Participate in a Grassroots Fundraising Drive for a Grassroots Organization >>> Oct. 1st @ 7:00 EST


By dchiotos - Posted on 25 September 2008

You are the backbone of SEAC.

You are the reason that we're growing quicker than we have in years. You are the reason that we are establishing new programs, training new youth leaders, and winning new victories. You are SEAC.

You have put hours and hours and hours into your SEAC organizing and it is paying off.

Now, we will raise more than $3,500 in one week; from October 6th to October 10th. We have a large donor who knows the importance of our organizing and has committed up to $1,000 in matching funds. So, for every dollar we raise up to $1,000, they will donated a matching dollar amount. See, $1,000 = $2,000.

We can do this, with your participation. This is the biggest single grassroots fundraising drive SEAC has operated in the past 5 years. We need to do this not only to bring in funding for the rapid organizing that we're doing, but to deepen our relationships with SEAC alums, supporters, and members all across this country.

This is our opportunity to grow our Grassroots Fundraising so we can have an authentically Grassroots Organization.

This Wednesday, Oct. 1st at 7:00 PM - we will be previewing the fundraising drive, how it will operate, and MOST IMPORTANTLY we will be going over the easy ways that you can be a part of this drive.

People are most likely to give when we are asked by our friends and family - we will be going over the clear ways you can be involved in growing SEAC's donor base.

Wednesday, Oct. 1st
7:00 PM EST / 4:00 PM PST

Call In Number: (605) 990-0111
Passcode: 354056#

Be a Part of Growing SEAC through this Fundraising Drive.

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Fundraising Email
For mass distribution to list-servs, facebook groups, all contacts that you have

Hello,

We in the Student Environmental Action Coalition are making great strides to build youth power and to tell the stories of the local communities, who are directly affected by environmental and social injustices. We have a matching grant for this week which will double every donation until we raise $1,000, and we are asking you to donate to grow SEAC's active organizing now.

Chip in now to double your donation to youth organizing for justice

SEACers are working on a number of campaigns, from PowerVote, which aims to turn out a youth voting bloc that will make climate change a priority and hold political leaders accountable to the public demands for renewable, clean energy, to Mountain Justice, a pan-Appalachian campaign whose goal is to end mountain top removal coal mining and build vibrant, community based economies.

Chip in now to double your donation to youth organizing for justice

Please take a moment to consider what contribution you could make. Ten, twenty-five or even fifty dollars would go a long way to organize for environmental justice and a clean future. We need funds to hold youth trainings and state summits and provide attendees with travel scholarships. We need it to print the educational brochures and information about our campaigns. Without your donations, we could not reach out to raise awareness and work hand in hand with communities on the frontlines. You, our supporters, are the backbone of this movement and only with your help can we infuse justice and health into our communities.

Chip in now to double your donation to youth organizing for justice

Sincerely,
Holly Garrett
National Council Coordinator

P.S. Help us win our matching grant by donating today!

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Fundraising Email
For personal distribution to your friends and family

Dear ______________,

I have been working with the Student Environmental Action Coalition (SEAC) for the past ___ months/years. The Student Environmental Action Coalition is successfully building the power of young people to tackle our global challenges and telling the stories of the local communities that are directly affected by environmental, social, and economic injustices. Now, as SEAC is celebrating its 20th year, I am writing to ask for your support in furthering our work for a clean and just energy future.

SEAC will contribute to big change in the next several months. I am confident of this because of my experiencing working with SEAC in the context of ___(an event, a story?here's your chance to add a personal touch).

Grassroots organizing has historically lead to tremendous change in our country. It has won women and African Americans the right to vote, secured the eight hour work day and weekend, and put environmental safeguards in place to protect our world. SEAC has played a role in this movement, training student leaders to work for healthy environments in their schools and communities, encouraging and empowering them to take action. Our movement is gaining momentum and speeding ahead to build a clean and just energy future, a strong economy built on renewable energy, and a society based on racial justice and gender equality. Students and youth within SEAC are committed to ending the injustices we see everyday and planting the seeds of a better future in their place - seeds which will sprout and thrive only with your help.

SEACers are working on a number of campaigns. One of these is PowerVote, a national campaign which aims to turn out a youth voting bloc that will make climate change a priority and hold political leaders accountable to the public demands for renewable, clean energy. Another is Mountain Justice, a pan-Appalachian campaign whose goal is to end mountain top removal coal mining and build vibrant, community based economies.

Could you make a contribution to SEAC? If you donate by mid-October your gift will be doubled, as we have a $1,000 matching grant from a generous supporter. Please take a moment to consider contributing. We need funds to hold trainings and state summits, where young people are trained in grassroots organizing skills. Travel scholarships to these events are important especially for low-income youth. Your contribution also helps us print brochures and information about our campaigns. They educate our communities about issues like Mountain Top Removal and the Coal River Wind Project in West Virginia. Without your support, we could not possibly reach out as effectively or raise awareness about solutions proposed along side communities on the frontlines.

Ten, twenty-five or fifty dollars would go a long way to support our work for environmental justice and a clean energy future. Support from people like you is how our movement keeps winning. Only with your help can we build a more just future. Any donation you make is most appreciated.

Please mail checks made out to "Action Center / SEAC" to "1434 Elbridge St, Philadelphia, PA, 19149" or visit our brand new website www.seac.org and click the Donate button at the top. Thanks for supporting the Student Environmental Action Coalition!

Sincerely,
____ (your name here)

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Fundraising Instant Message Ask
For use in asking your friends/family for donations over whatever Instant Messanger Service you use (G-Chat, Facebook Chat, AIM, Etc.)

Line in Status or Away Messages:
- "We Need Grassroots Funding for a Grassroots Organization >>> Please Donate to SEAC's Active Youth Organizing: https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=697"

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Current Suggested Text of Instant Message Ask, it's up to you what your ask looks like - these are three sample asks which you can use as conversation starters. For all of these, immediately after you ask people to donate, offer them them https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=697 website as the primary link to donate or direct them to donate over Facebook:

Long
"hey, would you be interested/able to donate to help fund SEAC's active youth organizing so we can take full advantage of a donor's offer of up to $1,000 in matching funds. We are incredibly active in grassroots youth organizing for Mountain Justice in Appalachia, for Responsible/Just Climate Legislation through the Power Vote Campaign, and for community (rather than corporate) power - and your donation is important to funding our grassroots organization. Every donation of any amount is appreciated, can you chip in help fund my work?"

Medium
"hey, would you be interested/able to donate to help fund SEAC's active youth organizing so we can take full advantage of a donor's offer of up to $1,000 in matching funds. We are incredibly active in grassroots youth organizing for community, rather than corporate, power - and your donation is important to funding our grassroots organization. Every donation of every amount makes a difference, can you chip in to help fund my work?"

Short (best)
"hey, would you be interested/able to donate to help fund SEAC's active youth organizing so we can take full advantage of a donor's offer of up to $1,000 in matching funds. Every donation of every amount makes a difference, can you chip in to help fund my work?"

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Sample Instant Message Conversation (actual conversation from last February's SEAC Fundraising Drive which resulted in a donation later that day)
12:08 PM me: yo
12:09 PM other person: hey!
12:10 PM me: SEAC has a fundraising drive going on this week and a donor has offered to match all funds up to a grand so, I want to ask if you would be interested/able to donate to SEAC's active organizing so we can take full advantage of the donor's matching funds to grow our organizing
12:11 PM i remember you telling me last december that I should ask you for a donation...
other person: yes, i saw that
absolutely
is it the link in your chat?
i don't have my wallet on me, but will do it today
me: awesome
12:12 PM either facebook or the donation link off of seac.org works
other person: aight :)
me: rockin, thank you



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