OCD Action

Joel
Key Master

As part of OCD Action's Stakeholder Event and AGM on Tuesday 3rd May we will be running discussion groups on a number of topics. We have opened up four threads on this forum to get the ball rolling. On this thread, we would like to hear your ideas and views on how the Charity can increase its income.

Over the last few years the Charity has done a great deal to secure funding from charitable trusts and individuals but in order to fulfil our ambitions for the year ahead, we need to increase fundraising activity. The big question is - how can we best get the OCD community involved in fundraising. As ever...please share your ideas.

Thank you
Joel

Tue Apr 12 2011 8:26:29 #
Tess
Member

I logged on this morning hoping there would be loads of fantastic ideas for raising income for OCD Action -

So I am going to try to start the ball rolling with a couple of suggestions -
How about keeping a money box by our computers, then each time we log onto the forum we put in a coin as a little donation for the priviledge of being able to come onto this forum 24/7 to chat with other OCD sufferers. Then when our membership becomes due we can just add what we have collected.
Another suggestion - OCD can be expensive, I'm sure every sufferer can think of money they have spent out solely because of OCD. So if we save money as our OCD improves perhaps we could donate some of what we save to the charity.
I expect the membership fee will be discussed at the AGM and perhaps there is room for manoevre here but at the same time considering those members who have to live on benefits.

On a more general note most charities are finding it harder to raise income in the current economic climate and most members of OCD Action are unlikely to be rolling in money because mental health has always been the poor relation. So for large injections of cash I think there will have to be continued reliance on external funding sources and from wealthy individulas who support the OCD cause.

I personally hate standing around with a collecting box and I think the general public get pretty fed up with tins rattling every time they go shopping and begging letters in the mail, I certainly do. At our big OCD Awareness day last year I put a donations box on the table and although a vast amount of free literature was taken we had just one donation in the box. So fundraising is a difficult task and especially so for people with OCD. Even if we do sponsored bungee jumps or trek off to the jungle we have still got to raise the sponsorship.

Sorry I am not bursting with ideas and I've really struggled to write this post so please everyone put on your thinking caps and come up with some inspirational fundraising suggestions.

Wed Apr 13 2011 10:47:33 #
Truddles
Member

How about keeping a money box by our computers, then each time we log onto the forum we put in a coin as a little donation for the priviledge of being able to come onto this forum 24/7 to chat with other OCD sufferers. Then when our membership becomes due we can just add what we have collected.
Another suggestion - OCD can be expensive, I'm sure every sufferer can think of money they have spent out solely because of OCD. So if we save money as our OCD improves perhaps we could donate some of what we save to the charity.

Tess, two excellent ideas. I've already got a little jar next to my computer and I'm putting my 5p pieces in it each time that I log on (I hate having them in my purse as they're so fiddly to get hold of ). It soon mounts up

Wed Apr 20 2011 10:16:46 #
Maxthedog
Member

I'm going to do that as well! great idea I have a bag of 1 and 2p coins, so I'll use them

Wed Apr 20 2011 10:49:10 #
Maxthedog
Member

Wed Apr 20 2011 10:49:10 #
Truddles
Member

My little jar by my computer is slowly filling with the small change that I put in it every time that I log on
Anyone else doing this or something similar?

Fri Apr 29 2011 21:22:43 #
bingo
Member

How about asking all members to give something every month by direct debit. It need not be a lot as every £ helps. It is a cheap and efficient way to raise money and many other organisations already do this. When you consider what OCD Action does then it is very good value.

Ask everyone who uses this forum to contribute something.

OCD Action should stop being so modest and tell people everything it does (obviously not personal stuff) so that people actually realise the extent of the work.

Sat Apr 30 2011 8:46:32 #
Tess
Member

Great idea Bingo, I'm not very good at putting cash in a pot - handling cash for me involves hand washing! but I would donate a monthly D/D. Only problem is that I think it may involve administrative problems for charities to set up a monthly payment system. Even big charities like the National Trust are still discussing it.

Sun May 1 2011 9:12:48 #
Nimrod
Key Master

Just a reminder. The OCD Action Stakeholder event and AGM is at 6pm tomorrow (3rd May) at MIC, 81-103 Euston Street, London, NW1 2EZ.

You don't have to be a member of OCD Action to attend, and there will be something for everybody in the stakeholder part of the meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend the AGM part of the eeting but you do have to be a member to vote.

It will be a good event and there will be a chance for everyone to have a say in the way OCD Action is run and what you would like to see the charity doing in the future.

Mon May 2 2011 18:57:27 #
Truddles
Member

How about keeping a money box by our computers, then each time we log onto the forum we put in a coin as a little donation for the priviledge of being able to come onto this forum 24/7 to chat with other OCD sufferers. Then when our membership becomes due we can just add what we have collected.
Another suggestion - OCD can be expensive, I'm sure every sufferer can think of money they have spent out solely because of OCD. So if we save money as our OCD improves perhaps we could donate some of what we save to the charity.

My little jar (well actually it's a mug with no handle ) by my computer is almost full of the small change that I put in it each time that I log on to the forum.

Has anyone else taken up either of the ideas that Tess mentioned or done something else to raise money for OCD Action? If so let us know

Sat Jul 2 2011 12:37:19 #