11 Ways to Encourage Members to Donate to Tsunami Relief

Associations are proving to be the backbone in the fundraising efforts for the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project. Already, NAR is nearing its goal of $1 million to be donated to Habitat for Humanity International for the construction of REALTOR® Villages. (Read more)

So how are they doing it? Below are just some of the ways associations are getting those checks rolling in and making the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project a success.

What your association can do to boost contributions to the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project:

1. Offer to match member contributions.

The Lebanon County Association of REALTORS®, Pa., will match up to $1,000 in contributions made by members by Jan. 28.

2. Accept donations at general membership meetings.

The Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS®, Mich., announced a collection effort at its January general membership meeting and accepted donations of more than $500.

The Hawaii Association of REALTORS® donated $1,250 it collected during its January leadership conference

3. Publicize your efforts to the local press.

The Amador County Association of REALTORS®, Calif., received a quarter page of free press coverage in the local newspaper about the association's efforts to raise money for the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project, and members were interviewed on a local radio station.

The Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS®, N.Y., included in its weekly real estate column in its local newspaper information on the relief project from their board chairman.

4. Solicit your vendors to contribute.

Metro MLS in Milwaukee convinced its vendor, eNeighborhoods, to match the MLS's $5,000 donation.

5. Take over the MLS welcome screen.

Since members access the MLS several times a day, the Greater Rochester Association of REALTORS®, N.Y., promoted the fund on its MLS welcome screen.

The Long Island MLS, which gets over 28,000 daily visits from members, featured a call-out for donations on its site and has forwarded almost $4,000 in individual contributions to NAR.

6. Create a friendly contest.

The Amador County Association of REALTORS®, Calif., asked every member office to collect funds. The office that contributes the most per agent will receive no money, but will be entered in a raffle to win a three-day vacation to Hawaii.

7. Provide a link in your weekly electronic newsletter.

Evey Monday since Jan. 4, the Long Island MLS, N.Y., has e-mailed a call for donations and have given an update on the tsunami relief effort through their electronic newsletter service.

The Ann Arbor Area Board of REALTORS®, Mich., has put a link to NAR's contribution site in every weekly e-mail to members.

Saint Paul Area Association of REALTORS®, Minn., encourages members to contribute via a link in its weekly e-newsletter.

8. Hold a special board of directors meeting to determine a contribution goal.

Dozens of association boards of directors have approved donations of anywhere from $1,000 to $15,000 to the relief project.

9. Post notices about the relief project on the member listserv.

The Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS®, Pa., is posting the notices from NAR on its member listserv on a regular basis, which includes the link to the online contribution page.

The Williamson County Association of REALTORS®, Tenn., has posted notices in its membership listserv.

10. Send out push e-mails.

The Lexington-Bluegrass Association of REALTORS®, Ky., e-mailed members telling them how they could make their own contributions.

11. Post information on your Web site.

The Seattle-King County Association of REALTORS®, Wash., posted contribution information on the home page of its Web site with a link to NAR.


For more info the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project, click here.

To contribute, visit NAR's secure e-commerce site click here or mail checks made payable to the REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project to:

REALTOR® Tsunami Relief Project
Attn: NAR Finance Division
430 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611

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