How to find a charity event to paint at?

I'm a professional special effects makeup artist (blood, guts, gore, monsters, etc.) who has recently gotten into all this kid-friendly face painting. I've only done one event, but I'm 100% comfortable working on people of all ages, and totally used to painting faces, even if it's in all bright colors and cute designs I'm not used to. Anyway, I'm hoping to do face painting mostly for charity, but I'm completely clueless how to go about that. How do I find a charity in my area that could use me? What's the best way to contact them? What do I charge?

Your question definately made me smile. Many of us here get offered the opportunity to "paint for free" so often it's tiresome.

Well I'm figuring since FX makeup is my main source of income, I could use face painting as a way to give back. =) Of course I have no desire to paint at some kid's birthday party for free. I just want to be able to help a charity I care about.

Hi, I do mostly volunteer face painting for different charities for kids with cancer, Down syndrome, and other disabilities/illnesses. You should Google charities in whatever city you live in; there are many websites that have large list of them also the children’s hospital websites sometimes have list of organizations they work with. The charity you want to volunteer with will want you to fill out a volunteer application which is usually on their websites. Some forms have a few questions some take a few hours. Somewhere in the questions there is usually a place to explain special talents/areas interested for example face painting. Then almost always want references and will do a background check, the questions are usually basic information and also why you want to volunteer with that organization. And most charities will not pay you but some will have you charge a few dollars and then the proceeds will be added to the money raised at the event. I hope this helps.

where are you from? I ask as most of us get a few charitys a week ask and I am sure - we would be more than happy to send a few your way
(Ironically I have just logged on to this forum after replying to 2)

There is an organization called Birthday Wishes. I know it is in some states on the east coast, but I'm not sure of all locations. You can google it. I do work for them. They throw birthday parties for children in homeless shelters. It;s a great place to volunteer.

JJJJJJ I like that idea!!!! Since I am stay at home with only my 3 year old to paint and glitter up with tattoos, this would be a great resource. thanks I will look them up this week....

Even painting for charity many discussions have been about "face painting being FREE". The public often thinks face painting is always FREE and it makes more of a problem for pros to make a living...often we put up signs "Face Painting Provided by ***, so people will KNOW it is not free.
Why not paint at jobs for $$$ and donate that to your favorite charity and also take it as a tax write off?
It is important that the public realizes face painting is a profession and COSTS us a lot of money, so free can be a problem for most of us.
I paint for charity, don't get me wrong, but charge the public and donate the money to the charity. Unless as stated above it is for the actual children that are ill rather than a fund raiser to the public. IMO

skjfunny --- I AGREE WITH YOU! we sure need a "like" button!

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skjfunny wrote:Even painting for charity many discussions have been about "face painting being FREE". The public often thinks face painting is always FREE and it makes more of a problem for pros to make a living...often we put up signs "Face Painting Provided by ***, so people will KNOW it is not free.
Why not paint at jobs for $$$ and donate that to your favorite charity and also take it as a tax write off?
It is important that the public realizes face painting is a profession and COSTS us a lot of money, so free can be a problem for most of us.
I paint for charity, don't get me wrong, but charge the public and donate the money to the charity. Unless as stated above it is for the actual children that are ill rather than a fund raiser to the public. IMO

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Most Haunted attractions are charitable fund generators - with your skills look there.

Yup, I too am clicking the "like " button on skjfunny's post. She hit the nail on the head

To add my $0.02 to SKJFunny's post which is spot-on:

Also, NPOs (Not for Profit Organizations) are often revenue-generating organizations. NPO doesn't mean they don't make money, if they didn't, they'd be out of business. All NPO means is that they don't have an owner who makes money from the business's profit.

All this is to say is that they operate like businesses and often expect to pay for services rendered at their events. They have budgets, just like any other business. In addition, they can write off what they pay for your services. By giving away your services, it undervalues the face painting profession, and is not always directly contributing to the cause you support. It's not like they're taking that $300 they would have paid you and, are instead, putting it towards their kids/animals/families/emergency relief/whatever.

Be sure to be very careful about how you allocate your "charity" work. Just like SJKFunny said, charging for your work and then donating it to a charity or a specific NPO fund that appeals to you can go further towards the causes you care about than just working for free.