, $240 billion is given away. However, it may surprise you who gives away the most. Foundations account for 11% of the total, bequests for 7.5%, corporations for 5.1%, and individuals account for 76.2 % [2]. Clearly, it is easier to get money from a dead person than a corporation. Still, the easiest way to get funding is to simply ask people for it. The largest beneficiaries of charitable donations are religious organizations. The reasons they receive the plurality of the pie is that they ask often, they ask regularly, and they ask by name.

So you do not know any rich people. Chances are that will not hurt you. Seven out of every ten people give, and eighty percent of giving comes from households with annual incomes of $50,000 or less. In fact the nation’s poor give the highest percent of their income. [3]

Quantity is the rule for success in fundraising. The more people you ask, the more will give you money. When asked face to face, half of everyone will give a donation. Remember that donors do not like being treated like ATM’s. It is important to establish a relationship with a donor. A general rule of thumb when fishing for a donation is to write an introductory letter (that does not specifically ask for money), arrange a meeting, and have a follow up. Remember to ask for a specific amount, and do not be afraid to aim high. Asking a donor to determine his/her own donation can be awkward, and it is much easier to agree to a smaller donation amount if a requested donation is too high. As a general principle, triple your first estimate of a proper donation.

Asking for money does not have to be either precarious or difficult. Remember that your belief in your team and in forensics must be greater than your fear of asking for a donation. Fundraising can be a community building experience. By recognizing your donors and building contacts, you can build the financial infrastructure for your team to exist for years.

Remember to solicit donors that are already loyal to your cause. Keep lists of alumni and their parents. Do not forget the base of parents that may be willing to give a little more than they already are. Your teacher is also an important resource. They generally have many connections and ideas. Teachers will go the extra mile from baking brownies for a bake sale, recycling cans, or approaching large corporations to solicit a sponsorship. As they say in politics, “Always energize your base first.” Some people raise funds professionally. If your team is large enough, hiring a fundraiser might be worth both the work and the expense. Professional fundraisers are listed in your telephone directory. Sometimes parents are also willing to take on this role. Do not sign a contract with a professional until the terms of the agreement are clear and you have satisfactory references.

Some charitable foundations that raise funds for causes similar to yours may be willing to make a donation. Be sure to make contacts with organizations like your local attorneys’ union and groups interested in public speaking such as the Optimists Club or Toastmasters.

Press attention can often help attract donors and fundraising opportunities. Try writing a press release when your team is doing something notable or has won something significant. This is especially advantageous in small communities where news may be slow. When considering media, do not overlook radio shows, community newspapers, and/or your school’s newsletter. Fundraising can start at the grass roots of your community.

It is important for your administration to understand the importance of your team and what it adds to your high school’s community and reputation. Be sure your principal and high level administrators are aware of your history as a group and your team’s competitive and academic accomplishments. Since competition is expensive, it is important for your school to provide you with as much support as possible and to realize the reality of your finances.

Not only can many administrations afford to budget funding for your team, but they can also provide the resources necessary to do your own fundraising. Inquire about open houses, sporting events, and other school-wide activities and think of ways to integrate fundraising so you can draw from the support already existing in your school community. Many school districts have deals with vendors such as Pepsi. Often such contracts require that these vendors assist in fundraising. Ask your administration about vending rights. A well-placed vending machine can pull in several hundred dollars a month.

Many speech teams have benefits such as performances or tournaments to raise revenue. Often these investments are expensive, high in overhead, and lots of work. Although they may be shallow in monetary capital, they are often high yield in political capital. Donors can easily be identified at these events. Do not write off entry fees as your only source of donations during a benefit.

Fundraising should be to help build your team, but not the purpose of it. Choose a method of fundraising that is easy, efficient, and meets the needs of your squad. It need not be tedious or distracting. Efficient fundraising should allow your team to concentrate on winning rather than financial logistics.

Additional literature on finding may be helpful. For more information, check out
Teaching Debate, published by CDE. You can order it online at www.cdedebate.com. Kim Klein has written and published extensively on the subject of fundraising. You can order her books at www.chardonpress.com I also recommend subscribing to the Grassroots Fundraising Journal which is published quarterly by Chardon Press.

Notes

[1] Gill Foundation, ‘Ask People for Money: Face — to — Face,” 2004

[2] American Association of Fund-Raising Counsel, Giving USA Report, 2001

[3] Klein, Kim. Chardon Press. www.chardonpress.com