Gate - Instructors - Fundraising

Fundraising for your Program

Fundraising Tips

Funding a project can be a tough job. But a lot of TCC students and teachers have found creative ways of getting support from their communities for the things they want to do. Here are some fundraising tips.

People give to people, not to programs. No matter how worthwhile your program, it is your relationship that sparks the donation. Establish something you have in common with the donor. You may have to sell yourself as much as the program. After all, you are its representative. Speak about why you personally are involved and committed to your program. Be open, friendly, and honest. Represent your program as an investment to feel good about.

Ask in person.  It is easy for a potential donor to throw away an unsolicited letter. A personal appeal commands immediate attention.

Use your friends to make contacts. This simple step will start you off on a positive note and will secure you a more attentive reception.

Know what you are asking for.  Are you looking for money, meeting space, food donations, a bus, a PA system, or an endorsement? If you are asking for money, what is it for? How much do you need and how much are you requesting from this potential donor? Have a one page summary of the program or project ready to give to the people you meet.

You won't get it unless you ask for it.  The number one reason people donate resources or volunteer their time is because they are asked. Take time to research your possible donors, then explain how their help is needed to make your program successful.

Teens are great fundraisers.  Adults are impressed with young people who display determination and commitment. When you are seeking contributions for a youth program, teens are the best advertisement of the program's success. Young people can speak from the heart of the need for youth programs. Their passion and zeal can move mountains.

Try to match your need with a particular donor.  People are more likely to give if the donation can also provide them with some type of benefit. (Example: ask a local hardware store to sponsor a "Community Clean-up Day" and provide the supplies.)

Remember, everyone can help in your cause. Work to utilize all types of donations, including someone's time, materials and supplies, monetary support, or a personal endorsement.

GATE America Fundraising

G.A.T.E.  is Gang Awareness Training Education
GATE America, inc has established the GATE curricula and its very effective substance abuse prevention education program.

G.A.T.E. America returns its revenues to the program
Over the years GATE America has partnered with corporate sponsors to the benefit of local GATE programs. GATE America has worked with Target, Walmart and K-mart to bring the GATE program to local communities.

GATE America will not ask citizens for donations.
GATE America has partnered with highly respected and well established retail sales organizations that provide to the public quality goods and services. The partnership provides to GATE America a percentage of the net proceeds of the sale of these goods and services. The goods and services offered to the public are those they are familiar with and desire. Through the partnership with GATE America, these goods and services are often provided at prices below that usually offered to the public.

GATE America will never use students to fundraise
A private citizen will never answer a knock at their door to find a child trying to sell cookies or wrapping paper to raise funds for GATE America.

GATE America Does Not Employ the Services of Telephone Solicitors
Citizens are not interrupted at dinnertime by an annoying telephone solicitor trying to raise funds for GATE America. If they do receive such a call it is likely that it is from a solicitor raising money for some law enforcement organization.

GATE America Provides Direct and Indirect Support to Local GATE Programs.
The support provided is beyond the capability of local programs, but is critical to the health, maintenance and growth of local programs.

GATE. Curricula
The GATE program consists of the GATE Kids K-4 program, the middle school curriculum (grades 5th -8th grade) and RADICAL our High School curriculum. All of GATE’s curricula are science-based and developed by the nation’s leading experts in prevention research and education. The  curricula RADICAL are innovative, flexible, and conform to national health curriculum standards and recognized principles of prevention

The training provided GATE Instructors is unique, successful and among the most highly rated law enforcement trainings conducted. Because of the support provided by GATE America, training of GATE Instructors and implementation of GATE curricula is extremely inexpensive.

GATE  Training
GATE Instructor Training is one of the finest professional development activities available to law enforcement officers, prevention specialists and educators. The 40-hour course certifies each new Instructor to instruct the K-4 visitation program, the Elementary curriculum, and the Middle School curriculum. It is a comprehensive training program providing training in making presentations to: senior citizen groups, parents, teachers, general-public and other law enforcement officers. In a fact, many instructors who complete the training have made comments about the adaptability of the program, its flexibility of the curriculum for the instructors. Unlike other nationally recognized drug abuse prevention programs GATE America allows non-law enforcement officers to teach the curriculum. As a result, this broadens the reach and availability to all who work with at-risk youth.

GATE America provides all GATE. training methods, instruction, curricula and technical support free of charge.
The cost to receive training is very affordable, and many times offset completely by donations made to the program by outside contributors. In addition workbooks that are purchased for the program to each student are not passed on to the user. Each workbook fee is based on the cost to order by quantity ranging between $0.45 and 0.65. Therefore the production costs are just that costs to produce the workbook without profit. Unlike DARE America which charges a flat rate of $0.89 cents per book regardless of quantity ordered. There are no fee or royalties that are asked to be paid to GATE America and we would never ask that of any instructor or user of our program.