Tips for Planning a Fundraiser
Planning an event with your friends, peers and/or teachers will make for a more fun and rewarding experience. Plus, you can be more organized and creative with more people contributing to the project. In your committee, assign different roles for each team member so that all bases are covered. For example, there should be someone in charge of publicity, someone in charge of expenses, someone in charge of sponsorships, etc. Have your committee meet at least once a week to exchange ideas and communicate progress. Communication is integral for successful teamwork.
Seek administrative approval.
Your school will likely require you to seek permission for whatever fundraiser you pursue, especially if you are hoping to use a school facility as your event venue. Be sure to obtain all approval necessary from your school administration or student government before you move forward in planning your event. If you are implementing your fundraiser in your community, seek approval from your town council or local authorities.
Keep organized.
Once your team is formed and roles are delegated, stay organized with timelines and checklists. Having a timeline is useful in prioritizing the many things that need to be done. Checklists serve as a written reminder of all the details that can easily be forgotten in the hectic event-planning process. Staying organized throughout the planning stages of your fundraiser will help in the successful execution of your event or project.
Be professional.
When communicating with your school administration about your project or soliciting businesses for sponsorships, professionalism is key. Be prepared with all the information necessary when seeking approval or sponsorships for your event. The more prepared you are to answer potential questions, the more confident school administrators and businesses will be in you and your event.
Use Action Against Hunger’s Press Kit to help you with your presentation.
Be efficient.
Be efficient with both your time and money so that you can maximize your event’s success with little wasted effort or resources. The “time is money” adage for businesses applies to philanthropy as well, perhaps even more so. Wasted resources mean less money raised for your cause, and we know that a little money goes a long way when helping those in need. Also, try to be as eco-friendly as possible. For example, if you are serving food and drinks at your event, try to buy recyclable or biodegradable materials (i.e. paper or plastic-ware), which are often comparable in price, if not cheaper, than non-recyclable materials (i.e. styrofoam).
Publicize, publicize, publicize!
The promotion of your event is necessary for its success. Publicize your event in your school and/or community newspaper, hang posters, and make announcements, among other things. Be sure to include the goal of your event in your publicity to attract those who wish to support your cause. Contact Action Against Hunger to request some materials you can use for your publicity campaign.
Don’t forget to thank.
After your event or project, your responsibilities are not over yet. Make sure you thank all your supporters (your school, teachers, sponsors, etc.) who helped make your fundraiser possible. Be in touch with Action Against Hunger.Keep us informed of your fundraising efforts and don’t hesistate to ask us any questions! We are here to help you make your fundraiser as successful as possible. Best of luck with your fundraiser; we hope to hear from you!
