BE THE CHANGE www.mercycorps.org.uk Registered Charity SC030289 Registered Company 208829
Be the change that you wish to see in the world Mahatma Ghandi Do you have an undiscovered talent for karaoke? Are you the hostess with the mostess? Or is jumping from planes more your bag? Whatever tickles your fancy we need you to put your passions to good use and support us by raising lots of money to save and improve lives in the world s toughest places. This Fundraising Pack is designed to inspire you with ideas and tips to make sure that you have loads of FUN -draising! We promise, in return, lots of terrible puns (!) and to keep up our end of the deal by making sure that every penny you raise helps those in need around the world.
AT A GLANCE WHO WE ARE: Mercy Corps is a leading global humanitarian agency saving and improving lives in the world s toughest places. Poverty. Conflict. Disaster. In more than 40 countries, we partner with local people to put bold ideas into action, help them overcome adversity and build stronger communities. Now, and for the future. WHAT WE DO: SAVING AND IMPROVING LIVES IN THE WORLD S TOUGHEST PLACES We help communities survive and move beyond emergencies. When natural disasters strike, economies collapse or conflict flares, Mercy Corps is there. With a network of staff - 93% of whom are local - in more than 40 countries, we are uniquely positioned to respond to meet urgent needs water, food, shelter and to immediately start figuring out how to build back better. That s part of what makes us distinct: we respond with urgency, and stay beyond the emergency. Our approach helps us move communities beyond the crisis: from relief, to recovery and ultimately toward resilience. We help people overcome poverty and conflict. Working with communities, we leverage local logic to help people transform their lives. To grow more food, earn higher incomes and ultimately advocate for their needs. We see global challenges as an invitation to pioneer innovative, sustainable solutions. During our 34-year history, our work has improved more than 170 million lives in more than 115 countries around the world.
WHERE WE WORK: THE WORLD S TOUGHEST PLACES Supported by headquarters offices in North America and Europe, Mercy Corps works in the following countries: Africa: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe Americas: Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, United States Asia: Afghanistan, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea (DPRK), Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste Balkans/Caucasus/Central Asia: Georgia, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan Middle East: Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank and Gaza, Yemen MISSION STATEMENT: Mercy Corps exists to alleviate suffering, poverty and oppression by helping people build secure, productive and just communities. ACCOUNTABILITY: EFFICIENT STEWARDSHIP, LIFE-CHANGING IMPACT Mercy Corps takes efficient stewardship very seriously. Over the past five years we have used 88% OF OUR RESOURCES to help people in need around the world. Find our complete financial statement at mercycorps.org.uk/financials.
Top Tips There are so many simple and effective ways to raise money, but here are just a few of our Top Tips to get you started Set yourself a fundraising target and make sure everyone knows about it Make it as easy as possible for people to contribute to your fundraising get online and set up a JustGiving page and share the link with all your friends and family across the globe. Put photos and updates on the page regularly to encourage donations. Get to know what you are raising money for the more passionately you can talk about your cause the more likely people are to donate Persuade your first few sponsors to give you a high amount. Others will follow and you ll soon hit your target Find out if your company will Match Funds this could allow you to double your fundraising total
Spread the Word We think it s amazing that you are raising money for those most in need all over the world so don t be shy in letting people know what you are up to Get Social Join our online community on Facebook to share your stories and Tweet us with your fundraising updates. We d love to hear how you are doing! facebook.com/mercycorpsuk twitter.com/mercycorps_uk Read all about it Tell the world about your fantastic fundraising. A mention from your local paper or radio station is a brilliant way to get some free advertising and potential sponsors. We are here to help Let us know what you are planning and we ll support you along your fundraising journey. Contact our Community Fundraising Officer, Victoria Telford, on 0131 662 5176 or vtelford@uk.mercycorps.org
The Difference You Make We think our fundraisers are truly exceptional. Every penny you raise transforms lives. Here are a couple of examples of how your money could help. 4 will provide a malnourished baby with the lifesaving food supplement Plumpy'nut 22 creates a vegetable garden for one family in Guatemala 64 provides a latrine for a household in an urban slum, helping them to stay hygienic and healthy 100 teaches a youth group in the Central African Republic valuable life-skills including HIV/AIDS prevention 318 organises a football tournament for youth affected by conflict in Haiti
The Money Stuff Cash, moolah, dosh, dough, lolly whatever you want to call it here are our tips on how best to manage your money and make sure it makes its way directly to us easily and securely. Get Online: Doing it online is an easy, fast, and secure way to raise funds. mercycorps.org.uk justgiving.org.uk/mercycorps virginmoneygiving.com/charities/mercycorpsscotland Gift Aid: Gift Aid allows us to claim back the tax you pay on every eligible donation from HMRC. That means that for every 1 you raise, we ll be able to claim at least an extra 25p. Getting your money to us: Call us on 0131 662 5160 Post a cheque/postal order/caf voucher to Mercy Corps, 40 Sciennes, Edinburgh, EH9 1NJ Email us at vtelford@uk.mercycorps.org
I am fundraising for Mercy Corps by taking part in. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT Name: Address: TOTAL RAISED: Cheque sent on..././... Sponsorship and Gift Aid Declaration Form If I have ticked the box headed ( ) giftaid it, I confirm that I am a UK Income or Capital Gains taxpayer. I have read this statement and want the charity named above to reclaim tax on the donation detailed below, given on the date shown. I understand that I must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax in the tax year at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities and CASCs I donate to, will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every 1 that I have given. Email: We try constantly to keep our costs down. Email is the most effective way for us to contact you to say thank you for your support and to update you on the work we do. Please include your address if you are happy to receive email communication from us. FULL NAME (essential to claim Gift Aid) HOME ADDRESS (essential to claim Gift Aid) PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY POSTCODE (essential to claim Gift Aid) EMAIL ADDRESS (the most cost effective way for us to thank you for your support and update you on our work) AMOUNT PLEDGED DATE GIVEN (dd/mm/yy) Example: JOHN SMITH 1 HIGH ST, EDINBURGH EH1 1AB jsmith@edinburgh.com 50 01/01/14 PAGE TOTAL Please make all cheques payable to Mercy Corps (Registered Charity No: SC030289) and send to: Fundraising Team, Mercy Corps, 40 Sciennes, Edinburgh, EH9 1NJ (Tel: 0131 662 5160). Please ensure you send this form back with your money raised so we can allocate your fundraising to you and record all the Gift Aid from your supporters. Their contact details will remain confidential. www.mercycorps.org.uk
The Nitty-Gritty Whilst you get busy fundraising, just keep in mind that there are a few rules and regulations governing events and activities that involve the public. Here s our advice. General: The best advice to start with is to check with your local Council about the permissions/licences/health and safety issues that could relate to your fundraising activity or event. Raffles and Lotteries: There are laws governing raffles and lotteries so make yourself aware of the legislation. Helpful websites: institute-of-fundraising.org.uk gamblingcommission.gov.uk Entertainment: If you are planning to have some form of entertainment in a building, which does not already hold a Public Entertainments Licence, you need to get one. Your local authority should provide this. Insurance: Make sure you have public liability insurance in place. Some venues will already have this covered so it is worthwhile checking with them. Safety First: Make sure your event or activity is safe for all those who will take part. Your local authority should be able to advise you. You should consider First Aid, Health and Hygiene if you are providing food, Child Safety etc. If in doubt please ask! We are here to help: 0131 662 5160
THANK YOU! Thank you so much for all your hard work and generosity. Without it we wouldn t be able to continue saving and improving lives in the world s toughest places. You can be the change.