When we begin a group or think of an important project-perhaps just with an idea and two or three other women-we may need a relatively small amount of money. This section describes some simple ways of raising small amounts of money to begin a group, raise money to attend a conference, or raise money to carry out a discrete project.

"There is no beginning too small!" You may have a vision for change or an idea, and you may have a small group dedicated to that vision. If so, begin to devise a plan, and then BEGIN! (In 1987, The Global Fund began with a vision and a plan; since that time, more than 3,000 women's groups in 163 countries have received assistance totaling over 50 million US dollars.) We would be the first to agree that there is no beginning too small.

Let's imagine that we want to raise a relatively small amount of money to register our new group, get some printed letterhead paper, and hold a small planning meeting. Alternatively, perhaps our group wants to send one of our colleagues to an international meeting. Or, perhaps we want to set in place a membership campaign. Each of these activities will cost relatively little money (compared with establishing a group, a health clinic, or a university, for example); but we do need some resources to begin to implement our longer range plan in order to realize our vision.

In the following paragraphs, we suggest some ways to raise relatively small amounts of money. (We apologize for using "dollars" in our examples, but we did not want to list all currencies.)

• Give it yourself. This is the easiest way to raise money, if it is possible, and it is freeing and empowering to give, either for your own participation or for the participation of someone else. Remember this thought: "We make a living by what we get. But we make a life by what we give."
   
• List all of your friends who are interested in the possible event or project. Decide how much each of them can afford. Write to them personally and include a description of the activity. Tell them why it is important that the activity happen, and ask them to support you. Visit or phone those who do not respond within two weeks. If you are trying to raise $1,000, for example, you will need ten friends who could give $100 each, twenty friends who can give $50 each, or forty who can give $25 each. If you explain why the activity is important and what higher good will come from it, it will be easy to ask. In other words, "If the cause is right, the means will come."
   
• Give part of the total (e.g., $100) and ask your friends to add to your donation for a total of $1,000. This is very effective because you are not asking them to do anything you haven't done. If you are not willing to support the effort (even in a very small way), why should anyone else do so? For that matter, why should a foundation or other agency support it if you are not willing to?
   
• Look around your house and find items that you are no longer using. Ask your friends to do the same. Have a sale and apply the proceeds to the project or program.
   
• With two or three friends, have a simple but delicious dinner at which you discuss women's situation in the world. Invite as many people as you know and ask them to donate $20 each. Explain to them how the proceeds will support women, since the activity for which you are raising money will further the cause of women.
   
• Host an informal party or a tea party. Invite as many people as you know, and during the festivities stop and talk about the situation of women in the world and why your activity is important. Ask people to donate $20 to $50 toward the activity. Leave a basket by the door, point it out, and let people know that their donation will benefit women because of your activity.
   
• Between the time you read this article and the time of the activity you are planning-perhaps a few months-either set aside a certain amount of money each month (in other words save money for this effort) or hold a dinner or party (such as those described in 5 and 6 above) each month. By the time of the activity, you could have enough money to begin it.
   
• Make a list of the businesses, churches, and/or clubs you visit in your community. Make an appointment with the head of the business, church, or club and explain why it is important for women in your community that the activity happen. Ask for a donation and offer to give a talk to their staff or membership when the activity takes place or is finished.
• Take a part-time job in addition to your present work for the next six months and set aside everything you earn toward your planned activity.
   
• Ask fifteen to twenty people to save all their coins at the end of each day for the next six months. You save yours too. Have a modest gathering to thank your friends and count the money at the end of a set period of time, say six months. If necessary, use one of the other methods to make up the difference toward the money you will need to put in placed the planned activity.
   
• Get a famous or popular person in your community to do a special event; ask a friend to host it in her house. Charge people $20 for the event, explaining the worthy cause to which the money will be applied.
   
• Start a "chain" dinner. Invite twelve people to a dinner and charge them $12 each. Get two people of the twelve you invited to invite twelve people to dinner and charge them $12 each; and two people from each of those two dinners to have twelve people at $12, and so on. Here's the income: Your dinner: ($12 x 12=$144); from your dinner: $12 x (12+12)=$288; from those dinners: $12x (12+12+12+12)=$576. Any number can be used, and your friends will like the idea of helping you start your planned activity for the sake of other women in the world.

One or a combination of these methods will raise money. After your successful fundraising efforts: thank all of those who gave; thank them again. When your planned activity begins to be underway, invite your supporters to a modest gathering, tell them about your successful activity and why it is important. Thank them again. They have now become part of your group: they share your vision. They are part of your network of empowerment.