Fundraising has been around for a long time, and now there are more fundraising options than ever before. There are a few things you can do to ensure your fundraiser is successful.
Plan.
Similar to the wisdom “measure twice, golf fundraising ideas cut once” – in fundraising, having a clear plan and doing your research before starting your fundraiser will be critical to the success of your efforts. Start early so that you have ample time to research your options and select the best fundraiser for you. Some examples of great fundraisers are: candy, cookie dough, Auntie Anne’s pretzels, candles, Spinners, scratch cards and the list goes on and on. When you have all of the information, narrow it down to a few fundraisers you think your group will be excited to participate in. When decided, come up with a written concrete plan on how to execute your fundraiser.
Timeline
It is important to have a timeline when it comes to planning your fundraiser. There should be a definite start and end date with periodic check-in periods to assess how your team or group members are doing and if they are meeting goals during the fundraiser. If you don’t have an end date, there is no compelling reason for your members to hustle and get out there and make money!
Motivate
Probably most important to your fundraiser’s success is your ability to motivate your team or group. If you don’t feel that you can motivate your group, delegate that responsibility to someone who can! Following up on progress, encouraging, creating realistic but lofty goals for your members and telling them WHY they are important to your fundraising efforts and what the funds will be used for are all effective ways of motivating the team. Prizes for top fundraisers are also good motivators in some situations. If the group is resistant to the fundraiser, then it is likely the wrong fundraiser was chosen for this group. If, from the beginning you PLAN, and do your research and share the options with your group, you will know early on if the team, or group is on board with the idea and if they will work for your group’s success.
Your fundraising efforts can either be a source of frustration or a unity-building way to make much needed money for your group – choose to make it a success
