GCU Forum - Donations or "Causes"

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Donations or "Causes"
Sep 17^th, 2011, 10:46pm

Has GCU ever done a donation challenge or event? I'm watching this documentary on a woman who takes care of 700 cats in Ca. she runs a non-profit sanctuary/no kill shelter and she's always in need of donations. Any way we can get a "donate a card design" for her? i'd love to donate a new cat design for something like this, but lots of people would actually make a difference. Like walking for the cure, etc..

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Sharon_131320 Junior Member artist Posts: 75	Re: Donations or "Causes" Reply #1 - Sep 18^th, 2011, 12:03am Oh my! lol. the server error kept coming up and now it's published 5 times?? oops
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Donna_137698 Gold Member artist Posts: 1064	Re: Donations or "Causes" Reply #2 - Sep 18^th, 2011, 7:26am you probably could do one privately for her. I designed a card that I'm going to donate some printed copies to a Raptor Rehabilitation Organization. It's blank inside and they can fill it in as they see fit.
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Doreen_137017

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Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #3 - Sep 18^th, 2011, 8:20am

Nice idea Sharon and I'm interested to see what GCU has to say. Maybe GCU could open a Special Causes store and artists could create cards for that store with all proceeds going to the donation pool for that store. The proceeds could rotate causes each quarter so multiple organization benefit.

I have a series of cards in my store called "Stray Muses . . . A Language Unspoken" which are companions to my book, all of which benefit my local Humane Society.

But this is a nice idea for GCU!

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Sharon_131320 Junior Member artist Posts: 75	Re: Donations or "Causes" Reply #4 - Sep 18^th, 2011, 10:24am Thanks Donna, Doreen, both great ideas I can at least start with designing a card as you suggested, for them to use if they wish. The donation store with rotating causes would be wonderful... I didn't realize you had a book, Doreen! with a card series--great idea
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Doreen_137017

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Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #5 - Sep 18^th, 2011, 10:42am

Quote from Sharon_131320 on Sep 18^th, 2011, 10:24am:

Thanks Donna, Doreen, both great ideas

I can at least start with designing a card as you suggested, for them to use if they wish.
The donation store with rotating causes would be wonderful...
I didn't realize you had a book, Doreen! with a card series--great idea

I volunteer every year to create a DVD of photographs to music, quotes and poems (it's about 40-minutes in length) which is played at the big fund raising dinner each year. After the first couple of years of doing this, I had people wanting to buy the DVD which I can't allow because of the quotes, poems and music used, so I put some of my shelter photographs which is what everyone wanted together with some of the quotes and poems and created a book. The book was a hit, but people wanted more so I created cards and then at zazzle I have posters and other products. The posters are a big hit too. All the proceeds go to my local Humane Society and it's a nice way for me to give back.

Here is the link to the Collection and Book (the book preview can take a few minutes to load)
http://www.zazzle.com/pawsitivelypets/gifts?cg=196951087727523293

Here is the GCU collection:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?keyword=stray&store_ id=2686

When you love pets like you and I Sharon, we give what we have to give, right?

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Sharon_131320

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Posts: 75

Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #6 - Sep 18^th, 2011, 11:05am

Quote from Doreen_137017 on Sep 18^th, 2011, 10:42am:

I volunteer every year to create a DVD of photographs to music, quotes and poems (it's about 40-minutes in length) which is played at the big fund raising dinner each year. After the first couple of years of doing this, I had people wanting to buy the DVD which I can't allow because of the quotes, poems and music used, so I put some of my shelter photographs which is what everyone wanted together with some of the quotes and poems and created a book. The book was a hit, but people wanted more so I created cards and then at zazzle I have posters and other products. The posters are a big hit too. All the proceeds go to my local Humane Society and it's a nice way for me to give back.

Here is the link to the Collection and Book (the book preview can take a few minutes to load)
http://www.zazzle.com/pawsitivelypets/gifts?cg=196951087727523293

Here is the GCU collection:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?keyword=stray&store_ id=2686

I love the book! What a great idea...especially with the card series too. And I am surprised I wasn't already in your Pawsitively Petrageous Fan Club Sad

I am now

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Doreen_137017

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Posts: 5273

Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #7 - Sep 18^th, 2011, 12:11pm

Quote from Sharon_131320 on Sep 18^th, 2011, 11:05am:

Quote from Doreen_137017 on Sep 18^th, 2011, 10:42am:

I volunteer every year to create a DVD of photographs to music, quotes and poems (it's about 40-minutes in length) which is played at the big fund raising dinner each year. After the first couple of years of doing this, I had people wanting to buy the DVD which I can't allow because of the quotes, poems and music used, so I put some of my shelter photographs which is what everyone wanted together with some of the quotes and poems and created a book. The book was a hit, but people wanted more so I created cards and then at zazzle I have posters and other products. The posters are a big hit too. All the proceeds go to my local Humane Society and it's a nice way for me to give back.

Here is the link to the Collection and Book (the book preview can take a few minutes to load)
http://www.zazzle.com/pawsitivelypets/gifts?cg=196951087727523293

Here is the GCU collection:
http://www.greetingcarduniverse.com/community/store.asp?keyword=stray&store_ id=2686

I love the book! What a great idea...especially with the card series too. And I am surprised I wasn't already in your Pawsitively Petrageous Fan Club Sad

I am now

Hahaha! Thanks Sharon!

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Ed_138002

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Posts: 22

Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #8 - Sep 19^th, 2011, 12:21pm

We have Kitty City. It is a non-profit 501c3 cat rescue. We have been in the rescue for just a little over 3 years and have saved close to 800 cats and have adopted out about 650. All were either abandoned on the streets, born on the streets, or pulled from high kill shelters. All were in grave danger. We then spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and take care of all other medical issues. We were lucky enough to be chosen to be on Animal Planets "Must Love Cats" program that started at the begining of this year. The vet bills are what kills us. Plus it is much harder to get donations for a cat rescue than it is for a dog or a dog and cat rescue. We struggle by with what donations we can get and just have a small facility right now but would like to put up a new and nicer facility that will allow us to have a place for our FeLv kittys and our FIV kittys, a nursery for kits and a laurdry room. Pretty basic stuff but all costs $$. I started making cards here about six months after we started the rescue hoping that selling these cards would help support the rescue. Turns out I guess it is pretty hard to even sell a kitty card. My total commissions for the entire time i have sold cards for almost three years is just under one hundred dollars. If anyone helped us by choosing us as their charity we would greatly appriciate any help we get. I built our website myself which took awhile to learn how to do LOL. the address is www.kittycitynm.com

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Sharon_131320

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Posts: 75

Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #9 - Sep 19^th, 2011, 12:59pm

Quote from Ed_138002 on Sep 19^th, 2011, 12:21pm:

We have Kitty City. It is a non-profit 501c3 cat rescue. We have been in the rescue for just a little over 3 years and have saved close to 800 cats and have adopted out about 650. All were either abandoned on the streets, born on the streets, or pulled from high kill shelters. All were in grave danger. We then spayed or neutered, vaccinated, microchipped and take care of all other medical issues. We were lucky enough to be chosen to be on Animal Planets "Must Love Cats" program that started at the begining of this year. The vet bills are what kills us. Plus it is much harder to get donations for a cat rescue than it is for a dog or a dog and cat rescue. We struggle by with what donations we can get and just have a small facility right now but would like to put up a new and nicer facility that will allow us to have a place for our FeLv kittys and our FIV kittys, a nursery for kits and a laurdry room. Pretty basic stuff but all costs $$. I started making cards here about six months after we started the rescue hoping that selling these cards would help support the rescue. Turns out I guess it is pretty hard to even sell a kitty card. My total commissions for the entire time i have sold cards for almost three years is just under one hundred dollars. If anyone helped us by choosing us as their charity we would greatly appriciate any help we get. I built our website myself which took awhile to learn how to do LOL. the address is www.kittycitynm.com

Hi Ed!

I'm so glad to know KittyCitynm exists. I visited your shop and love your cards-especially the wild west theme. they are adorable! thanks so much for the work you do. And I hope GCU does take up[ this idea for supporting a shop to do strictly donated cards. I'd love to contribute something to Kitty City. You're right in my back yard too

Good luck!

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Pat_134551

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Posts: 71

Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #10 - Sep 23^rd, 2011, 5:31pm

Interesting idea to donate a card design - I'll share a couple ideas I use to help rescues:

I have posted on my store that I donate a portion of my "profits" on each card to husky rescue, and state which rescue received the donation in my profile. (I make the donation annually)

I also donate packets of my cards to a couple rescues that hold auctions. They always generate a nice donation! Rescues work really hard to help pet find good homes, I thin its great so many artists are willing to help!

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Sharon_131320

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Posts: 75

Re: Donations or "Causes"
Reply #11 - Sep 24^th, 2011, 5:09pm

Quote from Pat_134551 on Sep 23^rd, 2011, 5:31pm:

Interesting idea to donate a card design - I'll share a couple ideas I use to help rescues:

I have posted on my store that I donate a portion of my "profits" on each card to husky rescue, and state which rescue received the donation in my profile. (I make the donation annually)

I also donate packets of my cards to a couple rescues that hold auctions. They always generate a nice donation! Rescues work really hard to help pet find good homes, I thin its great so many artists are willing to help!

this is a good idea too and I will probably have to go this route--thanks Pat

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