How does our Reading Challenge fundraising program work?
Dear potential Read-A-Thon Organizer,
We’d love to host a Read-A-Thon Fundraising Event with you. Please read on to find more information about how this would work!
Warm regards,
Isabelle Baril, Founder of Mind Growth Education
and also your Fundraising Representative
YOUR PROPOSED “READ-A-THON” CAMPAIGN LOGO
HOW DOES IT WORK?
THE CHALLENGE! CAN YOU READ ACROSS CANADA OR THE WORLD IN JUST TWO WEEKS?
(With or without teacher involvement)
*Length of event: Can be flexible to your school’s needs but typically runs for 2 weeks (2 weeks of fundraising and reading simultaneously) *
- We set up all of the fundraising pages and reading log programs for your school!
- The “Fundraising” part of the event: Students and their families gather sponsors using their class’ online “Read-A-Thon Campaign” page (which will already be set up by your Mind Growth Education representative).
- The “Reading” part of the event: Each student or each class begins reading and logging in their minutes in their Mind Growth Education’s reading log program account. The challenge: Can your students read across Canada or the World in just two weeks? (For very enthusiastic readers who are reading lots, they will probably complete the challenge before the end of the event; therefore, we challenge them to see how many times they can read across Canada or the World until the end of the event? (Our record is 3 times by a grade 7 student from Sudbury, ON!)
- Last day of “Read-A-Thon”: All winners are announced and given their prizes (if you wish to have prizes).
- After the event is over, we send you a cheque of your profit from the event (85% profit) and a detailed financial statement with all of the necessary information in compliance with the CRA.
Here is an example of a past “Read-A-Thon” event for you to view:
1) Click on the following link: https://fundrazr.com/qayqaytreadathon2022 to view the Qayqayt Elementary School’s Read-A-Thon Fundraising Event’s Master Campaign page.
Here’s your homework!
- We would need your help advertising and promoting the event to the best of your ability (ex. Facebook posts, email, newsletter article, posters, etc.) to get families and your community to contribute!
- Provide prizes if you wish! Voilà! That’s it! Leave the rest up to us!
SCREENSHOT of our “Read Across Canada” reading log program
Here is a screenshot of our reading adventure route on our “Read Across Canada” reading log program! Every time a participant arrives at one of the major points on their reading adventure, a little blurb pops up with educational facts (i.e. artistic, cultural, historical, geographical, political and/or economical facts) about that city, town or province.
DEMO of our “Read Across the World” reading log program
I am giving you access to a “master” demo account so you can look at what we offer within that account and how it functions. Within that demo account, we have two teachers set up. I am also giving you access to one of the teacher’s accounts so you could see how that works and looks like. Please feel free to add minutes to Anna’s account so you could see more content. As you could imagine, our “Read Across Canada” reading log program is very similar, just a different adventure route.
Step #1: To sign-in, go to the following link: https://mindgrowtheducation.com/
Step #2: Click on the “Sign In” button and enter their login information (provided below).
Master account – Username: demo Password: read
Teacher account – Username: Anna_B Password: read
Step #3: Log in some minutes so you can see how it works!
PARTNERSHIPS
ONE TREE PLANTED
We care deeply about the planet and creating a business that gives back in different ways is our mission. That’s why we’re thrilled to share that we’ve partnered with One Tree Planted #onetreeplanted. One Tree Planted will plant a tree for every 25% of the reading challenge a student/class/family completes along one of our reading adventure routes (Read Across Canada or Read Across the World). #greatthingshappenwhenyouread
THE WORLD NEEDS TREES RIGHT NOW
Trees clean our air and water, create habitats for biodiversity, contribute to our health and wellbeing, and create jobs for social impact. Each tree will grow to support over 392 species and create enough oxygen to support two human beings! Every reading minute really does count.We’re honoured to have reforestation through One Tree Planted as an integral part of our business model.
For more information about this partnership, please click here!
FAQ (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Q: How will the funds be used?
A: Approximately 85% of the net funds raised by this “Read-A-Thon” will go to you. The other 15% is used to pay Mind Growth Education’s fee to cover the Mind Growth Education subscription cost, administrative fee, the FundRazr, Paypal or Stripe payment processing fees and transaction costs.
Q: Do the contributors get tax receipts?
A: Unfortunately, no. Contributions made to a personal fundraiser, rather than a charity fundraiser, are generally considered to be personal gifts and are not guaranteed to be tax-deductible. But, you can always check with a tax professional to be sure. You will not be issued a tax receipt from FundRazr nor Mind Growth Education. That being said, contributors do have the option to receive access to our digital coupon sheet with great savings on awesome stuff (candles, soaps, bath bubbles, digital reading log program, etc.) as a thank you gift for any contribution of $10 or more. IF your parent council/school council has their own charity number, then we would be able to automatically issue tax receipts – it just takes a little more work!
Q: Can participating families still accept cash or cheques?
A: Using our online fundraising platform allows families to avoid having to handle and manage cash. However, if the contributor is not able to give online, many families accept cash or cheques and then personally donate the exact amount online afterwards.
Q: What happens if someone doesn’t attribute their contribution to a particular class?
A: Contributions not attributed usually happen when a random kind-hearted person, who believes in your cause, contributes but doesn’t recognize anyone from the classroom list. We make the “attribution” part OPTIONAL as this gives the public from all over Canada and even the world a chance to contribute to the event even if they aren’t directly connected to someone who attends the school. Better chance of fundraising more money!
Q: How does your reading log programs work?
A: Teachers or students record the number of minutes they’ve read in class or at home on a daily basis by signing into their Mind Growth Education account. The program automatically converts their minutes into kilometres and advances their avatar on a virtual adventure across Canada or the World through various towns, cities or countries. Every time a participant arrives at one of the major points on their adventure, a little blurb pops up with educational facts about that city or town. Classes also get to earn badges and get printable worksheets as they progress on their reading journey.
As mentioned before, for every 25% of the reading challenge a class completes collectively along their reading adventure route, one real tree will be planted somewhere in the world.
Q: What information do you need to set up each teacher or each student with their own Mind Growth Education reading log account?
A: If you choose to involve the teachers and host the event by class, we would need their first and last names, the grades they teach and if applicable, their class division numbers.
If you choose to not involve the teachers and host the event where each student gets their own reading log program, we would need a list of each class (teachers’ first and last names, the grades they teach and if applicable, their class division numbers, as well as the first name + first initial of their last name (i.e. Isabelle B.) OR the initials (i.e. IB) for each student from each class. We are FIPPA/ FOIPPA/COPPA compliant; therefore, we do not need any other information per student and we do not share any list with anyone.
Q: How do we let each teacher or student know of their Mind Growth Education login information?
A: Once your fundraiser representative has created all of the accounts, she will create printable “travel tags” with all of the necessary information (logins, links, etc.) for each teacher and/or student (categorized per class) for you to print and hand out prior to the event.
Q: What if a teacher or a student needs help (i.e. cannot remember his/her username and/or password). What to do?
A: We advise them to email Isabelle, your Mind Growth Education representative, with their question(s) and Isabelle will be happy to help.
Email: fundraising@mindgrowtheducation.com
Text: 778-928-6778
A: We could have it up and running within two weeks pending we receive all of the necessary information right away.
A: Together we are helping to plant trees in 18 different countries across the globe, in North America, Latin America, Asia, Australia and Africa. The trees are often planted as part of reforestation projects after major wildfires or to repair damage caused by industry and resource extraction. Our most popular areas thus far are British Columbia, Africa and Australia.
Q: Who plants the trees?
A: We partnered with an amazing not-for-profit organization called One Tree Planted to help us plant the trees you earn.
Q: How do I know my trees are planted?
A: For every event hosted, we keep a total of the number of trees earned. Twice a year, we pool the money raised and send it to our partner to plant the trees. Planting typically happens in the rainy season when the soil is wet to provide optimal conditions. Currently our partner is working within an 80–90% survival rate of all trees planted. We are provided with evidence of what tree species are planted, expected survival rates, community engagement and ecological benefits which we share in our newsletter if you wish to sign up.
NEXT STEP!
Thank you for considering hosting a Read-A-Thon Fundraising Event at your school!
If you wish to go forth, please fill out the following form.
Read-A-Thon Registration Form
Once we’ve received this form back, I will send you your digital organizer dashboard!
If you have any questions or concerns, please email your representative, Isabelle, at fundraising@mindgrowtheducation.com.
Kindest regards!
