Fundraising is all the rage right now in the United States, whether it’s for personal help on private web sites or more elegant functions that ask people to attend an organized event and donate to a worthy cause. Follow our lead as we teach you how to plan a fundraiser.
Focus on the Fundraiser’s Purpose
What’s the goal of your fundraiser? Use this question to constantly keep your event focused throughout the planning process.
The key to a successful fundraiser is reaching your fundraising goal and paying for all expenses.
Formulate a Fundraising Event Plan
What is your fundraising goal? At the end of the day, fundraisers are planned to raise money. You should be working with a fundraising event host committee and an event staff to decide ahead of time how much money you need to raise.
Fundraising Money Tip: The amount you choose to raise should be what you hope to net after you pay for all expenses involved with your fundraiser.
Target Audience for Your Fundraiser
Who are you inviting to your fundraiser? Follow these tips to formulate a guest list plan:
- General fundraisers seeking to raise money for a community project can invite everyone in the area.
- Fundraisers catered to a specific group or organization should target invitations just for those involved with the particular organization.
Marketing Your Fundraiser
You have to market your fundraising event properly in order make the function successful. Convince those involved early on that money needs to be committed for a well thought out marketing plan. Use the following marketing outlets to get the word out about how to plan a fundraiser:
- Your nonprofit’s fundraising contacts
- Mailed invitations
- Direct mail
- Word of mouth
- Social media outlets, web sites and online community message boards
- Newspaper, magazines and flyers
- Local radio commercials
The Roberts Centre has the tips you need to plan a fundraiser your guests will enjoy.
Strong Ticket Sale Program
Your fundraiser should be generating money from both donations and ticket sales to your event. Decide early on if there is a set ticket price for both general admission and VIP reception tables. The tickets alone should be a source that generates different levels of fundraising contributions. Have a ticket committee in place to have the tickets ordered and printed early on in the fundraising event planning process. Make sure everyone is working to sell an agreed upon number of tickets in the community.
Hold an Auction
Another fundraising revenue source for your event should be an auction. Enlist the help of both residents and business owners in the community to donate tangible items or vacation getaway packages that people can bid on during the event, with all the auction money going toward your fundraising goal.
Have an Entertainment Plan
People love a good cause and are willing to pay for tickets they know are being sold to help a worthy cause. But you can’t skimp on the actual fundraising event. Hire a band, show a movie or come up with another form of entertainment that will entice people to buy tickets to your fundraiser.
Many people buy tickets to fundraising events each year just to attend a good dinner.
Food and Drinks are Key
There are fundraisers all over the country every year that are focused on food and drinks. Many people buy tickets to fundraising events each year just to donate to a worthy cause and enjoy an afternoon or evening of cocktails and a dinner that brings them coming back year after year. Other fundraising events raise ticket money and enlist the help of local restaurants, breweries and wineries to donate food and drinks that patrons can enjoy in a casual booth-type setting as they mingle and enjoy live music.
Find the Perfect Location
Every fundraising event, at the end of the day, centers on where you are going to hold it. You need an event venue with enough space, catering services, entertainment and audio visual accommodations among other amenities.
The perfect venue for your next fundraising event is located in the center of Dayton, Cincinnati and Columbus in Ohio. When you are learning how to plan a fundraiser, remember The Roberts Centre has 80,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, in-house audio visual and entertainment services and a variety of catering options. Request a proposal for your next fundraising event today. Contact us today at (937) 283-3272 to schedule your fundraiser and other needs today!
