Archive for the Fundraising Tips Category
Feb
15
2012
Cheerleading Fundraising Ideas for Your Charity
Cheerleading fundraising is a great way to raise money for almost any type of charity. One advantage with cheerleading fundraisers is that these can be carried out independently or alongside a sports fundraising event. Keep this important point in mind. Trained cheerleaders are not exactly easy to come by; though a college sports team may well have a cheerleading team.
A small group in need of funds can do great with a cheerleader fundraiser properly organized. This is because cheerleaders are capable of transferring their cheerfulness and enthusiasm to the environment; they lift up spirits, and get everyone in a participatory mood. A proper combination of a cheerleading event and a product or service to sell can get you good funds. If you are holding a sports fundraiser, you can add a cheerleading fundraiser. This will ensure donor participation to a greater extent, those not keen on watching sports will in all likelihood want to watch the fundraiser. You can sell posters of the college sports team or even the cheerleaders striking poses for a calendar or a poster. Cheerleaders striking poses for a colorful calendar shoot will find buyers for the final product. The same holds true for greeting...
The success of your fundraising project depends upon how well-thought out your fundraising plan is and how well you execute it. You need to prepare as exhaustive a laundry-list of to-do’s as you can. Here are some of the questions you need to have answers for –
- Why am I organizing this fundraiser – The answer to this basically lays the foundation for your fundraising project.
- How much money am I looking to raise – Your subsequent actions and cost calculations will flow from this.
- What was my past experience like – If you have attempted and succeeded in a similar project earlier, you will know what to do right and what to avoid, you can do it better this time.
- Is there a better way to do it – Information is key and you need to know all you can.
- What are the sources of funds that I can tap for this particular project – This will help you concentrate your efforts on corporates, individuals, businesses etc as the case may be.
- What activities will work best – You need to spend time and energy on fundraising, where are the best returns? Choose from products, events, auctions, indirect sales, and different types of volunteer work.
- How...
If there’s a fundraiser that is guaranteed to work at all times, it is a chocolate fundraising effort. Everyone loves chocolate and there’s a filling, shape, and taste to tickle every palate. The returns on investment with chocolate fundraising are very good and you can actually add to the bottomline by preparing chocolates at home or getting volunteers to make them. Artisan chocolates have their own charm and can sell for a good amount.
A search online will throw up results on fundraising companies that specialize in chocolate fundraisers. A lot of them stock chocolate candies from world-famous brands such as Hershey and Cadbury. There are any number of fillings to choose from such as pecan, different syrups, walnut, almond, etc. If your chocolate contains peanuts then mention it clearly because peanut allergy is not entirely uncommon.
You can sell chocolates at events or through door-to-door selling. For the latter, you can carry a brochure with you. Do not forget to arm yourself with a powerful fundraising pitch. The prospect should feel that he is getting a good deal and helping with a cause. You can offer volume discounts as well. This form of indirect selling has the advantage that you can...
The beauty of fundraising is that there are so many ways to do it. Pick your favorite fundraising methods and refine them to fit your requirements; your target demographics;and your budget. Big businesses participate in fundraising because there is money in it for them. America is a nation of donors, both individual and institutional. You cannot go wrong with fundraising with the right approach, attitude, and execution.
- Make use of referral techniques. Get into deals with businesses for a percentage on every sale you send their way. You can also do this online. Your online affiliate marketing program that you can run from your website will generate funds for you depending upon the kind of traffic you can generate.
- The web can help you get funds through direct and indirect means. A "donate" button on your site is a very direct way of getting people to help you.
- A garage sale is one of the few fundraising activities that do not need a lot of investment. Just get people to empty their houses of stuff that they may not need but can be of use to others. If there is a weekly flea market held in your area, then that's a great venue...
Sep
20
2011
3 Successful Fundraising Ideas for You
Check out these three highly successful fundraising ideas. They have worked across a gamut of fundraising causes and your cause is surely no exception. You will do well to plan in advance and execute them properly.
Candy bar fundraising works because everybody loves candies. It's an easy way to make money and is a perennial favorite with schools and youth sports teams looking to generate funds. Each candy can sell for a dollar or more. And America is home to the best candies in the world, if there's a flavor out there it will be found in the US of A. There is a lot of competition between fundraising suppliers and this is to your advantage. You can get huge discounts on your supplies. Do check on transportation and storage costs. You can sell candies directly or indirectly. Direct selling involves you setting up a stand and in indirect selling, you take orders and make deliveries. There is money to be made in both. With indirect selling, you need to show product samples and also tell prospects that this is for a cause. Tell them that by purchasing the candies, they will be helping out.
Selling cookie dough is another...
Aug
3
2011
Fundraising – Online and Face-to-Face
Fundraising is probably next only to ice-cream in the number of flavors and combinations that can be achieved and like this sweet dessert, it is ubiquitous and one thinks that it has been around for longer. Today, the two strongest forms of fundraising are face-to-face fundraising and online fundraising. Both are diametrically opposite in structure and yet complement each other wonderfully. Let us consider online fundraising first. Today, the reach of the internet is huge. And an NGO or charity with a website can tap it very successfully. How does a website help with fundraising? First, you can use it to furnish useful information about what you do and your charities' achievements till date. Some prospective donors may wish to take a look at your finances before they commit. Put up financial details for the sake of transparency. Some people may wish to talk to or communicate with a flesh-and-blood human after going through the site; place email and phone details in place.
Placing a "donate" button will make it very easy for patrons to donate via Paypal or credit card. A website is not necessary to maintain email contact but it adds weight if your email carries the name...
Jan
22
2011
Dog Shows for Fundraising – Why Not? Part 1
A dog show for charity is the kind of idea that has the potential to pay exponential benefits in the years to come. This is because the concept can grow into an event that people are sure to look forward to. Every society, every parish has dog owners and dog lovers. All you need is the spirit, will, effort, structured plan, and a team of informed volunteers to see this through. Not easy, but not very difficult either.
Here’s how it goes. You find a venue. Remember, it’s all about cost savings. So find a venue that has the space you need and is available cheap. If you try, you could get it free of cost. Check with the schools and universities in your area and find out if they can spare their ground on a weekend for you.
It’ll be a bonus if you can arrange for parking facilities for the pet owners. Think and plan ahead. If it’s a fun dog show then maybe you can get a couple of senior pet owners to judge but if you intend to make it a real dog show that people are likely to talk about then get some judges from...
Jan
15
2011
Fundraising for Animal Shelters
Perhaps one of the noblest acts of charity is to take care of destitute animals. Why? Because even at the best of times, pets and animals in the urban jungle are completely at our mercy. As human beings, we almost control the fate of the planet. If we are into charity then there can be nothing more decent and heartwarming than working for the betterment of animals.
America can be called a nation of pet lovers. If you work in a sustained manner to raise funds for your animal-related charities, you should have absolutely no problems in raising the requisite amount of funds. Those that devote their energies towards animals whether they work for animal rescues or animal shelters are a passionate lot and often work at a very grassroots level.
Fundraisers for animals are the usual ones except that you give them an animal-related theme. For example, you can ask people in the colony to participate in a walkathon with their pets. Instead of cash, you can keep the entry fee as a bagful of pet food or some pet medicine. You’re bound to do well. Promote the event as an occasion for pet lovers to come together and get...
Continuing from the previous post, accountability and transparency go hand in hand. This means that as a charity you cannot have anything to hide from anyone that seeks information on the finances and activities of the charity. Your expenses have to be out there in the open for scrutiny. There should never be any secret agendas. If there are underhand dealings you run the risk of ruining the accomplishment of the honest objectives of your charity and driving people away. This is the most important consideration in the long-term sustainability of any charity work.
A dogged attitude is important, at times you will have funds to thrive and at times it will be a question of survival. Your fundraising techniques have to evolve from a mindset of determined faith in the goodness of what you are espousing. This means that if at times you do not obtain the desired response, do not give up hope. Do not fall prey to self-doubt. Break down your fundraising process into steps and check the step at which you are faltering. Have data at hand. Find out if prospective donors are turning you down outright or you falter at a later step when soliciting...
