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Fundraising For A Cause, Inc. Founder Provides Tips, Sales Tools and More To Help Others Successfully Raise Money for Worthy Causes

Former Marketing Executive Creates Online Source to Make Fundraising Easier

Tampa, FL – Former sales and marketing executive Karen Conroy of Tampa, FL has launched a web-based business designed to help others raise money to fight breast cancer. Within months after starting the new venture, www.fundraisingforacause.com, Conroy is already considering expanding the business model to help generate funds for other diseases and worthy causes.

The site features free information that can be used to attract attention to fundraising events and campaigns and offers effective ways to encourage others to donate. The site also provides a selection of merchandise available at wholesale prices that can be purchased in bulk and sold at modest markups. Conroy quickly discovered during her early efforts at raising funds that by offering items for sale she was able to generate more donations from more people.

Last year, Conroy was able to collect and contribute more than $10,000 for the fight against breast cancer. Since the Web site went live in April 1, 2008, she has been contacted by men and women from across the country who used to struggle to raise even a few hundred dollars. With the information, tools and merchandise she provides, Conroy routinely hears how much easier and more successful fundraising has become for those volunteers.

The inspiration for the site came from a family member’s recent battle with breast cancer. With no known family history of cancer and a lifestyle that included regular exercise and a balanced diet, Conroy’s sister, a wife and mother of three residing in Harrisburg, PA., seemed an unlikely breast cancer victim.

When Conroy learned her sister was diagnosed with the disease, she became motivated to help fund medical research to find a cure. She started by signing up for her first three-day, 60-mile fundraising walk and began the daunting task of raising the minimum $2,200 required to participate in the event. Initially turning to family and friends for donations, Conroy quickly realized that she needed to do more to meet her goal.

Committed to continue fundraising, but determined to bring in more money, Conroy incorporated some of the strategies, creative concepts and sales techniques that have been the hallmark of her professional career as a marketing executive with leading national companies.

She learned setting up a table and selling merchandise in front of highly trafficked store locations enabled her to easily raise thousands of dollars. Conroy credits the difference in donation levels to the attention-getting displays, signature signage, color-schemed apparel and affordable items, ranging from dainty angel pins to small stuffed bears, which routinely are now part of her presentations.

“Having a selection of merchandise available that the public can select from in exchange for their contributions lets those who are donating determine how much, or how little, they can comfortably give and enables them to walk way with a symbol of their support,” she explained.

Conroy first had to find merchandise suppliers and negotiate buying large quantities of products that visually tie-in with breast cancer awareness. She then incorporates the various items into displays she sets up in front of stores, or at events, and offers everything for sale at a slight mark-up. The system enables her to cover costs for the merchandise and still donate the majority of the money to the cause. The response was so favorable from people purchasing merchandise, as well as teammates utilizing this approach, that Conroy was convinced she should share her success with others.

“I quickly discovered simply by buying and selling items, I raised more money than I did without the merchandise,” Conroy said. “When my teammates and I stood outside a store asking for donations, we would raise about $100 per day. People would give us a couple dollars or some change. When we set up a table and sold items, we would end up raising $800.”

Within months, the web-based business www.fundraisingforacause.com was launched and Conroy changed careers to begin running it full time in January. Currently, the web site offers more than five dozen items that may be ordered in appropriate quantities, repackaged for individual sales and sold for slightly more than the original cost. The variety allows customers to select from a range of products, the prices enable them to easily recoup out-of-pocket costs and the appeal of the merchandise enables everyone to raise significant dollars for a cause.

“I structured this company so that I could sell merchandise at rock bottom prices. The goal is for people to make money for their cause,” she said. “There are many people who want to participate in fundraising events but don’t because they are intimated about raising money. What I offer is an easy, affordable and effective system that anyone can successfully use.”

Keeping up with demand, locating suppliers who can provide merchandise that maintains a level of quality at a manageable price point, tracking shipments and personally handling orders and answer questions, keeps Conroy constantly on the phone or on the computer throughout the workday and, at times, into the evening.

Whatever is needed, from re-usable banners and tablecloths to sign templates and stickers, can be ordered from the web site and shipped anywhere in the world. The array of merchandise ranges from jewelry and apparel to candles and soaps to key chains and coffee mugs. The fundraising tips that Conroy has tried and tested are available for free plus any questions or comments sent to the site’s sole email address will be personally reviewed and responded to by Conroy, founder and president of fundraisingforacause.com.

With no advertising to date and only word-of-mouth to spread the word, Conroy has been delighted with the response and reaction already garnered from women throughout the country.

“It’s been really gratifying to hear from some of these women about how much easier it is for them to raise money with this merchandise. People are actually excited to fundraise. Some simply open a box delivered to their workplace and, before they know it, co-workers have bought so much of the merchandise that they have to place another order,” she said.

Fundraisingforacause.com is a Tampa-based business that offers a selection of merchandise available to the public at wholesale prices. Karen Conroy, founder and president, launched the web-based business on Jan. 1, 2008.

Media Contact:

For images, information or interviews please contact Mary Lou Janson, Marylou@maryloujanson.com, www.maryloujanson.com, 813-361-1061 or 813-251-5737

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