Unite. Act. Engage: Frequently Asked Questions
Below you´ll find some additional specific information regarding our Annual Campaign. If you have a question that isn´t listed here, feel free to contact us, and we´ll get back to you right away!
What is the VEGlobal Unite. Act. Engage. Campaign?
What is the goal of this year´s campaign?
Who can participate in the campaign?
When I contribute money to VEGlobal, how are my dollars used?
How much goes to administrative costs?
How can I raise money to donate?
Can I donate to the campaign without being involved in an official event?
What is the VEGlobal Unite. Act. Engage. Campaign?
The Unite. Act. Engage. Campaign is VEGlobal’s annual fundraising campaign. Raised funds are used to support VEGlobal’s core educational programs, global citizenship training, and awareness-raising events. The purpose of the VEGlobal Unite. Act. Engage. Campaign is to unite the VEGlobal international network to act for the educational opportunity and rights of at-risk children in Chile by engaging their own communities to raise funds for and increase awareness of VEGlobal.
What is the goal of this year’s campaign?
Our primary goal is to engage 40% of our VEGlobal community in raising funds for and awareness of VEGlobal in their communities. Our secondary goal is to raise $25,000 USD in funds, with a 90% returning donor rate from last year´s campaign.
Who can participate?
Anyone committed to the defense of children´s rights through educational and social development can participate in the campaign.We are always excited to welcome new members into the VE family.
When I contribute money to VEGlobal, how are my dollars used?
Incoming donations are first and foremost used to support, sustain, and improve the educational programs VE runs, which are critical to the development of at-risk children. Donations may be used for new sports equipment for our monthly sports league, Liga de Deportes, or for new books for our literacy program, Vamos a Leer. Because VE´s administrative costs are low, we make our dollars stretch a long way. For example, just $100 USD will fully fund Vamos a Leer for 65 children for an entire month!
Your donations not only sustain the programs of VE, they also ensure that there are volunteers around to run them, and even create new ones. Because many of our most successful programs have been created and implemented by the volunteers themselves, like our English language program English in Motion, supporting volunteer development and growth ensures the efficacy of VE´s programs, and the organization overall. VEGlobal is proud of our volunteer creativity, and we strongly encourage social entrepreneurialism through developing new projects designed to meet the specific needs of the children in our institutions.
How much of my donation goes to administrative costs?
VEGlobal operates year-round on a full-time volunteer staff –only the Executive Director receives a salary. As a result, we have upwards of 275,000 volunteer hours since our inception six years ago, which is equivalent to more than $5,000,000 USD in salaries. We also receive a great deal of in-kind donations for our administrative needs, including everything from office supplies to consultancy on graphic design and legal processes. This drastically lowers our administrative costs to the bare minimum, allowing us to use the vast majority of donations for programs that directly benefit the children we serve.
How can I raise money to donate?
Unite. Act. Engage. focuses largely on the creation of fundraising events. This year we are expecting upwards of ten events across the globe, so be sure to check the EVENTS tab often to see if there is an event going on near you! You can host your own event, help set one up, or attend one with a few friends. You will be guaranteed a fun night, and an opportunity to make a difference in a child´s life. Events can be of any size and nature; groups and individuals can hold bake sales, dinner parties, bar fundraisers- whatever activity the person chooses to do. For more information on what you can do to help out, visit the GET INVOLVED tab under 2009 Campaign!
Can I donate to the campaign without being involved in an official event?
While Unite. Act. Engage. does focus on fundraising events, there are many ways to get involved in the campaign. Individuals can raise money by any legal means they can conceive! You can ask for help from family members, friends, neighbors, employers, co-workers, church members, etc. Additionally, you can donate online right now simply by clicking the blue ¨Donate¨ button above. We rely heavily on individual donors, and even a modest donation of $30 goes a very long way.
Additionally, here are a few alternative means of fundraising:
- Make a donation to VE in honor of a friend or family member. Their name will be featured in our newsletter – which reaches over 36 countries!
- Start an e-mail fundraising campaign amongst family and friends.
- Clean out your home before the holidays! Have a yard sale or sell your unwanted items on Ebay or CraigsList. Donate proceeds to VE.
- Pledge one day´s salary to VE.
- Ask your employer to consider joining the VE Corporate Internship Program.
If you are still not sure how you want to get involved, or if you have any questions about fundraising, contact us and we will be more than happy to help