Abstract:
A method implemented by a fundraising system is provided. The fundraising system includes at least one fundraising apparatus, at least one fundraising apparatus operator, and at least one donating person. The method includes: receiving by the apparatus operator an amount of funds from a donating person, said amount corresponding to at least one resting location of a dial that is spun at least one time by the donating person, said resting location occurring after the dial has been spun by the donating person.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     An example of an existing method for fundraising includes asking people to donate amounts as determined by the donating persons or as determined by the receiving charity. However, existing systems and methods for fundraising are often insufficient for raising desired amounts of charitable funds. Therefore, there exists a need for improved systems and method for fundraising.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0002]     An embodiment of a method implemented by a fundraising system is provided. The fundraising system includes at least one fundraising apparatus, at least one fundraising apparatus operator, and at least one donating person. The method includes: receiving by the apparatus operator an amount of funds from a donating person, said amount corresponding to at least one resting location of a dial that is spun at least one time by the donating person, said resting location occurring after the dial has been spun by the donating person.  
         [0003]     Other embodiments of the invention will become apparent upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional embodiment, systems, methods, features and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1  shows a fundraising system using a fundraising apparatus, which will be further described in  FIGS. 2 through 5 .  
         [0005]      FIG. 2  provides an embodiment, among others, of a fundraising apparatus.  
         [0006]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the dial area on a fundraising apparatus.  
         [0007]      FIG. 4  depicts a dial area such that there are four areas indicating funds to be donated.  
         [0008]      FIG. 5  represents a specific example of  FIG. 2  in fundraising apparatus.  
         [0009]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method implemented by a fundraising apparatus provider.  
         [0010]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method implemented by a donating person.  
         [0011]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method implemented by an apparatus operator.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a fundraising system  100  using a fundraising apparatus, which will be further described in  FIGS. 2 through 5 . According to fundraising system  100 , the fundraising apparatus provider  101  provides fundraising apparatus  103  to fundraising apparatus operator  102 . Donating persons  104  play a fundraising game, which is embodied in a fundraising apparatus  103 , and subsequently give funds  105  to fundraising apparatus operator  102 . Fundraising apparatus operator  102  then gives some of all of such funds  106  to a chosen charity. Said charity may in one embodiment be the fundraising apparatus operator  102  itself.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  provides an embodiment, among others, of a fundraising apparatus  103 . In this embodiment, the fundraising apparatus comprises a tri-fold board with folds occurring at fold lines  216  and  217 . In the upper-right hand corner of the fundraising apparatus  103  is the dial area  200 - 1 , in this embodiment comprising eight segmented sections each of which may correspond to a donation amount, and one spinnable dial  200 - 2  which when spun may be configured to make a unique clicking sound and which when stopped may indicate an amount to be donated by donating persons  104 . Other embodiments of dial area  200 - 1  will be discussed.  
         [0014]     The fundraising apparatus  103  comprises areas  201  through  215  in addition to the dial area  200 - 1 . Area  201  portrays the name of the fundraising apparatus  103  (e.g., Spinners) while area  202  gives a name of the fundraising apparatus provider  101  (e.g., ABC Fundraising). Below these two areas resides area  203 , instructions for using fundraising apparatus  103 . Comments that are related to the fundraising apparatus  103  may be placed in area  204 , located below instructions  203 .  
         [0015]     In the center of fundraising apparatus  103  may be a pad of coupon sheets (e.g., 50 sheets, among other embodiments), with the intention that each donating person  104  may receive one sheet in return for two spins of spinnable dial  200 - 2  and subsequently donating the corresponding donation amounts indicated on the dial area  200 - 1  by the spinnable dial  200 - 2 . Coupons may correspond to sponsors whose names and the value of their coupons may be printed in areas  205  through  212 .  
         [0016]     The donated amounts may be recorded in areas  213  and  214  which may comprise 50 detachable sheets of paper with spaces for writing the amounts indicated by the first and then the second spin. Below these areas  213  and  214  , and on the same sheets of paper as areas  213  and  214 , resides area  215 , a space for indicating the total amount donated. The area  215  may be torn off from the corresponding page and provided to the donating person. There may be many pages in each fundraising apparatus  103  that include many respective areas  215  (e.g., 50 pages or sheets that include 50 respective areas  215  that may be torn off from the respective pages or sheets).  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows one embodiment of the dial area  200 - 1  on fundraising apparatus  103 . In this embodiment, spaces  301 - 1  through  301 - 8  provide eight areas in which to place varying amounts of funds to be donated. Spinnable dial  200 - 2  may stop at one of these areas and indicate the amount of funds to be donated.  
         [0018]     In another embodiment,  FIG. 4  depicts dial area  200 - 2  such that there are four areas  401  through  404  indicating funds to be donated. Spinnable dial  200 - 2  may hence stop at one of these areas indicating the funds to be donated. Other embodiments may include any number of donation amounts, depending on a desired implementation.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  represents a specific example of  FIG. 2  in fundraising apparatus  103 . Areas  501  through  504  contain pertinent information regarding one source and the use of fundraising apparatus  103 . Areas  505  through  512  portray possible sponsor coupons contained on individual and detachable sheets of paper (e.g., 50 sheets). Areas  513  through  515  show a first of several (e.g., 50) detachable sheets of paper to be given as receipts for tax deductions that indicate the individual amounts of each spin (areas  413  and  414 ) and the total amount of funds donated (area  415 ). Dial area  200 - 2  in this embodiment comprises eight donation spaces ranging in donation amounts from $1.00 to $4.00.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method  600  implemented by a fundraising apparatus provider  101 . Herein, the fundraising apparatus provider supplies a plurality of fundraising apparatuses (step  601 ) and receives payment for such apparatuses (step  602 ). Other methods may be employed. The transaction described in method  600  may occur between the provider  101  and a charity that is to benefit from the fundraising or between the provider  101  and an operator of the apparatuses.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method  700  implemented by a donating person  104 . Herein, the donating person spins a dial (step  701 ), donates the amount(s) indicated by the spinnable dial  200 - 2  to fundraising apparatus operator  102  (step  702 ), and receives coupons (step  703 ) corresponding to sponsors of the fundraising system.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method  800  implemented by an apparatus operator. The method  800  includes allowing a donating person to spin a dial one or more times (step  801 ), receiving a payment from the donating person corresponding to resting position(s) of dial (step  802 ), providing a receipt to donating person indicating the donation amount (optional step  803 ), and providing coupons to the donating person, wherein the coupons correspond to sponsoring entities (optional step  804 ).  
         [0023]     It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments, methods and systems of the present invention are merely possible examples, among others, setting forth a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments, methods and systems of the invention without departing substantially form the principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and present invention and to be protected by the following claims.