FastTrack Fundraising Tips and Articles

Laws and Legislation

Abstract:

Mandates food standards for all schools in the state of California. Food sold in all K-12 schools must have limited fat, calories and sugar.

Author: Escutia, Martha
Publication Date: Dec/06/2004
Source: Sacramento, CA: State Senate
Contact Info: California Center for Public Health (530)297-6000

Full Text:

SB 12 (Escutia) – School Nutrition Standards
SB 12 Summary
1. FOOD STANDARDS FOR ALL SCHOOLS K-12
• Strengthens and implements the competitive food standards
originally described in SB 19 (Escutia, 2001).
• An individually sold snack may have no more than:
• 35% of its calories from fat (excluding legumes, nuts,
nut butters, seeds, eggs, vegetables that have not
been deep-fried, and cheese packaged for individual
sale).
• 10% of its calories from saturated fat (excluding eggs
and cheese packaged for individual sale).
• 35% sugar by weight (excluding fruits and vegetables).
• 175 calories (elementary schools)
• 250 calories (middle and high schools)
• An individually sold entree may have no more than:
• 4 grams of fat per 100 calories
• 400 calories
• And must qualify under the federal meal program
2. FUNDING: SB 12 does not contain a requirement that the state
increase funding to the federal meal program before
implementing nutrition standards for competitive foods.
3. IMPLEMENTATION DATE: All food standards become effective
July 1, 2007.
4. SALE TO PUPILS: Nutrition standards apply only to the sale of
items to pupils and do not apply to foods brought from home. All
groups selling or serving food on campus to pupils are required
to follow the standards.
5. FUNDRAISING EXEMPTIONS: Foods that do not meet the
standards may be sold at least one-half hour after the end of the
school-day or off the school premises
August 2005

URL: http://www.fasttrackfundraising.com/documents/sb12-fundraiser-summary.pdf

Notes:

Related Names: Alquist, Elaine|California School Board Association|California Center for Public Health Advocacy

Contact Info: California Center for Public Health (530) 297-6000

SB12 Compliant Fundraiser

SB12 Fundraiser

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Over the past three decades the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years (Source: U.S. Department of Health). For years, children have been school fundraising with chocolate, cheesecake, frozen pizzas … and more chocolate. Even with the alarming statistics on childhood obesity and type 2 diabetes, parent-teacher organizations and coaches had few alternatives to the constant “obesity fundraising.” That is, until FastTrack Fundraising came along.

FastTrack Fundraising, an online provider of fundraising ideas and solutions, offers a variety of alternatives to selling fat-laden chocolate and cheesecake. Among them are the recently launched “CalPak Healthy Snacks Fundraiser,” which contains popular treats such as Chex Mix and Pepperidge Farms Goldfish. Each snack contains less than 30% fat, less than 35% sugar, less than 10% saturated fat, and less than 250 calories. One master case contains 66 treats and raises $264. The CalPak fundraiser is guaranteed to meet all SB12 laws and nutrition regulations, so fundraising leaders can ease their policy worries.

“Now school groups are free to choose from a wide array of fundraising options. With the California SB12 regulation in effect, and many other states following suit, groups need fundraising alternatives more than ever,” says Harold Y. Tan, CEO of FastTrack Fundraising. “We’re glad to work with huge brand names to provide a healthy selection of fundraising ideas to the fundraising leaders.”

School fundraising is critical to funding education in schools nationwide, and has traditionally been dominated by the same fundraising products year after year. Almost every parent has experienced their child coming home with several candy bars or brochures featuring high-priced cheesecake. Now kids and parents can finally take a break from selling obesity and choose a fundraiser that won’t result in unnecessary health concerns.

By Patrick Cole and Leon Lazaroff

Sept. 17 (Bloomberg) — Marc Friedman, who runs the nonprofit Building With Books, witnessed the severity of Lehman Brothers’ situation firsthand last week at the investment bank’s Manhattan headquarters.

“It was surreal being in their offices,” said Friedman, Building With Books’ chief operating officer who used a Lehman conference room for a board meeting last Wednesday. Two Lehman executives are on the board of the Stamford, Connecticut, organization that runs after-school programs.

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. was scrambling at the time to shore up its capital, though the securities firm collapsed and declared bankruptcy on Monday.

Building With Books, like many nonprofits, is now looking ahead and bracing for a pullback in corporate donations following Lehman’s demise, Bank of America Corp.’s purchase of Merrill Lynch & Co. and the government takeover yesterday of American International Group Inc.

Friedman, like others, said his organization is making sure its donors are varied. Individuals cover 35 percent of its $6.4 million budget while corporations, foundations and government aid make up the rest, he said.

“What’s happening on Wall Street is challenging for us, but our revenue base is diverse,” he said.

Corporations accounted for 5.1 percent of all donations to U.S. nonprofits in 2007, according to GivingUSA Foundation, a research group in Glenview, Illinois. Individuals were the largest donor group, contributing $229 billion, or 75 percent, of total philanthropy.

More Competition

Economic troubles are expected to increase competition for funding among nonprofits that operate everything from museums to homeless shelters.

“If companies are in trouble, corporate philanthropy is one of the first things to get cut,” said Tom Pollak, program director at the National Center for Charitable Statistics at the Urban Institute in Washington.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, serving 11 counties in southwestern Pennsylvania, is bracing for a decline in donations.

“Some corporate donors are telling us they’ll have less to give next year,” said Joyce Rothermel, the food bank’s director, without naming contributors. “The length of this economic downturn will definitely have an impact on our future and where our energies go.”

Donors, too, have a wait-and-see attitude.

The Wells Fargo Foundation, an arm of San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co., is unlikely to increase its donation total next year from a current $104 million, said Tim Hanlon, the foundation’s president.

No Increase

“It’s hard to know in this economy what’s going to happen,” Hanlon said. “I don’t expect a decrease, but I’m not so sure about an increase.”

Procter & Gamble, the world’s largest consumer-products company, increased its charitable contributions 5 percent in 2007 to about $115 million, a total that won’t change this year or in 2009, said Brian Sasson, global manager of the Cincinnati- based Procter & Gamble Fund. P&G gives mainly to educational and public-affairs groups.

The General Mills Foundation, the charitable arm of Minneapolis-based General Mills Inc., also projects its giving to nonprofits next year to remain at about $21 million, Executive Director Ellen Goldberg Luger said in an interview. Its donations focus on fitness, education and the arts.

Plan B

The importance of corporate donations to nonprofit groups varies widely, said Tim Delaney, chief executive officer of the Washington-based National Council of Nonprofit Associations.

Medical institutions and private universities rely less on corporate giving than social-service nonprofits, he said.

The Pittsburgh food bank, for example, gets 9 percent of its $10.6 million budget from corporate donors including Comcast Corp. and US Airways Group Inc.

The New York Restoration Project, an environmental group founded by Bette Midler, will receive 20 percent, or $1.7 million, of its $8.3 million fiscal 2008 budget from corporate donations, Executive Director Drew Becher said.

“We’re putting together a Plan B in case some of what we have in the pipeline doesn’t come in,” Becher said. “Everyone is going through cost-cutting, and we’ll feel it in ‘09.”

To contact the reporters on this story: Patrick Cole in New York at pcole3@bloomberg.net; Leon Lazaroff in New York at llazaroff@bloomberg.net.

Source: Bloomberg.com

When raising money at fundraising events, it is up to the organizer to offer guests’ fun and easy games or tactics that will raise money for their non-profit organization. Although totally acceptable, raffles and 50/50 draws are becoming passé. You might want to try something with a little more pizzazz and consider the following game at your next fundraising event!

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One sure fire way of raising your company’s profile is to give back to the community. By donating to a worthy cause you will not only create awareness for your business, you will gain respect from the public. Giving back is highly recognized throughout society and can have a huge impact on the way your business is viewed. There are plenty of successful fundraising ideas that your company and a special interest group can benefit from. For example, you might consider hosting a silent auction fundraiser. This type of event is popular, social and enjoyable and you will raise good money for the charity of your choice. Silent auctions are not stand-alone events—you can incorporate them into a golf tournament, car rally, pub night, sock hop, concert, comedy night, or fashion show. Silent auctions can be held almost anywhere—the local community centre, golf & country club, restaurant or any other venue that appeals to you. Brainstorm with your employees to select an event that your staff will enjoy organizing and attending. On a personal level, raising money for the less fortunate can prove to be a rewarding experience for individual employees. It can also be a good character builder. Being a part of something that is beyond the ordinary day-to-day work activity can go a long way in enhancing staff enthusiasm and morale. You will also notice that employee pride increases as co-workers band together to achieve a charitable goal. Aside from charitable organizations, there are many individuals who may require assistance from your business. I knew of a woman in remission from breast cancer that suffered from the side effects of chemotherapy treatments. She didn’t have the money to install a stair lift in her home, so a small business in the community stepped up to the plate and organized a silent auction fundraiser to assist her. With only 60 guests, 30 silent auction items, and two live auction items, they raised over $4000. Engaging in the art of giving not only helped the woman, it brought public responsiveness to the company and the business increased tenfold.Hosting a silent auction is an excellent way to build business relationships and make new contacts. Canvassing for auction items opens the door to new opportunities, products and ideas. In a world where we are inundated with pleas for money, you will be surprised at how generous people are when it comes to donating auction items. People feel good when they can help out, and in the long run, a simple donation assists in promoting their own business.  The next time your company is planning an occasion be sure to consider the benefits of a silent auction fundraiser. Raise money for the charity of your choice and raise your business profile at the same time—giving back to the community is a real win-win.

All schools need money to fund classroom supplies and extra curricular projects. Fundraising is an essential process for the majority of classrooms, but many people just don’t know where to start. The key to a school fundraiser is having a timeline and sticking to it. Continue Reading…

We’ve all been approached at one point or another by a young student asking for us to give a charitable donation to help their school fundraiser, whether it be for books, supplies, computers, or even athletic equipment. Keeping schools up and running is an expensive task and as the new school year begins it’s important to keep in mind vital steps to running successful fundraising programs that help keep campus budgets in the black. Continue Reading…

Keeping schools up and running is an expensive task and as the new school year begins it’s important to keep in mind vital steps to running successful fundraising programs that help keep campus budgets in the black. We’ll take a quick look at some easy to follow tips to make your fundraising program a success. Continue Reading…

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Fundraisers are a lot more fun if everything is organized and planned ahead of time. Otherwise, it’s chaotic and you miss out on a lot of things that could have contributed to your bottom line. In addition, it’s a lot harder to recruit volunteers for your next fundraiser when this one didn’t go very smoothly. So, here’s some quick fundraising tips. Continue Reading…