Lock up campaigns are a great way to raise awareness while raising donations! This sort of fundraiser may sound extreme, but it only takes a few people to pull off something amazing! Take a look at this set-up held annually in Auburn, AL, and imagine how much your group could make!

I just love lock-up campaigns! There’s one held annually in Auburn, AL each December. The Executive Director of the local Humane Society will stay in this ‘cage’ from noon on the first day until he raises his amount, which is usually about 3 days. This group has done this style of lock-up for 11 years now, and I heard that this particular Executive Director has been doing it for 9 years. Another volunteer stays with the lead person through rotating shifts for safety and for company. Typically, a volunteer or two will stay awake the entire night so the ‘caged’ person can get some restful sleep.

December is definitely a good time of year in Alabama to do this campaign since it’s close to Christmas and the weather is still nice and warm. The temps were in the 70’s this year, which is unseasonably warm but a nice relief for the fundraisers. You can see from the attached photos that they are using a 10′ x 20′ pen for their cage. It’s a borrowed one, kindly offered by a home improvement store, and it’s being held together with zip ties for easy removal. They have some tarps that they put up overhead for sun protection. It was not too windy this year, but it certainly was warmer than normal. The Executive Director has a small pup tent with a sleeping bag inside, and there are two folding chairs and a cooler with water bottles. You can also see a port-o-potty just outside the kennel. One Executive Director in Oregon is actually put on a leash and ‘walked’ to the port-o-potty for his breaks. In the photos you can also see the large banner this group used. Since there’s NO date on it, they can reuse it each year. The volunteer pictured inside with the Executive Director is a nurse who has been volunteering at the humane society for 5 years… and she’s a swing shift worker, which is something we recently mentioned for those seeking volunteers!

Their position is located in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store, back by the store. It’s on the corner of a major intersection, but you certainly can’t see them from the intersection at all due to the placement of a bank and another store. I would recommend putting out some smaller signs with a pawprint on them, to draw the eyes that way. But, they obviously seem to be doing well with this campaign, and it’s a repeated one, so locals know to look for it. I only heard one radio spot for the event during the three days, but I would recommend having a live remote done with your local DJ stopping by for some ‘kibble snacks’ or just to chat with the caged person. The group hit the front page of the local newspaper the day before they started the campaign, and it was mentioned several times in the calendar section of the paper in anticipation of the annual event. The group was excellent in keeping the public informed of their success, by landing on the front page again a few weeks later with the recap of their event. (See below for their final tally!)

One extra idea this group did not do, would be to have receipts on hand for all donations, which is now required by the IRS for tax deductions. And, I’d recommend having a newsletter sign-up sheet available, or a guest book, so there is an account of how many people came by, who gave donations, and turning these people into regular donors. Many times, people drop some bills into a collection can, but the group has no way to thank them or bring them into the ‘fold’ after that event. Use this chance to raise awareness of your group, your mission and your needs as well as bringing on the donations. Pass out brochures, business cards for local spay/ neuter clinics, and samples of your last newsletter. No one should leave empty handed.

I’ve mentioned this sort of lock-up before to several rescues, and there are some great variations out there. You could sit on top of a doughnut shop, your local vet offices, at your local dog park, inside your shelter’s dog runs, or just in a cage on a corner. You could have volunteers locked up, local celebrities, or the Executive Director. Your group can also do a luxury lock-up for your business executives who want to be pampered and network with other business people in town. Check your calendars to find a great time to incorporate this sort of lock-up in your fundraising plans. If you will be hosting it outdoors, keep the weather and holiday giving in mind.

RECAP: The results are in for the Auburn Lock Up! The Executive Director stayed in his pen for 3 days and 2 nights. His initial goal was to raise $3 in honor of every animal the Humane Society cared for during the past year, which would be a goal of $19,560. He exceeded that goal, and brought in over $30,000! Another excellent fundraiser, without the fuss of hosting a huge gala dinner or another large scale fundraiser.