Step 1: Choosing A Fundraiser
Get your next campaign off to a great start by taking 5 minutes to ask yourself some simple questions that will help you pick a fundraiser that is the best fit for your organization and for your cause.
WAIT… BEFORE YOU EVEN START: Create a committee/fundraising team.
I know, I know… committees… don’t even get me started. But this is different. There’s more to a fundraiser than grabbing some buckets and hoses, making bristol board signs and running a car wash in a church parking lot.
If you really want to be successful and run a fund raising event that makes a significant contribution to your cause… you’re going to need help, creativity, and input. Find 3 or 4 others who are invested in your cause and ask them in-person (not by email) to join your team.
If you choose to take this advice and you do create a small committee, sit down together and discuss the following questions in your first meeting…
1. Why are you fundraising?
A simple question, but one worth asking. Make sure you are very clear on why you are trying to raise funds instead of taking the money out of a budget. Be able to clearly explain to parents, boards, donors and participants why fundraising is critical to achieving your goal.
It’s easier to gain support for your cause when your aiming for something tangible (new carpeting, a class trip, etc) than it is when your goal is too general (e.g: to raise money for the youth program).
2. What is your financial goal?
Many people run a fundraiser without a clear target in mind and merely hope for the best. Take the time to determine the ultimate cost for your item, trip or whatever it is you’re raising money for. This will help you choose the fundraiser that’s right for you. Do you need to send 12 students on a trip to Ecuador? Well, a running a carwash probably isn’t the best fit for that particular need.
3. Who is participating in the fundraising?
Take a look at how many people you will have helping to raise money and consider their ages as well. A charity BBQ can help bring in money, but if you have a class of 20 students, a BBQ might not be the best way to take advantage of your fundraising participants. You might consider a sales campaign, for example, and send out a little army of sellers.
4. What is your market?
It may be parents, family members, your local community, or perhaps the online community. Ideally, you want to target those who will share your passion for your cause. Do you need to buy new sports equipment for your church gym? That’s a cause that will resonate with your church community (kids, parents, extended family). However, it might be a tougher sell for your neighbourhood as a whole. Make sure that your fundraiser offers significant value to those who might not share your passion for your cause.
5. Get Feedback
Whether you’re running the campaign on your own or as a team/committee, be sure to take your ideas to your volunteers and participants. You’ll achieve better success if you know you’ve got the support of your fundraising team – after all, they’re the one’s raising the money. Keep parents in the loop and encourage their input and suggestions. Make this campaign something that everyone can be excited about!
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