Since we first started our business, we’ve been lucky enough to be involved with some incredible charitable causes. From golf days to comedy events, live performances to days outside, we’ve found that special events aren’t just the most successful way of fundraising, they can genuinely be the most fun and engaging, too. There are so many ways to raise money for a great cause, but while social media challenges and text campaigns might seem like a step into the modern world, nothing beats the benefits of meeting with your potential donors face to face.
But while fundraising events are a great way to make money for your charitable cause, that doesn’t mean that they’re without stress. We’re not talking a church bake sale here: A full-scale, comprehensive and successful fundraiser can have as many turning cogs and moving parts as any other event. So, to help you on your way to total fundraiser joy, here are the must-knows when planning a fundraiser.
The must-knows for planning a fundraiser
What’s the fundraiser’s purpose?
Of course, raising funds will be the number one goal of your event (the clue’s in the name), but many fundraisers have more than one purpose. Perhaps your organisation is looking to raise money while also gaining publicity or building their network – ultimately, just like any other event, it’s important to keep your event goals and objectives front of mind when you start planning, and everything else should lead on from that.
What’s your budget?
It’s a universally accepted truth: You need to spend money to make money. And even if that money is being made for a charitable cause, you’ll need to put something in, in order to get something out. If you have strong relationships with your event suppliers they may be willing to cut their costs a little when it’s for a charitable cause, but you certainly shouldn’t count this chicken before it’s hatched, and every event will end up having some kind of cost. Just make sure that you have a super thorough budget, you build in room for unforeseen costs, and you keep a close eye on how the budget changes and grows. Need a little more help on this topic? Click here for tips on The Basics and Making Informed Budget Estimates.
Who’s your audience?
Putting together an unforgettable fundraiser is great, but what if there’s no one there to witness it? Or, more importantly, to support your important cause? Marketing is key to getting the correct audience there, so establish from the very beginning who you’re trying to reach, and how you plan to reach them. Social Media can be a great way to promote your event, but will this attract the right kind of audience? Would emails, personalised phone calls, or printed invitations work better? Be sure to take all your options into consideration and work especially hard to try and tap into the individuals that feel passionately about the same causes that you do.
Unfortunately, memorable events don’t just happen – but you do have the tools to take something regular and make it truly incredible, and all in the name of a great cause. Just be sure to pay attention to the details, as you would with any other event, and always, always remember to say Thank You afterwards.