July 2019 - Official Blog-Phoenix Pop

Most Effective Fundraising Strategies

July 31, 2019

If you’re raising funds, chances are you’re constantly looking for ways to better your fundraising strategies to raise more money for your cause. After all, strategies can always improve and there’s no better time to think about improving your fundraising strategy than when planning for your next fundraising campaign. Here are some of the most effective fundraising strategies.

Most Effective Fundraising Strategies

Integrating Fundraising Software

Software comes with numerous benefits, but running a fundraiser becomes difficult If your software solutions aren’t integrated. For example, if your marketing software won’t integrate with your event management software, which won’t connect with your CRM, then it becomes difficult to send invitations for your next event to your donors.

The trick, therefore, is to invest in integrated fundraising software. However, it’s important to be discerning about the features you want for your own before making your purchase because you may not need all the features. By implementing a more inclusive software solution, you’ll have an easier time streamlining your fundraising strategy.

Launching Crowdfunding Campaigns

Social media use continues to grow every year. As such, you need to find ways to harness the power of social media. Crowdfunding, for example, is a popular form of fundraising that leverages social media. Here are some of the ways social media and crowdfunding are integrated:

Reach: Rather than a few large donations crowdfunding draws lots of small donations. Social media offers an easy way to get the message out to people, including those you don’t have direct contact information for.
Design: Crowdfunding campaigns are usually hosted on a central website. These sites are well designed with “share now” buttons and videos that make it easy and attractive for social media users.
Content: Social media users love immersive content they can get invested in.

Enable Mobile Giving

Smartphones continue to grow in popularity every year, and that’s a trend that is not slowing down any time soon. They’ve become so widespread that we’re now storing boarding passes, grocery lists and even banking on our mobile devices. By implementing mobile giving, therefore, you can improve your fundraising efforts.

Mobile giving is highly successful for various reasons

It’s logically smart: Mobile fundraising brings your supporters to their phones, no more having to walk to the mailbox.
It boosts event participation: Rarely will everyone who supports your organization attend your events. But by accepting mobile bids or mobile donations for charity auctions, even absent donors can participate.
Leads to information capture: When running a fundraising campaign, you want to collect donor details to make it easier to segment later. Mobile giving gives you an opportunity to gather name, phone number and other useful details.

Making it possible for donors to donate via mobile is an effective way to take advantage of every opportunity for donations and show donors that you care enough to make it easy for them to donate.

Bottom Line

Those are just but some of the most effective fundraising strategies to improve your fundraising campaign. Other fundraising strategies to consider include hiring a fundraising consultant and getting creative with corporate giving. Overall, following the strategies above are sure result in a successful fundraiser.

Packing House Checklist

July 17, 2019

If you choose to do your own packing, It’s crucial that you work room by room. It also helps to mark all boxes with the name of the room they’re going into and at least an overview of the contents. Here is a packing house checklist to consider when getting ready for a move.

Packing House Checklist

Start by getting the necessary supplies. Make sure you have enough boxes, blankets, padding and tape beforehand. Even if you are packing a messy house, start by moving from room to room with your packing checklists.

The Kitchen

Dishes: Pack bowls and plates together in boxes. Wrap pieces of fine china individually wit bubble wrap or paper and do this for other breakable dishes as well.
The Refrigerator: Start using up your food a few weeks before your scheduled move. You’ll want to empty your fridge and defrost it at least 48 hours before moving.
Glasses: Your best bet would be to use a sectioned box. You want to wrap the glasses individually before putting them into boxes. If you don’t have a sectioned box, avoid stacking glasses on top of one another unless they’re well protected.

Other kitchen items you need to pack include small appliances, food and silverware.

The Dining Room

Table: If possible, disassemble the table and wrap the table and legs in blankets.
Rugs: Roll them up and wrap in paper or plastic.
Chairs. Wrap in blankets.

The Living Room

Couches and Chairs: Be sure to handle heavy furniture with care to avoid damage.
Electronics: Put computers, TV, etc., back in their original packaging if you still have them and secure with duct tape. Alternatively, wrap components in blankets and towels and brace them in boxes. You can provide more protection by filling open spaces with padding, including socks, blankets and towels, etc.
Shelves and TV Stands: Remove any glass and wrap them in blankets.
Tables: Be ready to cover once loaded.
Home Office: Put important files – financial records, medical records, insurance policies etc. – in a box and store them separately.

The Bedroom

Hanging Clothes: Consider getting wardrobe cartons to store hanging clothes and have an easy time unpacking them once you’ve moved.
Spare Bedrooms: Put any clothing in labeled bags or boxes and break down beds. Pillows can go in dresser drawers and use plastic storage bags to store bed hardware and attach them to the headboard with tape.
Jewelry: Place any expensive and high-end jewelry in a container that you’ll keep with you during the move.

The Bathroom

As you pack your bathroom, make sure you have a box where you’ll keep all your toiletries, bathroom towels, toilet paper, makeup, etc. Keep the box handy as you’ll likely want to set up a bathroom as soon as you get to your new premises.

Bottom Line

Other rooms to work through include the laundry rooms and the garage or store shed. The trick with coming up with a packing house checklist is to work by room. You can always seek the help of a moving company if you are overwhelmed doing it yourself. Start packing early enough so you don’t have to rush at the last minute and have enough time to sort out your items.

Jewelry Techniques – Making Your Own Jewelry

July 12, 2019

Handmade jewelry is quite different from that of the other mass-products available in the market. There are different categories of handmade jewelry and every category requires special jewelry techniques. More and more people, nowadays, prefer handmade jewelry over the mass-produced jewelry. This is because of the techniques and uniqueness of the jewelry.

Jewelry Techniques

Some jewelry techniques that are rather notable include assembled, wire wrapped, fabricated, beaded, hand stamped jewelry and many more.

Technique to Make Handmade Jewelry

Making handmade jewelry can be an exciting hobby. There are many techniques by which you can make handmade jewelry as well. For this, you will need the essential materials for each and every type of handmade jewelry. Besides that, you will need the tools too. Techniques can differ with the type of jewelry you opt for. Here are some of the types of handmade jewelry:

Assembled jewelry making: The simplest yet trendiest type of handmade jewelry is the assembled jewelry. The technique is quite simple yet it offers a unique and personalized style. You can make necklaces, bracelets and earrings.
Wire wrapped jewelry: Another technique of handmade jewelry is the wire wrapped ones. This type of jewelry is made up of wire wrapping around the stones and beads. They are simple in nature but it offers an intricate yet delicate design.
Fabricated jewelry: This is another unique style of handmade jewelry. There are a wide range of styles that you can witness. The wildly creative art jewelry is fabricated with metal-smithing techniques.
Beaded jewelry: This is another type of simple yet intricate jewelry design that depends a lot on the beads and string. Makers use the beads on the single strand to create different types of necklaces and bracelets.
Hand stamped jewelry: This is one of the most popular techniques that can be easily used for making jewelry. Hand stamping allows the maker to create some personalized custom jewelry. It requires some specialized tools. The designs can be created with the help of hammering the metal stamp impression.
Enameled jewelry: This handmade jewelry technique is best for adding some amazing pops of color. You can add some metal jewelry pieces with this type. One of the most popular enameled techniques is the torch-firing. This is a simple and affordable technique that can be used for soldering torch for heating up the enamel on the metal. You can also solder sterling silver as well to customize your jewelry.

Conclusion

You do not have to be highly skilled to make or design handmade jewelry. You can search for online videos on reliable sites that can show you some of the best and most amazing jewelry techniques. You can even learn some other nifty jewelry making tactics along the way such as how to remove super glue from plastic among many others. As long as you know the right techniques and have the correct materials to make jewelry, you can be amazed of how beautiful your work can be.

Different Ways to Fundraise

July 9, 2019

Raising money can be a challenge. Whether you’re a nonprofit or school community, the chances are that you’ve run out of exciting fundraising ideas. The truth is, fundraising doesn’t have to be monotonous. The secret to captivating donors and inspiring them to give is by hosting unique fundraisers. Here are a few tips on different ways to fundraise.

Different Ways to Fundraise

Shoe Drive Fundraisers

Shoe drives are a great way to raise funds for any organization. They’re fun, easy to organize and have no out-of-pocket costs. All you need to do is call on supporters in your community to donate their used, gently worn and new shoes.

Matching Gift Drive

Matching gift drives are an easy way to maximize your donations without asking for another gift from your donors. They are common in corporate philanthropy programs where companies match a portion of the gifts their employees give to nonprofit organizations, for example. Another common approach is to partner with a matching gifts database provider.

T-Shirt Fundraiser

Selling customized t-shirts is not only a great way to raise funds but also an excellent marketing strategy for your organization. Simply customize the t-shirts to showcase your fundraiser in a compelling design. You can then sell the t-shirts to supporters at the events you host. You may also choose to sell the t-shirts using crowdfunding techniques.

Start a Crowdfunding Campaign

Crowdfunding campaigns are an easy way to collect small donations from a broad audience. You can start by setting up a fundraising page that will explain your mission and allow people to make online donations. This unique fundraising strategy works well if you’re unable to invest a lot of capital in more traditional fundraising campaigns.

Peer-To-Peer Fundraising

Design peer-to-peer fundraising campaign page templates with exciting features, custom branding, and great imagery. Then, reach out to people who support your cause to create personalized fundraising pages. Supporters can use the pages to spread the word about your fundraiser to their followers and online friends.

Text-To-Give Campaign

Text-to-give campaigns simplify the donation process and make it easier for you to collect funds. Through text-giving software, you can set up a special fundraising number and keyword. Whenever your supporter texts your organization, they receive an automated link that directs them to a mobile donation page which they can fill out and get a digital receipt. This unique fundraising idea is ideal for remote fundraising as well as in-person events. Different Ways to Fundraise

Silent Auction

Hosting a silent auction allows you to get local organizations as well as the community involved in your fundraiser. Consider reaching out to local businesses to donate auction items then encourage people to bid on them.

Bottom Line

There are plenty of other different ways to fundraise. For instance, you can decide to host a used book sale, a potluck dinner or a video game tournament. The trick is to choose a fundraising idea that will work for your organization.

Can Termites Spread Through Clothes?

July 8, 2019

Termites can be a big threat for your home. These pests can find their way into your property by many ways. It can spread through many things and cause harm too. But can termites spread through clothes? Well, for that you need to learn a lot about the nature of the termites and what their preferred habitats are and their behavior. Thus, it will be helpful for you to protect the home against all damages from the termites.

Can Termites Spread Through Clothes?

So, can termites spread through clothes? It is extremely unlikely that termites will spread through clothes as they generally travel through mud, cracks in the walls or woods.

Can Termites Harm Your Clothes?

This is one of the most asked questions by most of the homeowners. Since termites look quite similar to that of the ants to the eyes that have never seen termites before, people assume things. One of the things that people assume is that they travel in the same way like the ants. The fact is that the subterranean species cause most of the harm to your properties. The termites mainly prefer to stay as close as possible to the soil. They find the moisture from the soil for surviving. Also, these subterranean termites are quite difficult to spot as they generally hide under the ground or inside the woods.

These termites generally travel through the mud, cracks in the wall or through the woods. So, it is extremely unlikely for the subterranean termites to spread through the clothes in your closet. But drywood termites can be spotted in the clothes at times, especially if your closet or wardrobe is made up of woods. The drywood termites mainly survive in the woods and hence they can infest your clothes too if they are in wooden closets.

Can Termites Get Into Luggage?

If you are going to travel, then it is quite common to pack your clothes in the luggage. As mentioned earlier, drywood termites can be commonly found in dry woods and above the ground. These termites like to find shelter in the siding or under the roof shingles. You have to be aware that these clothes are not affected by the termites. Drywood termites can be found closer to the gulf coast regions and in Texas. So, if you are travelling to these places, then you need to be aware of the fact that it can travel in your luggage. You need to be careful when you are packing or unpacking your bags while travelling and keeping them outside and outside of your yard rather than inside.

In Conclusion

So, can termites spread through clothes? Termites can be anywhere in your house, but are very unlikely to spread through your clothes. You need to look for different signs of the termites to know whether or not they are in your house. If you have spotted termites in your clothes, then the problem is much bigger than you imagine. If you have termites in your closets, then chances are higher that there are termites all over your house. Know the signs of the termites and kill them immediately to prevent a pest infestation. You have to find some solution for this. You can also call for professionals to help you with termite services.

Fly Fishing vs Regular Fishing

July 8, 2019

Fishing can be the best way to spend some great time alone or with friends and family. The best way to enjoy fishing is to have a relaxed time and prepare for the trip. The two most popular types of fishing are fly fishing and regular fishing. There are some basic differences between these two fishing types. If you want to know more about fly fishing vs regular fishing, then read on. This article will help you to get a complete idea about these two types of fishing and their differences too.

Fly Fishing vs Regular Fishing

Fly fishing vs regular fishing? The differences between the two include the types of rods used, flies vs lures, you fish in lakes compared to rivers and the presentation are different.

Difference Between Fly Fishing & Regular Fishing

There are some basic differences when it comes to fly fishing and regular fishing. They include:

Rod type: While the rod used for fly fishing are fly rods, spinning rods are used for regular fishing. The fly rods are light in weight and are used to cast the line with false casting, but the spin rods are much heavier in weight. They cast monofilament line along with single cast.
Flies vs. lures: In fly fishing, you have to use flies such as nymphs, streamers, dry flies and emergers. They imitate all types of food that the fish feed on. For the regular fishing, heavier lures are used for attracting the fishes.
Lakes vs. rivers: While fly fishing is mainly done on moving waters such as rivers, the regular fishing is done on stillwater such as lakes. Although sometimes fly fishing can be done on stillwater too.
Presentation: Fly fishing generally allows you for a stealthier presentation as well as upstream presentation. Also, you can work in the tighter quarters while fly fishing. But the regular dishing works well only for crawdads or imitating baits. They are presented at different water depths.

Which One is More Popular?

While the main intent of the fly fishing is to fool the fish with an artificial fly that is made up of different animal pieces like hair or feathers, the spin fishing is really meant for catching many fish. In fly fishing, most of the fishermen challenge each other with a more difficult fishing form. So, they catch as many fish as possible during this period.

The fly fishing has become quite popular these days now. The fly fishermen are trying to catch almost anything and everything with the help of the fly rod. In most of the cases, they fish for trout. But the regular fishermen are probably the better bet unless and until it is not for trout.

Conclusion

So, this is all about fly fishing vs regular fishing. If you are really interested about fishing and want to try something, then you can go for fly fishing. Fly fishing can be a great experience for you if you are with your friends and family. Challenge each other and start fishing. This will help you to enjoy a fascinating experience in fishing. Fly fishing is done in most of the countries nowadays, especially during the summer and in moving waters such as rivers. So, you can have a great time enjoying this.

All Kinds of Tractors

July 3, 2019

Since the invention of automobiles, tractors were introduced, and they have proved to be invaluable machines. These machines have made a huge difference to agriculture, making it easier for farmers and other laborers to operate with efficiency and much less effort. Below is a list of all kinds of tractors available in the market.

All Kinds of Tractors

Here are some of the most common types of tractors:

Utility tractors
Compact Utility Tractor
Sub-compact utility Tractor
Track type tractors
Backhoe tractors
Specialty Tractors

Sub-Compact Utility Tractor

Sub-compact Utility Tractors are specially used for farming purposes. The tractor typically features a small engine and lesser horsepower than other types of tractors. They also have comparatively smaller and thinner wheels with parts that can be removed easily or fitted again if necessary. Besides agriculture, the Sub-compact Utility Tractor gets used for gardening, land maintenance, raking, and landscaping.

Compact Utility Tractor

The Compact Utility Tractor is also used for farming but not for harvesting on commercial levels. They generally have higher horsepower than your Sub-compact Utility Tractor, ranging from about 24 horsepower to about 60 horsepower.

Utility Tractor

The Utility Tractor has higher horsepower than the previously mentioned tractors, ranging from about 45Hp to 140Hp. These tractors are primarily used for farming and landscaping. The Utility tractor is also popular because it can be used for multiple purposes. You don’t have to purchase different parts of the machine separately as your typical Utility Tractor will have various parts attached as well as many other types of equipment for performing other field work and tasks.

Specialty Tractors

As the name suggests, these are tractors designed for particular purposes. For instance, if a crop needs to be specially harvested, then you’ll need a Specialty Tractor for that sole purpose. The horsepower of these types of tractors also varies depending on need.

Backhoe Loaders

Backhoe Loaders are commonly used in construction and civil engineering projects. They’re often used for a wide range of tasks including small construction work, breaking small rocks, paving roads, digging, and the transportation of building materials. They shake a lot while digging, which is why they’re fitted with Hydraulic stabilizers to balance.

Due to their versatility and compact design, they’re one of the most popular tractors. They’re also commonly used in disaster management, landscaping; swimming pool, cemetery and septic system digging; as well as other similar applications where larger tractors are not practical due to their size.

Large Wheel Loader Tractors

Large Wheel Loader Tractors are heavy machinery used to load or move aside building materials such as rocks, sand, and debris. These types of tractor feature a wide bucket used to scoop materials such as construction debris and sand from the ground. They also have different names such as front-end loader, wheel loader, bucket loader, etc.

Bottom Line

There are all kinds of tractors for different purposes. Other types include military tractors, pushback tractors, bulldozers, lawn tractors, and row crop tractors, among others. Some tractors are designed for general purposes while others are made for specific tasks. When choosing a tractor, consider the purpose, the scale of work to be done, maintenance needed, as well as the safety tips associated with tractors.

Getting Around Seattle Without a Car

July 3, 2019

Many people want to know if getting around Seattle without a car is possible. While Seattle is often thought of as being an area where having a car is essential, this is not accurate. By taking advantage of the public transportation and other options, you can travel here without renting or using a car. Many of the transportation options available accept the ORCA card, so it’s a good idea to purchase one if taking these options.

Getting Around Seattle Without a Car

Getting around Seattle without a car is rather easy. You can take the light rail, the metro, water taxi, the transit system, segway tours and more.

1. Take the Central Link Light Rail

The light rail won’t take you a lot of places but it’s one of the best ways to travel from downtown Seattle to and from the airport. If you’re going to be mostly downtown Seattle and only need a way to get to the airport, then this is your best option. The trip is less than an hour and runs every day of the year.

2. Take the King County Metro

This is a transportation system that has almost 220 routes via bus or trolley. It’s one of the best options for traveling in the Seattle area and very economical as well. If you’re not familiar with Seattle, you’ll want to view their website and look at the schedule as well as the lines available. The schedule for King Metro also changes on the weekends and holidays so plan accordingly.

3. Use the King County Water Taxi

Just like its name suggests, this water taxi is going to take riders from downtown Seattle to Vashon Island and West Seattle. This taxi has a somewhat limited schedule although it may be the most efficient way to travel, depending on your destination. During the summer months, the water taxi runs seven days a week but only on the weekends during the winter.

4. Try the Sound Transit System

This transportation option is useful if you’re going to be traveling between Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties. This transportation system includes the ST Express Bus, Tacoma LInk, and Sounder Commuter Rail. You can also use an ORCA card with this transportation option or pay with cash. Check the schedule to determine the best route for your travel. However, the ST Express bus almost always runs seven days a week.

5. Stay Local with the South Lake Union Streetcar

This route is handy if you want to travel to and from downtown Seattle to South Lake Union. The streetcar is easy to take and operates every day of the year. It also runs every 15 minutes so you won’t have long to wait between streetcars.

6. Segway Tours

Another fun and local way of exploring the city of Seattle is via segway tours. This way, you don’t necessarily have to explore on foot, but can just cruise through the city with a group of people while learning fun facts about the infamous segway.

7. Walk Short Distances

Although you’ll want to take transportation options for longer travels or the islands, most of Seattle is walking friendly. Additionally, most of its main attractions are located in the downtown area. Depending on your travel itinerary, you may be able to walk to all your destinations faster than any transportation option available.

Bottom Line

Keep in mind that schedules and routes change periodically. Check schedules before traveling to avoid getting stranded and pack according to the weather. However, these options demonstrate that it’s easy to travel in and around the city and getting around Seattle without a car is easier than you may think.