Raise Funds
Money is one of the key barriers to getting to a conference, but it doesn’t have to be an obstacle if you start fundraising early. While Power Shift Canada will try to raise funds to provide travel bursaries and scholarships, theses are not guaranteed. Any fundraising your group does will go a long way to ensuring that people from your community will be able to attend.
Participants will have to cover their travel costs, registration fee, and any accommodation and food expenses.
While this may seem like a daunting task, there are tons of funding sources available for students to attend an awesome event like Power Shift Canada!
Apply for a Power Shift Scholarship NOW! Deadline October 9th
Sponsor-A-Youth Program
Download the brochure here: Sponsor-A-Youth …and forward it to everyone you know!
To Make a Donation:
Visit: http://tidescanada.org/funds/children/canadian-youth-climate-coalition/
There you will find the details to donate via cheque, credit card, wire, direct deposit, securities or online. If you donate online in the text box labelled “Any additional information or comments” please specify: Power Shift Canada Sponsor-A-Youth Program. If donating via mail or over the phone, please highlight that this donation is for the Power Shift Canada Sponsor-A-Youth Program.
Top 5 Tips for Fundraising
1. Student unions, student unions, student unions – these are key! Set up a meeting with your student government representative and get your funding application in ASAP. Same goes for Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs), who often support this kind of organizing (the PIRG in Lethbridge, AB is hoping to sponsor 10 participants!)! And of course don’t forget high school Parent Advisory Councils and Schools or Faculties of Environment / Environmental Studies / Environmental Science!
2. Local Unions! Go to your local CUPE, PSAC, CAW, or any other unions in your area. Give them the Sponsor-A-Youth document (download above) and clearly tell them how much you are asking for and what costs (travel, accommodation, etc) their funds will go towards!
3. Municipal Governments! About 10 youth from the Northwest Territories are being sponsored by their local governments. You can be too! Email first and then follow-up by phone. And while you’re in the process of contacting government officials, set up a meeting with your local MP for Lobby Day!
4. Door-to-door canvassing! 15 youth from the Yukon are canvassing their way to Power Shift Canada… follow their lead!
5. Organize your own fundraiser! This is happening all across our nation… yard sales (Oshawa raised $1100), barbecues, pub crawls, house parties, benefit concerts, raffles with items donated by local businesses, … get creative!
Other Resources
Check out the Recruitment Page for the Campaign Guide and Recruitment Guide, both of which have awesome fundraising ideas, plus sample letters to businesses and fundraising proposals!
Top 5 Tips for Saving Money
1. Billet in Ottawa. Call up your relatives, friends, and friends of friends in Ottawa! Don’t know anyone in Ottawa? Request a spot in someone’s home here.
2. Register NOW before October 11th! (Discounted rate!)
3. Stay at Les Suites (hotel) where we have a discount rate (book by October 14th!). This has access to a kitchen, so you can save in Ottawa by cooking your own food!
4. Apply for a Power Shift scholarship by October 9th (this Friday!).
5. If you’re travelling by land, use rideshares or fill your bus to bring down costs! If you’re flying, get someone who travels frequently to donate their air miles!
For help with local fundraising please email: recruitment@powershiftcanada.org
