CharityCDs.com
Our Fundraising Spotlight ...

Fundraising Can Be Music To Your Ears

It was when Jeffrey Barkin saw his children bringing home cookie dough, chocolates, and pizza kits from their Mississauga schools that he had the idea to create music fundraising CD compilations and form CharityCDs.com. The products seemed bulky, often had refrigeration storage issues, and they did not leave lasting community impressions.

“Music makes sense as a fundraiser”, Barkin adds. “Music can touch on the emotional side of giving, and the CDs’ songs become associated with the school or fundraising cause.” The company is devoted to providing safe, positive community-oriented fundraising programs that reflect integrity,” confirms Barkin, the company’s Managing Director. The CDs are designed to be marketed to a diverse audience, from friends, family, neighbors, to the community at large. He adds that that the size of an organization doesn’t matter—all groups, including teams or classes as small as fifteen, can benefit. CharityCDs.com provides special Sales Inventory Tracking Forms, which allow schools and youth clubs to discourage door-to-door selling and easily monitor sales effectively generated by the participating students, classrooms or club members. CharityCDs.com’s compilations can also serve as ideal donor recognition rewards for alumni or benefactors, or as Gala dinner favors.

CharityCDs.com is a relative newcomer to school and sport team fundraising, having launched in 2006; but it has already been making significant waves throughout the United States. The company is a subsidiary of the Custom CD Corporation where Jeffrey Barkin serves as CEO, and it is one of the world’s leading branded music producers, operating the Web site: www.CustomDiscs.com. Custom CD Corp.’s clients include Fruit of the Loom, GM Saturn, La Senza, Neiman Marcus, and Ritz Carlton, and the firm has been a leader in the creation of interactive enhanced CDs (eCDs), that display video presentations with direct measurable links to Web sites.

All six CharityCDs.com current selections can be viewed and listened to on the website, and all the titles may be ordered in a single order, without minimum orders. “Believe” is a compilation that features positive themed songs about improving the world, with songs like Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over”, Duran Duran’s “Ordinary World”, Amanda Marshall’s “Believe In Me”, The O’Jays “Love Train”, and Maxi Priest’s “Peace Throughout The World”. The Campfire Collection features 21 sing-a-long songs including America’s “Horse With No Name”, Johnny Cash’s “If I Had A Hammer”, Jim Croce’s “Bad Bad Leroy Brown”, John Denver’s “Take Me Home. Country Roads”, and The Seekers’ “Kubaya”. The latest Chillout Café double CD compilation features 37 songs, including Dido’s “Here With Me”, Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel”, Radiohead’s “Nude”, Sia’s “Day Too Soon”, Thievery Corporation’s “Holographic Universe”, and Wax Poetic featuring Norah Jones’ “Angels”. The holiday collection “Songs For A Winter’s Night”, has no formal religious references in its lyrics, and features 20 classics by artists like Pat Benatar, Tony Bennett, David Bowie & Bing Crosby, David Koz & Kenny Loggins, Diana Krall, and Sarah McLachlan.

“Most organizations pre-sell the CD collection and offer their customers an advance discount incentive to promote advance sales for those who buy more than one title,” Barkin explains. “For example ‘2 CDs for $30’” He notes that most CDs feature 20 songs or more and have a unit cost of $6.98. The CDs are made in the U.S.A. and Canada, and come with a suggested $18 selling price.

Besides the pre-sell discount, another unique way these music compilations have appealed to a school or booster club’s audience is through the customized liner booklets. All orders over 250 units receive free four page liner booklets, which are distributed throughout the selection titles ordered. “These booklets have been an effective tool for helping booster clubs reach their audiences on an emotional level, build awareness within communities, and recognize local businesses and sponsors for their support,” Barkin states. Some schools and sport leagues are purchasing additional four page liner booklet inserts to describe their program, events and team schedules, or to list and thank sponsors.

The important advantage of CharityCDs.com’s fundraising is that the CDs will be going into the school or its team community’s personal music collections, leaving lasting impressions. Music is not a disposable item, like cookie dough or wrapping paper, and discarded; it provides years of enjoyment.

Schools, PTAs and Boosters can track project orders online by securely signing on to the company’s Web site and being assigned a project name and password. The school or youth club will be immediately notified of the courier tracking number when the product ships, so clubs can plan for its arrival. There are no upfront cost requirements, and there are two approaches for ordering: (1) Pre-Sell with supplied kits or (2) Advance Ship. Only organizations requesting Advance Ship product must provide a minimum $100 deposit prior to shipment, along with the school or club’s liner booklet artwork and/or design materials (if taking advantage of the liner). Organizations then receive a 60-day final payment term with a no-risk return policy. Furthermore, Barkin adds, there is no leftover inventory with our Advance Ship program, as all unsold CDs may be returned and credited with final payment.

Orders that do not feature customized liner booklets are shipped within two days of order receipt, and should arrive within seven days. Project orders with customized liner booklets require at least one additional week for artwork approvals and print production, making the total delivery wait approximately two weeks from the receipt and approval of your artwork.

Packed in durable cardstock digi-packs, Barkin says the CDs are delivered in convenient lightweight 20 to 30 unit boxes. “All orders are delivered promptly, and we cover all related shipping costs. Customer service is our hallmark,” he adds, and affirms that CharityCDs.com’s motto is "Fundraising has never been easier".

Visit CharityCDs.com for more information on how your school or club can raise money through music. Let the music move you!