Fund Raising
The Nashville Kangaroos are always looking for ways to raise funds to support our charitable mission and we have identified several ways for our members to do so.
Corporate Matching
The Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501c(3) organization and as such is eligible to receive tax-deductible donations. There are many corporate organizations which encourage "local giving" with corporate donation matching programs in which the corporate organization matches your donation. Thus if you wish to donate $100, if you donate through your corporate matching program, the charity receives $200.
Each corporate organization has its own set of rules on how such matching is accomplished. Typically, it requires at least one employee to "champion" the charity. In order to be put on the Approved Charity List, our IRS tax exempt letter is required to be submitted (it contains our legal name, our tax ID number, and confirms our status as a charity). Once we are on the list, all you need to do is follow the rules on how to make a donation. Most frequently, this is done via a payroll deduction followed by the corporate entity remitting a check to the charity for the donation and the match.
We are compiling a list of companies that have the Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. as an approved charity. If your employer is not on this list, and has a corporate donation matching program, contact the president, Jeff Persson, and he will help get your company the information required to get started.
This is a great way to help out the club so if your employer has such a program, help them help the community by taking advantage of this great program.
Companies with the Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. on the approved charity list:
- Dell Computers
- Regions Bank
- First Tennessee Bank
OneCause.com
Who shops? Everyone, of course. Who shops online? Nearly everyone. These facts make this particular program one of our favorite fund raising opportunities. OneCause.com is a mechanism by which approved charities receive donations from literally hundreds of companies, in exchange for people shopping on line at their websites. The Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. is on the approved charity list already.
The process is extremely simple:
- Go to www.onecause.com and click Register. The Nashville Kangaroos are #147992 (you can search by name as well; use "The Nashville Kangaroos, Inc.")
- Fill out your Profile and choose your Preferences. You may register a debit or credit card (which increases the level of donation we receive), however we understand that not everyone is comfortable doing so. Registering a card is optional.
- Choose whether or not to receive emails about your confirmations, promotions etc.
- Each time you go to shop online, go to www.onecause.com first and login, then click through to the vendor. After that, shop as you would normally.
Each time you make a purchase this way from a participating vendor, the Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. will receive a percentage of the purchase price as a donation from the vendor! The percentages vary from vendor to vendor. A full list of participating vendors is on the website along with descriptions of the eligible purchases, percentages, etc. You can also order gift cards and still get a donation! There are HUNDREDS of household names, like Amazon.com, Office Max, etc. Check it out; there are already several club members signed up and we are already earning donations.
Sommet Center Volunteering
Ever gone to a Predators game and bought food or beverages? Sure, we all have. Ever wonder who works the counter? Not likely. Well, not-for-profit volunteers are the large majority of the staff at the Sommet Center. The staffing of all events, from Predators games, to the circus, to concerts, to other sporting events like the SEC and OVC Championship Tournaments, are all staffed by volunteers. The Sommet Center retains Rocky Mountain SportService to staff all events. SportService retains volunteers from the local community. These volunteers come from local charities, and in return for working shifts at these events, a donation is made to the designated charity.
You guessed it: the Nashville Kangaroos, Inc. is a registered charity. And we have earned substantial donations for the club (around $2,500 in 2007).
Here is how it works. You register through the club coordinator (currently this is Jeff Persson). You attend a 2.5 hour training (yes, you have to be trained on how to serve hot dogs, but more importantly, you legally have to attend for the alcohol policy). Once you are trained, you can work shifts. Shifts are typically 6 hours or so: about 2.5 hours before the event, 3 hours during the event, and 0.5 hours after the event). Every two weeks, we get a check for the donations earned.
This is a great way for those who want to give to the club but don't have the financial resources to do so. Volunteering time earns the club donations. It is also a great way for club members and team players to "earn" their dues and team fees, rather than paying the club cash.
- Club Dues — Two shifts covers your club dues for the year. (Student dues are earned with a single shift.)
- Team Fees — Two more shifts covers your team player fees.
- Free Club Merchandise — A fifth shift earns you a free club polo or club gym bag. (Fourth shift for students).
GivingTree
How do you decide what to give to someone when you are not sure what type of gift would be best? Normally cash or a gift card is the best solution. Well, how about giving a gift card that benefits the Nashville Kangaroos? That is what GivingTreeLife is all about: microphilanthropy.
Here is how this program works: click here for online demo.
- You need to send a cash gift to someone. Simultaneously, you want to teach about philanthropy or promote the Nashville Kangaroos (or both)
- Log on to www.givingtreelife.com and order a gift card
- Gift card is sent to recipient, with instructions
- Recipient activates gift card (and sends thank you electronically)
- Recipient chooses charity, and 10% of the gift card is donated to the charity
- Recipient can now spend the remaining 90% of the gift
Note: the donor can choose to take the tax deduction or can allow the recipient do so. There are two options in the charity: the donor can designate ahead of time, or can allow the recipient to choose from any charity listed (all are 501c(3) organizations).
