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Have you noticed how much competition there is out there for
fundraising money? It's difficult when you have to tap
into the same resources that every other school and community
group is approaching for their fundraisers.
There are many worthy causes and groups out
there looking for a way to support their programs. Below
are a few fundraising tips to help make your school fundraiser or group fundraiser more
successful.
Before You Begin Your Fundraiser
A majority of the work for a fundraiser is
done before anyone ever hits the pavement to raise funds.
Before you begin your fundraiser, you need to determine your group's
specific fundraising needs.
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What will that money do for your school,
group or community?
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How much money does your group need to raise?
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When will your fundraiser start?
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When do you need your funds to be available?
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How many participants will be involved in
your fundraiser?
These are questions you will need to have
ready answers for before you begin your fundraiser.
Especially the first question. If you and your
participants don't know WHY you are raising money,
motivation will be difficult. By following these
fundraising tips it will also benefit your group to know what
the money will go towards so that you can share that with people
donating money or purchasing fundraising products for your
cause.
Next, you will need to plan your fundraiser.
Preparation is essential to how smoothly your campaign will run.
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Determine how much you need to sell (if
selling a product) to the raise the desired funds.
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Set goals - give your group a target dollar
amount to raise.
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Set deadlines - keep your fundraising
campaign brief to keep your group motivated.
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Understand your participants - know how to
clearly communicate with your specific group.
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Think outside the box - as cliché as that
is, try to think of ways to raise funds outside of your
immediate community.
(Not to toot our own horn, but the
Gold Rush donation letter
program is a great way to do this!)
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Motivate your participants - provide plenty
of positive encouragement during the campaign.
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Lead by example - show your group how
involved you are in the campaign with the amount of time and
effort you put into it yourself.
During Your Fundraiser
A majority of our fundraising clients are
school teams and school groups. It's important to
understand that students and adults alike are intelligent and
creative. In our fast-paced, hectic world, though, people
can lose focus. During your fundraiser, it is critical to
keep in close contact with you participants. Ask them how
they are doing. Offer assistance if they need it. Be
available!
Again, if you lead by example, your group
will follow. Keep your participants motivated through
praise and encouragement. If possible, plan a reward (like
a pizza party or ice cream social) to celebrate a job well done
for all the participants once the campaign is over.
Remember, if you have any questions about our
fundraising tips or would like to conduct a fundraiser for your school
or group, please
contact Varsity Gold.
Good luck! |
