New Mount Vernon business helps fund worthy causes

MOUNT VERNON - John and Amanda Rhomberg's lives changed forever with an eye-opening mission trip John took to Haiti in the summer of 2012.

Two years later, the Rhombergs not only are in the process of adopting two Haitian boys, they have just launched a new, Mount Vernon-based business, One Mission Fundraising, to support others who do good work in the world.

'Throughout the adoption process, we came into contact with lots of really great people doing good work in Haiti,” John explained. 'We started thinking about different ways that we could help.”

With John's background as the owner of a personal care products business, the couple initially thought about selling products like soaps and lotions and donating a portion of the proceeds to charity. They began brainstorming other products that could be sold through a fundraising model, and the idea behind One Mission was born.

One Mission is an online fundraising platform for schools, churches, non-profit organizations and individuals seeking to raise money for causes such as mission trips, adoptions, medical needs, and community benefits.

A fundraiser creates a profile on the One Mission website and shares the profile with friends, family, and other supporters through social media. Supporters visit the profile to purchase One Mission products, and the fundraiser receives 40 percent of every sale.

Supporters also have the option of making a cash donation at checkout.

'There aren't a lot of crowdfunding sites like it,” Amanda said. 'It's crowdfunding and product fundraising rolled into one.”

On Sept. 1, 2013, after writing the business plan for One Mission, John Rhomberg sold his first business.

'My former business was doing very well, but it had reached the point where it was past startup and was in operational mode,” he said. 'I shouldn't say I was bored, but I was less challenged than I needed to be and was looking forward to doing something new.”

The Rhombergs invested the proceeds from the business sale into equipment needed for the production of soy candles, message-based apparel, art prints, and custom canvas prints. All One Mission product categories except soaps are produced in-house.

'We wanted the products to be things people really want and will enjoy,” John said. 'People like the products enough to buy them without a specific fundraiser to support.”

If a shopper does not specify a fundraiser, the money goes into a general fund that is divided proportionately among all active fundraisers at the end of the month.

Because there is no shortage of people needing to raise money for various causes, the couple sees the potential for big growth of their new business.

'It's where we should be and what we should be doing,” John said.

AT A GLANCE

Owners: John and Amanda Rhomberg

Business: One Mission Fundraising

Address: 108 First St. SE, Mount Vernon

Phone: (319) 895-4072

Website: www.onemissionfundraising.com

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