Our Volunteers

Median Fundraising is 100% volunteer driven. What does this mean? This means that everything you see from our social media posts, our websites, to the events that are executed are run by volunteers.

When I started Median, I started it with an aim to provide support to needy community organizations that lack resources to hire a salaried fundraiser or event planner. More importantly I created Median to be a hub for individuals wanting to expand their experience whether for career purposes or just to develop their person as someone who wants to give back to their community. Little did I know the funding would come from me for the first two years. Every event put forward meant expenses and I've put everything out for it. You could say I consider this my baby. And like the old African proverb, yes, it does take a village to raise a child.

I lack financial resources to hire salaried employees but I've continually found some amazing individuals who want to give back or have found a cause that I felt passionate about fundraising for. Yes, we are re-visiting our business model and yes, it is my goal to hire someone in the next couple of years but for now I am choosing to write about the amazing people that have helped to shape Median into what it is today.

Our volunteers are very passionate people - and I can say with confidence that I know our volunteers beyond their first and last names. I'm actually quite honoured to call Median's volunteers my friends. It's quite rare to find people in this world who want to see others succeed and even harder to find people who work towards doing so. I have to make this clear as prior to this year all of our event proceeds have been donated and in the most case we actually have paid a portion of the expense. The business moguls out there are shaking their heads but we've valued every cause and connection we've made.

Yes, we are clearly young and inexperienced but I can gratefully say that in this journey of growing we have made some amazing friendships --- this is what Median is; not based on money but on social growth and development for our volunteers and our community.

Want to volunteer? Email James our Non-Profit Coordinator: james@medianfundraising.com

Tis the Season

It's back. The Charity Craft Fair returns this year on Saturday November 21st at the Woodwards Atrium. As always, our aim is to provide holiday shoppers with a socially conscious venue to buy gifts for loved ones. This fair becomes bigger and better every year. It's probably the most fun event that Median Fundraising organizes but it also requires so much work.

The craft fair began three years ago. It was October 31st 2013 and I started thinking about what I would gift for my family. My presents typically included gifts of greater good; for example buying a calf for a village or pencils for a school. I would then attach the slip of paper that said 'I bought a calf for village to provide them with milk for the year as your Christmas present' along with a little trinket. My family valued this more than any set of pyjamas or box of chocolates I could buy them. I thought, I had over done those gifts they were of value but lacked creativity and become generic. Earlier that year we had lost my 8 year old cousin to pancreatic cancer. I wanted to find a way to find a gift that benefited pancreatic cancer research.

I was an avid craft fair goer - always gravitating towards vendors selling beautiful products that funded a social program. And so with this, I called three of some amazing girls I knew at the time and within the span of 3 weeks we planned and executed the very first Charity Craft Fair.

Like us on Facebook to get up to date details on this year's Charity Craft Fair: www.facebook.com/charitycraftfairvancouver 

OUR fundraisers - keep posted!

We are growing! It's amazing and great because when I say growing I mean we have been able to support local charities who do so much for our community; it means being able to support the growth of our volunteers by providing them with experience and most importantly we are growing more connected with each other.

Median has grown quite quickly in the last year and to be honest, it has been funded through events but mostly from seed money from me. Being a founder has it's perks such as watching it grow but right now we are challenged with it's funding sustainability. The funds from the event only provide us enough to put on the event. It rarely accounts for our volunteers to be fed, a basic right of provision for NFPs to spend money on but more importantly it doesn't allow funds for us to grow. So this year we are shaking things up and adding a few events to our roster by planning OUR own fundraising events.

Please mark your calendars, save the date and join us...

• Thursday, July 9th from 7pm -9pm at the Heartwood Cafe on Main & Broadway for Live Music Night.
• Saturday, August 15th from 10am - 3pm  for our #GoodsSwap, venue is TBA. Check out our FB Event page here
• Saturday, November 21st from 10-6pm at the Woodwards Atrium for our Charity Craft Fair.

If you are interested or have any questions regarding any of the events above. Please contact info@medianfundraising.com

Looking forward to seeing you there!

With love,
Maria
 

Join us!

This Tuesday May 26th we will be getting together to discuss this year's events and programs.

If you or a friend are interested in giving back to your community or would like to be with a group of people who aim to provide this please contact info@medianfundraising.com to get involved!

Link to our volunteer posting on Charity Village here.
https://charityvillage.com/directories/volunteers/search-results/volunteer-detail.aspx?id=316828&l=2

A Valentine's Kind of Love

February 14^th has been dubbed by Hallmark as a day to buy presents and whisper sweet nothings to your significant other. It has spiraled to the extreme where singles are now solemnly reminded of the person they are lacking or missing. Instead of rambling about how this will be my first ever Valentines day in a relationship, I want to focus on highlighting the importance of loving yourself. 

When you love yourself everyone around you can sense it. You are genuine with your interactions and sincere with your words. When you love yourself in the most whole way you typically exert as much care about your community, family and friends.  Like being in a relationship, you can take this love for granted. It’s easy to overlook or assume it exists but it’s only after taking good care that you will come to understand it’s value. Here are simple tips that boost your self-love:

 

•  Lift those legs! Everyone knows your body physiology influences your health and of course your mind frame. Sticking to a daily work out routine helps boost your self confidence and decreases chances of health diseases. But don’t be too hard on yourself if your schedule right now is to crazy. Little things such as walking to the grocery store or taking stairs instead of the elevator are a great start to creating a routine.

•  Open those arms! Vancouver is a busy city. Everyone seems to be jetpacking to their next meeting or appointment. Take this time to assess your schedule and ensure you leave yourself enough time to get places. Observe your surroundings, take note of cherry blossoms peaking from their shoots and the moss sprouting from the trees. Open yourself to greeting and acknowledging the person you walk by as they are as much a human being as you are.  
• Straighten your back! The challenge I present to you is to take the time every week to stare at yourself in the mirror. As you stare into your reflection acknowledge the amazing and wonderful person you’ve become and that you are limitless to anything you want to set your mind to!

Happy Valentine's Day! 


 
 

It's a brand new year!

Every new year comes with such hope and anticipation of what's to come. And understandably, for some it also comes with a tinge of fear that comes with aging. This past week would have been Noel's birthday and he would have been 12 years old just shy from being considered a 'teen'. I've stopped to think about what he would be like if he were still around, probably still as mischievous as he was when he was eight but I firmly believe he would be so smart; His curiosity and ability to observe would have developed into a deeper understanding of the world and how he can change things for him and his mom. He would have been so brave to do what he believed to be the right thing - he would have turned into an amazing man.

And so, it is the thought of what he would have become that fuels what Median will be this year. There is so much growing that we aim to do and so much support we aim to provide. The last year has been quite the year. We grew so much faster than I ever expected thanks to all our volunteers and supporters.

February 22nd at 1pm we hope to invite all our current and past volunteers, supporters and donors to our Thank You Party and 2 Year Celebration. Venue is still TBA but please save the date.

We're looking for a new board member!

Median Fundraising is the middle party organization between donors and the organization conducting research or providing direct support to a needy community. We are a non-profit consultation service providing support to organizations financially unable to hire a salaried event planner or fundraising associate. We provide the following services related to fundraising in accordance to ethical standards in event planning/management, campaign promotion and market research. Our goal is to help raise awareness and support research towards issues surrounding health & socioeconomic inequalities that are lacking support. More information on our website: www.medianfundraising.com

We value individuals who are:

Passionate about giving back to society;

Collaborative with other members to achieve a communal goal;

Trustworthy & Reliable with those they work with.

We are seeking individuals with experience and knowledge in the following areas:

-       Marketing/Communications

-       Public Relations/Media

-       Finance/Accounting

Board of Director Responsibilities includes

• Participation in strategic direction for the organization
• Assist in monitoring the organization’s performance to achieve the vision and mission of Median Fundraising
• Assess financial viability and sustainability through participation of budget approvals
• Oversight of organizational financial reports,
• Assist with formulating and overseeing the constitution & by-laws
• Prepare for and attend monthly board meetings and participate in quarterly events
• Build and maintain relationships with external stakeholders including community organizations
• Collaborate with other Median Fundraising board members to assist in raising funds for the organization as well as other outreach initiatives

Expectations of Board Members

• Attend & participate during monthly meetings and special events as able.
• Participate in one major event per year.
• Help communicate and promote Median Fundraising services, mission and objectives.
• Every board member is in fiduciary relationship with the Association and is under an obligation to act in the utmost good faith toward the Association in their dealings with or on its behalf.

Length of Terms: One year, which may be renewed pending approval of the board.

Meetings & Time Commitment:

-       The board of directors meets once a month at an agreed upon venue.

-       Committees of the board meet an average of 6-10 times per year, pending their respective agendas.

To apply:

Please send your resume & letter of interest to Maria Bernardo (maria@medianfundraising.com)

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