What it is and why it works
A charity flash day is a flash day with a purpose. Your artists draw a sheet of small original designs. You pick a local cause. For one day, part or all of what you take in from that sheet goes to that cause.
People like to get tattooed for a reason. A cause gives them one. The charity tells its own supporters, many of whom have never been to your shop. Your artists get to give back doing the thing they do best. And your town sees the shop as a neighbor, not just a storefront.
The key is to be exact and honest. Say plainly how much goes to the charity, get the charity's OK before you use its name, and show the total afterward.
Picking the cause
Choose something close to home that your artists care about. Some shops pick a theme that fits the flash:
| Cause | Flash theme idea |
|---|---|
| Local animal shelter or rescue | Paw prints, cats, dogs, simple animal line work (see R1) |
| Food bank or community kitchen | Fruit, veggies, small kitchen designs |
| Suicide prevention or mental health group | Semicolons, flowers, small hopeful words (let the group guide the wording) |
| Cancer support group | Ribbons in the group's color, flowers, small symbols they approve |
| A local family after a fire or loss | Talk to the family and a trusted group first; route money through a registered charity if you can |
A registered charity that already takes donations is easier and safer than raising money for one person. They know how to receive it and can give you a receipt.
Who to contact
| Partner | Who to ask for | What they bring |
|---|---|---|
| The charity | Executive director, events or community lead | Written OK to use their name and logo, help spreading the word, a table on the day |
| A tax professional | Your accountant or bookkeeper | How to record the money you give, and what you can and can't claim |
| Your artists | Everyone working that day | Flash designs, and agreement on how their share of the day is handled |
| Your supply vendor | Your sales rep | Extra supplies; some vendors like to help with a cause day |
| Local news and community pages | Community or events desk | A mention, if they choose to run it |
What to prepare
- A short written agreement with the charity: date, what you'll give, how you'll send it, and how they OK the use of their name and logo
- Your exact giving rule in one sentence (for example: "$[__] from every flash piece" or "all of the flash price after supplies")
- An original flash sheet drawn by your artists, with one set price
- ID station, consent and release forms, written aftercare for every client
- A photo consent box on the release form
- A simple tally sheet so you can report the total honestly
- A thank-you post and a way to share the final amount
Step by step
- Pick the cause two to three months ahead. Call the charity and ask if they'd like to be part of it.
- Get their OK in writing, including exactly how you may use their name and logo. Some charities have rules about this. Follow them.
- Talk to your tax professional about how to record the gift.
- Decide your giving rule and write it in one plain sentence. Be exact. "A portion" is vague; "$[__] per piece" is clear.
- Draw the flash sheet with your artists, in the theme if you picked one.
- Announce it two to three weeks ahead with the charity's approval of the wording. Ask them to share it too.
- Run the day like any flash day: ID and form at the door, numbers, one set price, sober clients only. See G1.
- Count it up the same day with a second person looking.
- Give the money within the time you promised. Get a receipt from the charity.
- Share the total and thank everyone. Post approved photos only.
Scripts
To the charity director
Hi, I'm [name], owner of [shop name] in [town]. We'd like to hold a charity flash day for [charity] on [date]. Our artists would draw a sheet of small tattoos at one set price, and [$[__] from every piece / all of the flash price after supplies] would go to you.
Before we announce anything, we want your OK on how we use your name and logo. Could we talk this week?
Announcement post
CHARITY FLASH DAY for [charity name]
[Date], [hours], walk-ins only.
Every piece on this sheet: [price].
[$[__] from every piece / all of the flash price after supplies] goes to [charity name].
Bring a government photo ID. You must be [age]+. Come sober.
Sheet drawn by [artist names]. Thank you to [charity name] for letting us help.
Sign at the counter
TODAY'S FLASH HELPS [CHARITY NAME]
From every piece on this sheet, [$[__] / all of the price after supplies] goes to [charity name].
We'll post the total on [date].
Tips go to your artist.
Thank-you post afterward
Thank you to everyone who came in for our charity flash day. Together we raised $[total] for [charity name], and we sent it on [date].
Thanks to [artist names] for the art and the long hours, and to [charity name] for the work they do every day. Want to help more? Here's how: [charity's own donation link].
What it can lead to (and what to charge)
The charity comes first. After the day, some people come back as regular clients: people who found you through the charity, and people who liked the flash and want something bigger.
| Follow-on work | Example price (example only) |
|---|---|
| Flash piece on the day | Example: one set price, like $[__], with the giving rule on the sign |
| Custom piece booked later | Example: your normal rate and deposit |
| Matching pieces for a group who came together | Example: your normal small-piece price |
| Next year's charity day | Example: same format; ask the charity if they'd like to come back |
These numbers are only examples. Keep your normal prices on normal days.
Timing
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 months before | Pick the cause; get the charity's written OK; talk to a tax professional |
| 4 to 6 weeks before | Draw the sheet; write the giving rule; order supplies |
| 2 to 3 weeks before | Announce; charity shares it too |
| The day | Run it; count it with two people |
| Within 2 weeks after | Send the money; get a receipt; post the total |
Many causes have a month or a day of their own. Line your event up with it if the charity likes the idea. See C8.
Checklist
- Charity's written OK to use its name and logo
- Giving rule written in one exact sentence
- Talked to a tax professional
- Original flash sheet and set price
- ID station, release forms, aftercare sheets
- Photo consent box on the release form
- Tally sheet; two people count at the end
- Money sent and receipt saved
- Total posted and charity thanked
Mistakes to avoid
- Using the charity's name or logo without asking. Get their written OK first, and show them your posts before they go out.
- Vague giving. "Proceeds go to charity" can mean anything. Say exactly how much, and then give exactly that.
- Telling clients it's tax-deductible. Buying a tattoo is not the same as making a donation. Don't make tax claims; ask your tax professional.
- Adding a raffle. Raffles and "chances to win" can count as gambling. Check your state's rules before you run one, even for charity.
- Relaxing the rules because it's for a good cause. ID for every client, no one drunk or high, a signed release, and written aftercare, same as any day.
- Posting without consent. Only share photos of pieces whose owners said yes in writing.
- Forgetting to report back. Post the total and when you sent it. That is what makes people trust the next one.
Keeping the goodwill going
- Make it yearly. Same cause or a new one each year; both work.
- Tell your list about the result, with a link to the charity. See C10.
- Keep the charity close. They may send people your way when someone asks where to get a meaningful tattoo.
Want Annie's to do this for you? We can write your giving rule and posts, send the wording to the charity for their OK, build the event page, and post the final total and thank-you when it's done.