Organizing a fundraiser can be a difficult task… But it certainly doesn’t have to be. With excellent management and planning, you can put it together without any major glitches or challenges.
Below are eight tips to make your fundraising journey easier, more efficient, and more effective!
What do you want to achieve with your fundraiser? Who do you want to reach? What are your end goals?
Answering these questions will help you define your strategy and mold your decisions in planning your fundraiser.
Of course, your primary goal will likely be to get as many donations as possible, to raise funds. However, there are smaller goals that you can set in conjunction with this one.
These include:
Decide on relevant key performance indicators for the goals so you can monitor your progress in reaching them.
Another consideration for your modeling is where you will host your fundraiser.
Virtual fundraisers have grown popular in the charity and non-profit space as they require a bit less work than in-person efforts. Planners don’t have to consider logistics like venues, catering, etc. Instead, they can host fundraisers online, like a virtual auction, using a dedicated website and using auction software.
In-person events also have their benefits. They allow you to connect personally with donors and other actors, and cultivate relationships within your community. You also have a variety of in-person event models to choose from which can bring excitement and attention to your cause. These include walk-a-thons, concerts, auctions, and more.
If you’re torn between the two (virtual and in-person fundraisers), you can opt for a combination of both through hybrid events. For example, you can have an auction where participants can pre-bid online and continue bidding at an in-person auction.
Having a budget outlined early in your planning process will ensure that you don’t overspend so that you can make a “profit” from the event.
Things to include in your budget will depend on whether it is online or in-person. But some standard things to account for in your budget are:
You should also have additional emergency amounts for unexpected costs.
When and how long your fundraiser will take place are very vital factors in your planning. If your fundraiser will be a one-time event, then you need to choose a set date that you can work towards. A fantastic option would be to choose a date with relevance to your organization’s cause.
For example, you could have your event when there is a larger awareness day, week, or month around your issue. This will make the fundraiser timeous and increase its visibility as you leverage the attention spotlighted on your cause in that time.
Other fundraising forms, like crowdfunding or a virtual auction, can go on for extended periods. However, you don’t want to draw out the fundraiser as well, since people may simply forget about it or procrastinate donating as they feel they have more time.
Place a reasonable time frame that urges people to donate without putting too much pressure on them.
Having a date and time frame in mind will help you and your fundraiser planning team stay abreast of tasks. Everyone can keep the goal time in mind and work appropriately toward it.
Fundraising is built around the need for others to contribute to your work. You need people for a fundraiser to work. Mobilize the people involved in your organization to assist in raising funds. This includes approaching existing donors, encouraging employees and volunteers to share the call for funds with their circles, and more.
You can also approach relevant public figures with known interest or investment in the issue. Ask them to shine a light on your cause and encourage their followers to donate.
With all your basics in place and to get more people involved, you can start marketing your fundraiser. You’re ready to tell them when and what your fundraiser will be which is the most important information to get out. The earlier you begin marketing, the longer potential guests have to make plans to attend. You also get more time to get people aware of the occasion.
There are many ways to promote your fundraiser like:
In addition to these marketing channels, a dedicated fundraiser website or landing page will come in handy. You can collect all information relevant to the website in one place. Share links to the site across the mediums above to direct guests there. It will become a home for the fundraiser, easily accessible to donors.
Convenient payment is key to planning a fundraiser that works. It shouldn't be a hassle for people to donate otherwise they may get frustrated and give up altogether. Whether in-person or online, you should have accessible payment portals or options available for donations.
Bidders or donors should be able to contribute using credit or debit cards and cash, at least. You can also try and include other portals like PayPal.
Fundraising software will help ease some of the work of planning your fundraiser. It can help you set up your dedicated event website with a custom URL and other website features. It can also support you in managing payments with built-in payment processing features.
Other features that can benefit your planning in software include:
Knowing how to plan a fundraiser is a key skill for any charity organization. With a dedicated team and these eight tips, you can master this skill with ease.
If you’re looking for some fundraiser inspiration, check out our article on the best fundraising event ideas to get you started.