Chicago Fair Trade

Educate, Activate, Celebrate

Flash Fundraiser

Fundraise with Sarah

I don’t just want to SAY that I’m going to leave this world better than I found it. I want to actually DO it. Supporting fair trade allows me to actively do just that.

– Sarah Faur

I believe that fair trade is much more than a label on a product. It’s the opportunity to actively contribute to improving the world as we currently know it by supporting a safer and more sustainable supply chain for the environment, the workers, and the communities they call home.

After living in Latin America for 8 years and witnessing first hand the very poor working conditions that so many people have to endure as a result of unethical businesses, I knew I couldn’t stand idly by. Things need to change! Workers deserve better! This is why I now actively volunteer with Chicago Fair Trade.

Since 2018, I’ve volunteered my time at events, and now as a Board Member, to support CFT’s mission to educate, activate and celebrate fair trade values. This allows me to ‘put my money where my mouth is’ and make tangible steps to improving broken systems in our current society.

I am personally inviting you to support me in my journey of leaving this world a better place than I found it. I am hopeful that my friends, family and colleagues will understand the importance of this organization to me and help me raise $1500 for CFT (a 501(c)(3) organization) to continue their work.

Even if now is not the right time to donate for you, if you are reading this, it’s because I wanted to share with you about the work I do, why it’s important to me, and allow you the opportunity to also support this noble cause.

Love,
Sarah

P.S.- If you’d like to learn more about what fair trade is exactly, you can read through this website….or just ask me!

Help me raise money!

My personal goal is $1,500.00

Donate to our Flash Fundraiser page and make sure to choose my name for your donation inspiration!

Donate Today!

Thanks to all the donors!

Thank you! I’ve reached my goal, but let’s not stop there! My donors have raised $1,714.04; let’s keep going!

114%
JH

Jose Hernandez

$26.06

October 1, 2023

Anonymous Donor

Anonymous

$26.06

September 26, 2023

AN

Adrianna Navarro

$26.06

September 25, 2023

FG

Faye Griffiths

$20.91

September 22, 2023

ED

Eric Davis

$36.35

September 22, 2023

RS

Ruth Erika Schafer

$75.00

Donating towards Sarah Faur's goal

September 21, 2023

RF

Rebecca Faur

$53.86

You’re amazing Sarah!

September 21, 2023

BF

Brian Faur

$51.80

DTRT

September 21, 2023

AQ

Andrea Quintanar

$51.80

Gracias por todo tu esfuerzo!

September 21, 2023

JF

Jim & Trude Faur

$51.80

Proud of our daughter Sarah M. Faur, doing her best to make this world a better place for all, Love, Dad & Trude.

September 21, 2023

MC

Maxine Cookston

$51.80

September 21, 2023

HG

Holly Gillis

$26.06

September 20, 2023

Anonymous Donor

Anonymous

$1,030.18

September 20, 2023

ND

Nancy Demuth

$31.20

Thank you Sarah for your incredible project management and organisational skillz (plus your new-found label-printing prowess)!

September 20, 2023

DP

Debbie Petrone

$51.80

Hi Sarah! We have a condo now in Chicago & are there more. Hope to meet up sometime.

September 19, 2023

HM

Sarah Faur

$103.30

September 19, 2023

Fundraise with Maranda

The sky is the limit for what Chicago Fair Trade can achieve with your support!

– Maranda Leigh

Fair Trade practices encompass what all businesses should aspire to: dignity & safety for all workers, wages that support a full & healthy life for employees & their families, respect & care for the natural environment, and just overall consciousness about the impact business operations have on a community. If you, like me, believe in a future where all businesses are expected to (at minimum) support and respect their employees, their communities, and their planet; then I hope you will join me in supporting Chicago Fair Trade today. Chicago Fair Trade is working to make this future a reality, focusing on local Chicago businesses, organizations, and communities that share this same vision.

As chair of the board and co-chair of CFT’s ethical fashion community, the Conscious Closet Club, I have had a front row seat to the impact this organization has on our local and global communities. In just this past year, we were able to hire a second full-time employee; we hosted a clothing swap that drew over 500 attendees and kept hundreds of pounds of clothing out of landfills; and we opened the world’s first Fair Trade Museum! With the support of our generous donors, we will be dreaming even bigger in the coming year.

I am kicking off my fundraiser by making a personal contribution of $200.

If you are able to support Chicago Fair Trade with a financial gift, please know that no amount is too small!
If you are unable to donate today, please help spread the word about this fundraiser and Chicago Fair Trade’s mission.

Help me raise money!

My personal goal is $2,000.00

Donate to our Flash Fundraiser page and make sure to choose my name for your donation inspiration!

Donate Today!

Thanks to all the donors!

Thank you! I’ve reached my goal, but let’s not stop there! My donors have raised $2,329.16; let’s keep going!

116%
MM

Molly Mason

$26.06

September 21, 2023

AV

Alyssa Vejendla

$51.80

September 21, 2023

CL

Connor Leigh

$103.30

Proud of everything you've done for Chicago Fair Trade and the people you've impacted. Keep up the good work!

September 21, 2023

RA

Bernadette Aguilar

$15.76

Thank you for all that you do Maranda. I am so lucky to know you. Now you won’t be able to get rid of me.

September 21, 2023

ML

Michael Leigh

$257.78

September 21, 2023

ME

Mary Embry

$51.80

September 21, 2023

MF

Mia Furlong

$51.80

September 21, 2023

AS

Alexander Schommer

$10.61

September 21, 2023

CW

Christine Wokas

$103.30

September 21, 2023

NC

Nicholas Clifford

$51.80

September 21, 2023

MW

Matt Walthius

$51.80

September 21, 2023

LH

Lynn Honeck

$103.30

September 21, 2023

A

Annie and Brandon

$51.80

September 20, 2023

EW

Emily Watts

$15.76

🫶

September 20, 2023

MT

Matt Tannenbaum

$26.06

September 20, 2023

JS

Jen Small

$51.80

September 20, 2023

JG

Jacob Gunden

$26.06

September 20, 2023

JL

Jenny Leigh

$50.00

Loving Maranda and her passion 🥰

September 20, 2023

MS

Matt Stapleton

$25.00

September 20, 2023

CW

Catherine Wokas

$26.06

September 19, 2023

Anonymous Donor

Anonymous

$206.28

September 19, 2023

LS

Laura Carney

$51.80

September 19, 2023

Pa

Paige and Andrew

$51.80

September 19, 2023

JP

Julia Sherry

$26.06

September 19, 2023

CB

Carla Bregitzer

$20.91

September 19, 2023

CD

Caleb Delbrugge

$51.80

September 19, 2023

ES

Emma Sassano

$26.06

September 19, 2023

TH

Tyler Honsingwr

$103.30

September 19, 2023

AS

Ann & Paul Sassano

$51.80

September 19, 2023

HG

Holly G.

$25.00

September 19, 2023

MF

Michael France

$103.30

Match for Kaitlyn & Tom

September 19, 2023

KH

Kaitlyn Hornik

$103.30

Kaitlyn & Tom!

September 19, 2023

AR

Anjali Raj Hansoty

$25.00

September 19, 2023

JM

Jessica Martin

$26.06

September 19, 2023

CW

Caprice Wokas-Schaper

$15.76

CONGRATS! Make it to the top!

September 19, 2023

KB

Kaylee Trautmann

$51.80

September 19, 2023

ED

Emily Dylla

$31.20

❤️🌎

September 19, 2023

ML

Maranda Leigh

$206.28

September 18, 2023

Fundraise with Bethany

“Eight hours for work, eight hours for rest, eight hours for what we will.”

Slogan of the Eight Hour Movement

This week is a special time for me to be raising money for Chicago Fair Trade, given that I recently lost my job. I’ve spent even more time than usual (maybe I’m weird, I think about it a lot!) thinking about the role and value of work in my life. This year, I happen to be not just a Board member, but also a part-time employee of Chicago Fair Trade, because they’ve generously taken me on to staff the Holiday Popup Shop!

So of course, as I assess how I want to work in the future, I’m also thinking about what work looks like for the people around me. I’m thinking about the services I want to provide to the world, and recognizing how essential so many people’s work is to my daily survival, comfort, and happiness.

Fair trade brings that to light. It lets us actually know what work goes into that cup of coffee, the cute pair of shoes, the new mattress (yes, you can get all these things fair trade!). It lets us know that these people around the world also get to think about how they can apply their skills to serve the world. They don’t have to just take whatever job is available. They get a say in what they do to earn a living—just like I am so acutely aware I want to. They also get time and freedom outside of work for rest and “what they will.” Time to be who they want to be and enjoy what they love.

This year, even while living on a shoestring budget, I’ve donated $100 to Chicago Fair Trade, because I want this movement, this reality of meaningful, life-giving work, to keep growing worldwide.

Please join me today with the most generous gift you can make.
Thank you so much.

Help me raise money!

My personal goal is $1,500.00

Donate to our Flash Fundraiser page and make sure to choose my name for your donation inspiration!

Donate Today!

Thanks to all the donors!

So far, my donors have raised $1,403.59 out of my goal of $1,500.00.

93%
BN

Brian Nickerson

$26.06

September 21, 2023

RA

Rachelle Ankney

$515.24

September 21, 2023

JH

James Heid

$26.06

September 21, 2023

DC

David Kris Collins

$206.28

September 21, 2023

HM

Haleigh Martin

$26.06

love this work!

September 20, 2023

MC

Michael Collins

$103.30

September 20, 2023

JO

Jolene O'Tool

$154.79

September 20, 2023

JZ

Jori Zepeda

$20.91

September 19, 2023

DM

Dia Morgan

$51.80

September 19, 2023

AD

Andrea Dennis

$15.00

September 19, 2023

NW

Nancy Weber

$154.79

September 19, 2023

BC

Bethany Collins

$103.30

September 18, 2023

FLASH FUNDRAISER

BEST FLASH FUNDRAISER EVER!

Thanks to you, our Flash Fundraising drive this year has raised an amazing  $29,525 from 267 donors!

As a small non-profit, this is huge for us. Chicago Fair Trade relies on your generosity to keep doing what we’re doing – and in just three days, your efforts have given us the security we need to plan ahead for the next year.  Plans include expanding our work educating youth,  advocating for garment workers, mentoring other fair trade grassroots organizations, and f course we’ll continue to host creative events throughout the year. 

A HUGE thank you to everyone who donated, and a special shout-out to our core team of fundraisers who worked so hard to make this happen! 

YAY! Thanks to you, we are on a roll!

Did you miss the deadline? Fear not! You can still donate!

Donate here!

How your donation helps

Funding from this year’s Flash Fundraiser will help us carry out our mission of Cultivating a community dedicated to an economy that values the labor & dignity of all people. Here are just some of the things your donation has made possible.

Educate

Your support allows us to bring Fair Trade champions like Nasreen Sheikh to Chicago to meet with and inspire students – the future leaders of the fair trade movement.

It also allows us to provide students with internships, mentor Fair Trade Clubs (including the newest one at St. Ignatius High School!), and engage students from every corner of Chicago in our After School Matters program, “Build Your Brand: Ethical Entrepreneurship.”

Activate

Right now, Chicago Fair Trade has a historic opportunity. CFT is the Illinois Coordinator for the FABRIC Act, strong legislation that will mean concrete improvements for nearly 100,000 garment workers in the US. Chicago Fair Trade’s organizing efforts are paying off.

Just this week, Senator Tammy Duckworth became a Co-Sponsor of this groundbreaking legislation! These campaigns take staff time and that takes dollars, but the time and effort generate meaningful systemic change!

Celebrate!

Your donations support our annual World Fair Trade Day celebration, the largest of its kind in the US!

This past year, we hosted Open House Chicago Fair Trade. Each year, this event brings the message of fair trade to thousands of new people, and helps grow our movement.

We know there are many good causes out there, and we thank you for considering donating to Chicago Fair Trade. As a small but effective non-profit organization, every donation truly makes a difference.

Thanks to all the donors!

Thank you! Together we’ve reached our goal, but let’s not stop there! All 272 of us have raised $30,075; let’s keep going!

120.3%

Prefer to send a check? Please let us know so we can add the amount to our running total. Make your check out to “Chicago Fair Trade” and mail to “3319 N Cicero Avenue #410386 Chicago, IL 60641”.

Meet our fundraisers

Special thanks to our donors!

CM

Carole Murphy

December 13, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $200.00
CN

Chipo Nyambuya

October 30, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $250.00
NV

Nila Vora

October 26, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $100.00
TH

Tracy Hart

October 8, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $250.00
JH

Jose Hernandez

October 1, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $25.00
AM

Anna Malles

September 29, 2023

Good job!

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $30.00
NC

Nick Clemente

September 28, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $15.00
SM

Scale Marketing

September 27, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $100.00
SG

Stacy Gregory

September 27, 2023

This is an awesome organization! Thank you for the work that you do! 🙂

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $25.00
CK

Christie Klimas

September 26, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $300.00
Anonymous User

Anonymous

September 26, 2023

Thank you Sarah for all that you are doing.

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $25.00
KK

Katie Kirkpatrick

September 25, 2023

Flash Fundraiser – 2023
Donated $20.00
Donate

DAY THREE: UPDATE AND NOTE FROM CHIPO NYAMBUYA

I am so committed to Chicago Fair Trade’s work that I am participating in this fundraising drive from Liberia, where I relocated earlier this year.  I am also extending the Fair Trade mission and message to Liberia.   

While Chicago Fair Trade’s work focuses on serious topics like labor rights and combating climate change, I love that Chicago Fair Trade always makes time to celebrate the good. Chicago Fair Trade is a joyous community. We embody the philosophy: if I can’t dance, I can’t fully be part of the revolution.

Since February, we have hosted a variety of creative and joyful events including: 

  • *A Fair Trade Nowruz (Persian New Year) celebration
  • *A World Refugee Day celebration and donation drive
  • *A One-Stop Plant Swap 
  • *Chocolate making workshop

We love hosting a wide variety of events every year to help build connections in our community, introduce our members to new organizations and ideas, and grow our collective movement.

We would really appreciate your support to continue building community connections. Click HERE to make a donation today, so we can celebrate reaching our goal!

Many thanks,

Chipo Nyambuya

Chicago Fair Trade Board Member