Turn your Meetup into a Haiti Fundraiser

by Scott

Like other Meetups (see some listed here), I just turned my upcoming Meetup into a Haiti fundraiser by asking people to pay online to RSVP.

Here's how:

(This is for Meetup Organizers. If you're not your Meetup's Organizer, please send this to them!)

STEP 1: Decide on an organization for your Meetup's donation (such as one listed here) and how much your members are to each donate ($5, $20, or whatever).

STEP 2: "Edit" your upcoming Meetup event description, adjust "Charging for this Meetup" settings, and email your members about what you're doing.

STEP 3: Add "Haiti Relief" to your "Topics" (under "Group Settings") to be automatically included on this page: http://haiti-relief.meetup.com/

STEP 4: Donate the funds you've collected ASAP!

Spread the word to more Meetup Organizers! And please discuss and share your ideas, tips, and suggestions below.

Scott is Meetup's Chief Organizer.

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Comments

[Beni]

Hi,

I'm the organizer for this meetup in Palm Beach County.
Anyone who gives money to the american red cross from our group will receive a free glass of wine for the next 3 meetup that we are having:
http://www.meetup.com/francophones/messages/boards/thread/8397384
The first one was today. Just an idea I wanted to share.

[Julie Mentgen]

I believe that in these circumstances is they are in more need then ever how and where and convoy of hope here in springfield mo has sent some relief over there god bless them all..

[John Cohen]

Hi everyone,
At the five groups me and my Close family operate we scheduled an event encouraging members to donate online to the NYC chapter of the American Red Cross.

In this Apocalypse that has befallen the people of Haiti; The Charming Charlatans/Narcists/Fraudsters step out of the Closet and rise from the Toilets to profit from this tragedy. Do not be Gullible. Give goods money to the Established relief organizations. Check very carefully. Who what is asking for your money and donations. Once you give to a Con Person
the Donation is Lost.
John Cohen

E.G. Recent action by NYS AG Closing this very very visible Homeless Charity in NYC. Link below
http://www.ag.ny.gov/media_center/2009/dec/dec15b_09.html

[Amy]

Hi!

Im the organizer of a moms and kiddos group in Menifee, ca. Im actually not going to charge for the meetups but we are putting together a bake sale. Making signs, and goodies and are going to take over a corner in our city to sell the goods and make as much money possible for Haiti!

[Keeps2busy]

I know you are trying to help. Everytime there is a disaster in the world, WE are asked to help. The government is pouring $100 Billion dollars of your taxpayer money(money we have to borrow to give) into a country that is fraught with crime and corruption.The situation is truly a tragedy and I have no objection to those who want to contribute more charity, but I am not going to ask people who are having a hard time themselves to contribute more.
We all have charitable hearts, and my charity is helping to support local families who are out of work.

[Liz]

Our meetup is holding a potluck charity for Haiti. We'll dine in and donate our "dining out dollars" (the money we save by not going to a restaurant) to Haiti. http://www.meetup.com/AlbanyAdventureClub/calendar/12330630/

We've done similar dining for charity potlucks in the past and they're lots of fun!

We're also posting links to local fundraisers and benefits for Haiti on our meetup calendar to help get the word out about them.

[Audreyarianna]

I think it is a great idea! I've been wanting to do a bake sale to donate money.

Keeps2busy: We should help local families, I agree, but there are other countries who are helping, not just us. Also, it's 100 million, not billion; furthermore, you think people here are having a hard time, how about starving to death? Most people have never experienced such hardships as these. If that ever happened to our country, others might not want to help because they think we are corrupted ourselves, so how would we feel if they decided not to help us because they didn't like us?

We should help others out of the goodness of our hearts, esp. since it's not the people's fault that the government is corrupted (we are not pure ourselves for that matter) and it's certainly not their fault the earthquake occurred!

[Bernard]

Today I set up an Organizer Meetup with "Help-Haiti" in mind.

http://www.meetup.com/Help-Haiti-Organizer-Meetup/

A Webinar (virtual get-to-gether) is scheduled for Jan. 23. Pls join . Bernard (Chicago)

[Backstart]

Many registered charities exist. While paying through R.S.V.P is a good way to collect funds, we do not wish to place people in a position where their honesty may be questioned. For this reason I myself am suggesting to those who participate in person in my meetup we use the Red Cross collection, or there is also a national fundraiser through the AM radio channels starting tomorrow. Direct, transparent collection without third parties limits the possibility of fraud, and is what i would encourage.

[LisaBE]

I tend to agree with Bernard. It's an extra step for the organizer to collect the money, then send it. Why not pick a charity, and ask the members to send the money directly to them?

[Michele]

You can have your members text the word "Haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 to the American Red Cross Relief. I agree with some of the posters who said their integrity may be questioned if they ask members to give to them instead of an established relief organization. God bless the people of Haiti!

[Brad Preuss]

Over the weekend I started planning an event that already coincided with a weekly trivia I go to each Monday. The event will be one week from today and what we're doing is charging $1 more than usual for the wine tasting, with that money going to Haiti. In addition, during certain points of the trivia I'll be auctioning off different items and services that have been donated.
I put this together through Meetup as well as Facebook.

[Djalal]

yes for help Haiti

[Salsa With Silvia]

I've been wondering how to be a part of the Haiti relief and I thought the best way would be for me to teach and send profits to Haiti. So, here are the details: http://www.meetup.com/Salsa-With-Silvia/calendar/12351981/

[el]

the whole business of ours and everybody else's countries not having responded yet is criminal! sick, elderly people left in the streets to die of thirst and hunger. i read where there was a military complain about the airport there as being too small for their planes! i mean get real.
can anybody imagine what that would be like, being 90 years old and displaced from the nursing home to die! unthinkable. what is wrong with everybody. please write your representatives and congress people and the president and complain! money is great, but action has to be there.

[Tatyana Kanzaveli]

I am doing a major Haiti support fundraiser at the upcoming meetup with companies like CISCO and people like Charlene Li, Shel Israel, Natalie Petouhoff donating their products/services/books to be auctioned off at the meetup to support the people of Haiti:
http://scrmworld.com/the-flat-inner-and-inter-connected-living-world-how-top-companies-and-thought-leaders-coming-together-at-a-silicon-valley-executives-meetup-to-support-people-of-haiti/

I will report back to you with the amount we'll be able to raise!
Tatyana
@glfceo

[Zeb Apostolakis]

Hey Keeps2busy,

Big difference between losing your job and being buried alive under a ton of concrete. You may want to re-think your fundraising position.

My advice, keep your day job.

[Heather]

Partner's in Health makes it easy to set up a thermometer donation page. Instead of nickle and diming my members I figured a simple thermometer donation page would work.
http://www.meetup.com/NerdFunBoston/calendar/12362411/
"A Valentine for Haiti"

[Longboard Brooklyn]

A Brooklyn cafe Vox Pop is having a charity movie night showing a documentary about Haiti. They will also be collecting funds and other items for the relief of the Haiti people. To add to their community for the fund raiser, I'm having a meetup with the New York City longboard group to skate in prospect park and head over to the cafe for the movie.

Are thoughts are with all of the victims of this tragedy.

http://www.meetup.com/LongboardingNYC/calendar/12364124/
http://voxpopcafe.com/

[John Cohen]

Hi everyone,

This was my brothers idea. We are hosting the Movie
Amazing Grace 2006 with brunch beverages. Participants
donate a minimum online at the premises $5.00 or more
to the American Red Cross International relief Haiti.
This is very Transparent. Members know exactly that
their donation is going to an established reputable
Organization. This feel avoids many of the concerns
from above Posts and also helps to keep the Scammers
and predators who rise from the toilets to profit from tragedy.
John Cohen

[John Cohen]

No edit feature The above post should read:

Keep scammers(Crooks)predators ' '''''at bay and highly visible so they do not profit from tragedy. Mind is faster than fingers LOl.

http://www.meetup.com/NYC-Movie-Dancing-Dinner-Brunch-Chess-Single-Comedy-Social/calendar/12370623/

[Cyn Burton]

Tuesday Jan. 26th. Oklahoma City. Life Drawing 4 Life. Come out and enjoy a fun, relaxed night of figure drawing in an in house studio filled with like minded sketchies. All pro-
ceeds will benefit the relief effort in Haiti; particularly by providing clean water for victims. 2 hours.2 models. Everyone welcome! Let's fill the house with artists and create for a cause! Catering by the uber fantastic restaurants along Western Ave. $10 on the
door. See you on the night!--All the best,
43rd Street Hostel and Arts

[Tim Sumrall]

Non-Believers Giving Aid: a religion-free way to help disaster victims

Spurred by the horrific suffering in Haiti, the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS) has joined forces with 13 other freethought groups or associates, to collect donations to non-religious relief organizations. Those participating are Atheist Alliance International, Atheists Helping the Homeless, Atheists United, The British Humanist Association, James Randi Educational Foundation, Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, New Humanist magazine, Pharyngula, Rationalist Association, Reasonable New York, The Reason Project, The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, The Skeptics Society and Unreasonable Faith

[Tim Sumrall]

Sorry, the link is

http://givingaid.richarddawkins.net/

[Meghan]

My group has a suggested meeting fee for our meetings with that money going toward meetup fees. I want people to be able to come even if they are strapped for cash so it is not required. I told people that I would donate the money I collected tonight to Haiti relief efforts but I left it as a suggested donation. People were generous and gave on the higher end of the suggested scale and that made me happy.

[Amy]

I tend to agree with Keeps2busy. I have no problem with those that want to help others. However, we often forget about those in our own neighborhoods. Those that have to take their families to homeless shelters to eat; those that have no winter coats; those that don't have enough money to buy medicine. We need to remember that just because there is a major tragedy in another part of the world, those that are right here didn't stop being hungry themselves.

[discount coach]

I have read your essay and i think it is very good !thank you for your post ! May the joy and happiness around you today and always.