Fundraisers are not only needed to raise much needed funds to support your cause, but it’s also a wonderful way to reach out to your community, let them know your organization excess and why it should matter to them to support you. Humans love to reach out and help in any way they can, so a fundraiser is a perfect way to allow them to help you.
The morst important thing to begin your fundraising efforts is to start organizing. If your organized, your fundraiser will be that much more successful.
Select an objective:
What exactly is the fundraiser for? If you’re a horse rescue organization, this should be easy. More hay for the horses? Horse tack or medicines? To help cover transportation costs of the horses? Shoeing? Buying more land for your sanctuary? It maybe all of the above, but make sure you have a clear idea of what the funds will be used for so you can work on the next step.
Select a financial goal:
How much money do you need to raise to make your objective? Create a poster and write the dollar amount you need to raise. Put the poster up where everyone involved will see it. Having a visual aid will motivate the group and keep you focused.
Set a deadline:
Your fundraiser should run a maximum length of 2-3 weeks. Keeping the fundraiser short will keep your participants interested, motivated and on track. Put your deadline date next to the financial goal on your poster.
Group participation:
It’s amazing what people can do together as a group. Not only can you enlist the creative talents in your group to figure out ways to raise funds, but you’ll need help during the event for organizing breaks, getting lunches and snacks, and run errands for any needed supplies. Ask your volunteers to recruit family and friends.
What to sell:
You’ll first need to figure out who your target customers are. Are they women, mothers, families, dads, teenagers or all of the above? Then decide if your fundraiser will be selling products, a service or raffle tickets. A service could be having a car wash or offering to groom and clip other people’s horses. Items to sell could be – T-shirts, jewelry made by your volunteers, baked goods, horse buckets with your organization logo on it, etc. You could ask a manufacture or retailer if they have items you could buy at wholesale and markup for a profit. If you are thinking of a raffle, some merchants or manufactures will donate items. If you don’t ask you will never know what is possible.
Money Collection:
Now that you have figured out what your will be selling, you’ll need to elect someone to keep an eye on the money box. Elect a treasurer that will handle the responsibility of keeping the money secure and making the deposits to a bank. Deposits should be done in a timely manner. Always keep the money under lock and key.
Collecting taxes?
We are not sales tax authorities. However, most states allow products to be sold for fundraisers without having to collect sales tax. We suggest you check with your local authorities if you have any other questions pertaining to sales tax. Don’t let this item come back to haunt you.
Check your calendar:
Check your community calendar to see if there are any local events going on in your neighborhood that your fundraiser could partake in. This includes festivals, county fairs, parades, farmer’s markets, etc. What a great way to get exposure to a larger audience.
Publicize Your Fundraiser:
Get the word out. Be sure you have a statement prepared to give to the media with all the details of your fundraiser. What is it for? Where will it be? When will it be? What will you be selling?
Below is a list of ways to advertise your fundraiser:• Contact your local papers, radio stations and TV news stations.
• Spread the word to family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors.
• Decorate your town and special events with posters and flyers
• Mention it in your school or club newsletters
• Post it to your web site, Facebook or other social media sites
Most importantly, have fun! If you’re having fun and so are your volunteers, then it’s a winning formula to do over and over again.
About the Author
Kathy Klossner is an avid watersports enthusiast, writer, photographer, webmaster and SEO specialist. She worked as Patagonia Clothing Company’s Watersports Marketer was instrumental in the successful campaign to stop one of the last virgin coastlines in California to be turned into the next Pebble Beach. Between checking out the surf breaks with her dog, Boss, she is traveling around Nevada’s remote deserts looking for the last remaining wild Mustangs to photograph. You can view Kathy’s photos at www.Waterdancerphotos.com and www.Surfergirls.com .