Holding a fundraising event is a fun way to raise money for a good cause. Whether you plan to organise a celebrity golf game or a dinner-dance, by following the steps outlined below, your event is bound to go off without a glitch.
1. Choose a theme
The options are endless when it comes to planning a fundraising event. For instance, you could choose to hold a silent auction, an evening with… (a celebrity or sports star). Or if you’re feeling particularly energetic, how about a 10k run or mass yoga session? Whatever you decide on, make sure it’s something that people will enjoy!
2. Pick a date
Organising an event takes time and if you’re trying to do it quickly, it’s likely something will be forgotten. So, it’s advisable to give yourself at least three to six months to get everything organised. To maximise attendance, it’s best to avoid busy periods like the summer holidays or Christmas.
3. Find a venue
The theme of your event will dictate the type of venue you’ll need. Some things to consider are: how many people can it hold, how easy is it to get to, is there on-site parking and does the venue have accommodation if people want to stay overnight?
4. Book in suppliers
Some venues are able to offer catering and serving staff as part of the package. If they can’t you’ll have to bring external suppliers. You may have to think about entertainment, such as a band, DJ or comic. Plus, if you’re planning to give away prizes, these will have to be sourced in advance as well.
5. Advertise the event
Persuading people to attend the event is one of the most important aspects of organising a fundraiser. All communication should clearly explain what the event is, where it is being held and what the money being raised will be spent on. You should advertise the event using a mixture of channels, such as online, leaflets and through advertisements in local papers. Also, don’t forget to invite your existing donors! It’ll mean a lot to them to receive a personalised invite from you.
6. Maximise your fundraising efforts
Holding an event does cost money, so by trying to minimise your costs, you’ll be able to pass more money onto your cause. You can save money by: securing a sponsor for the event, getting individuals or organisations to donate prizes, asking the venue for a reduction in the hire cost, or asking them to donate a percentage of the bar-takings to the charity.
7. Send ‘thank you’s’
After the event, it’s a nice touch to send a thank you note to everyone who volunteered their team on the day, who supplied prizes and to the people to who paid to attend the event. This can be done quite inexpensively by sending an email which includes a round-up of the event and some photos.
If you’ve never organised a fundraising event before, or if you’re looking to upscale your fundraising efforts, then engaging with a fundraising consultancy firm, such as International Fundraising Consultancy can help reduce the time and effort that is needed to organise a fundraiser. Their highly experienced team can advise you on the sort of events that will yield the best results, and they can even help with the planning and organisation of the event.
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