Charity Services, Inc. was formed in 1990 with the idea of helping non-profit organizations in Iowa, Missouri, and Illinois compile a donor list. These lists would be invaluable to these groups as it would enable them to raise funding in a more efficient manner than bake sales, car washes, or casino nights.

In order to contact the volume of people needed to compile these lists, telemarketing and fundraising offices were established in Illinois and Iowa. The first groups the telemarketing programs were used for were the Illinois Vietnam Veterans of America, The Linn County Civitan Club, and the Iowa Paralyzed Veterans of America. The campaigns were so successful that additional groups were added and Charity Services began working with Jaycee groups across Iowa and Missouri.

Newsletters with stories about the non-profits, and coupon pages were used as our first gratuity item. In 1993, with the addition of the Jaycee groups, CSI started selling trash liners in order to raise funds and compile donor lists for our clients.

The garbage bags were a huge hit. Not only are they something nearly everyone has to buy anyway, but buying them helps out a great cause.

We decided to use factory direct, recycled poly bags in a variety of sizes and priced packages. We delivered the bags and a thank you letter from the non-profit organization. We also found that we could recall these donors every 6-8 months and they would buy the bags again.

The telemarketing programs were so successful and easy for the groups we served that we found they would rather have us do the fundraising campaign for them. This allowed these hard working groups to do more in their communities and spend less time fundraising. Charity Services also started working with music booster groups in Fairfield and Mt Pleasant, Iowa. The fact of the matter was that school budgets were very tight and if these schools wanted a new bad trailer, instruments, choir robes, or even gloves for the marching band, they had to raise the funds themselves. Athletic programs are in the same boat and need the same amount of funding.

We decided to establish a trash bag fundraising program for grade and middle schools, music and athletic boosters, and any civic groups. These bags have been a proven fundraising tool for over 15 years. Any groups can conduct this program every eight months and each campaign can be conducted by the same or a different group within a school district. The donor list will grow with each new campaign and it will become a perpetual fundraising program.

We are very proud of the funding we have been able to provide our clients and we would like to help your school, group, or club establish a quality fundraising program.