UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND AT COLLEGE PARK

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL AND RESOURCE ECONOMICS

 

 

 

FUNDRAISING OPPORTUNITY FOR CIVIC GROUPS:

 

SURVEY PARTICPATION

 

Now accepting groups for 2007

 

September 2007 – March 2008

 

 

 

I am a University of Maryland professor doing survey research on Household Budgeting.  I am looking for citizen groups that would be willing to fill out a survey for me.  In return, your group would be paid $20 per survey.  I am looking for groups throughout the state of Maryland. 

 

The survey is very short and even enjoyable to fill out!

 

This is a quick and easy way for your group to raise funds.

 

 

Groups that I have worked with in the past include PTAs, churches, Lions Club, Little League parents, etc.  Most groups arrange for between 15 and 50 people to take the survey.

 

This is an in-person survey.  I would need to come to your community hall, church, or school to make a presentation and administer the survey.  But the entire process takes only 20 minutes and it is rather fun and informative.

 

 

Further information:

 

   The people who fill out the survey do not need to be members of your group.  They just need to be people who are willing to help you out and whom you can get to come to a short presentation.  All survey participants must be at least 18 years old.

 

   If you can get 50 people to fill out the survey, that would give your group $1,000.  One PTA in Hagerstown rounded up 123 people for the survey meeting.  I wrote the PTA a check for $2,460.   We did this at the start of the school day.  They were done before classes started.

 

   I would come to one of your meetings and administer the survey to as many people as you could arrange to be there.  I will write your group’s Treasurer a check at the time of the survey.

 

   The survey is not at all long!  It consists of just 3 questions plus background information.  It takes about 20 minutes, including the presentation.  The survey is actually rather enjoyable to fill out. 

 

   The survey requires a short introduction by me.  Therefore, it has to be filled out all at once, while I am there.  (You can’t take it home or do it on your own).

 

   Some groups I work with convene a special meeting for doing the survey, other groups do it as part of a regular meeting.  Your choice.

 

   In addition to the payment that I make to your group, I also have a gift for everyone who fills out a survey.  Note:  This gift is better than your average gift for this sort of thing!

 

   I am looking for a cross-section of Marylanders.  I am willing to travel anywhere in the state.  Because of the need to have a general survey of Marylanders, I cannot conduct this particular survey with “advocacy groups.”

 

 

If you think you might be interested in this, please let me know by phone or email.

 

This survey is being conducted starting in September 2007

and running until I run out of money.

 

It’s never too late to sign up!

 

 

I am especially looking for groups in:

            Western Maryland

            Baltimore

            Montgomery County

            Younger groups (18-30 year olds) anywhere

 

If you’re not one of these groups but would like to participate, I may still be able to use your group.  To find out, send me an email.

 

 

January 2007 update:  I am especially looking for church groups that would be interesting in raising money.  I am also especially looking for groups (not necessarily church groups) in urban Baltimore or far Western Maryland (west of Hagerstown). 

        

If your group is interested but you do not fit in one of these categories, please contact me anyway.  It is possible that I will be able to use your group in future research.

 

 

 

Once we agree to conduct the survey, here is what you would need to do:

 

1.       Select a time and place.  (Community meeting room, school gym, church basement, etc.)  You would be responsible for making these arrangements, though I can help.

2.       You notify your membership and friends and try to get as many people as possible to attend.  (The most I can handle is around 50.)

3.       That’s it!

 

 

 

John Horowitz

 

John Horowitz

Associate Professor

Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics

University of Maryland, College Park MD 20742

 

 

301-405-1273

Horowitz@arec.umd.edu

 

 

Here’s more about who I am.