Looking for fundraising ideas? Here’s a checklist with some helpful information:
Corporate Partnership
- Look for corporate partners that address social problems and needs that align with your own commercial priorities (eg. environmental sustainability, healthy living, social inclusion, employment). Ask for their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy
- May operate in the same geographical location/community
- Must align with your social values and philosophy
- Offer branding alongside your organisation, i.e. Organisation Name proudly supported by Corporate Partner
- Corporate engages Organisation to deliver programs or activities (eg. education)
Benefits:
- Enhanced public perception of brand
- Promotes brand/extends reach to new and existing customers
- Incentive for consumers to switch to corporate brand
- Positive media coverage
- Increased customer loyalty
- Increased staff morale, teamwork and retention
Corporate Sponsorship
- May begin as a once-off or annual amount to support a social purpose
- May evolve into a corporate partnership
- Corporate becomes a Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze sponsor: receives various levels of promotion from within the organisation, eg. website, functions, newsletters, social media
Corporate Donations
- Matching donations
- One-off donations (eg. for function/program)
- Pro bono and in-kind support (donation of goods and services)
Community Grants
- Government (local, State and Federal)
- Corporate programs and initiatives
- Community benefit funding programs
- Trusts
- Philanthropy
Personal donations
- Workplace giving (reduces taxable income)
- Donation instead of birthday/wedding gifts
- Donation in memory
- Gift in will
- Monthly online donation
- Collection box
Social Functions/Events (Peer-to-Peer or P2P)
- Bingo night
- Trivia night
- Bowling tournament
- Gala ball
- Charity dinner
- Vegas night/games night
- Wine tasting/sale
- Cocktail party
- Talent/fashion show
- Battle of the bands concert
- Comedy night
- Film night
- Cook-off
- Sports carnival
- Fair day
- Fancy dress/free dress day
Activities
- Raffle
- Silent auction
- Scratch cards
- Auction your husband/wife/boss
- Swear jar
- Book sale
- Plant sale
- Car boot sale
- Sausage sizzle
- Cadbury Fundraiser Drive
- Car wash
- Fasting
Crowdfunding
- Running event
- Cycling event
- Triathlon
- Walkathon
- Golf tournament
- Swim marathon
- School sponsorship themed free dress day
Fundraising Tools
- Target poster (colour in as funds raised reach goal)
- Website fundraising thermometer
- Email signature with link button
- Newsletter article with link
- Letter template
- Email template
- Social media ads
- Order form
- Thank you letter
- Thank you certificate
Themed Campaign
Choose a theme and include events, merchandise, fun activities – the goal is to get many people involved and excited about joining in, with all proceeds going towards your fundraising.
e.g. Go Dotty campaign for Braille House:
- Wear dots (+ donation/penalty for those that don’t)
- Dotty party: bunting, balloons, table-cloths
- Dotty cupcake sale
- High tea party: dress in dots/dotty food theme
- Fun run from dot to dot
- Games day: dominoes, draughts, Connect 4, Twister
- Dotty merchandise: t-shirts, hats, aprons
- Paint-a-mug with dots
- Braille trail
- Manicures – nails painted with dots
- Jewellery making
- Braille alphabet sheets, activities, quizzes
Online/Social Media Links
- gofundme: charity fundraising
- mycause: fundraising and crowd funding
- Facebook: for nonprofits
The Strategy
- Set your fundraising goals
– how much do you need?
– what do you need it for? how does this align with your mission statement?
– what will motivate them to donate? tell your story - Identify your team. Who will:
– produce your material (copy/digital/merchandise)
– promote your fundraiser
– manage the funds received
– measure its performance - Who will you target?
– specific communities (ie sports/special interests)
– corporates
– local communities/neighbours
– friends and family
– workplace/volunteers/board members
– contacts of beneficiaries - Create a fundraising campaign plan
– how will you reach your prospects?
– what material do you need to promote your campaign?
– how will you receive your funds?
– can you establish recurring donations? - Say thank you
– send a thank you note
– if online, create a thank you message
– say thank you in person
– provide a receipt for tax purposes
– let people know the outcome/benefits of your campaign.
I hope you find this useful! If you need help with your strategy or fundraising material, drop me a line or call: 0409 344 409.