Fundraising: 101
Welcome to the Fundraising: 101—a handbook to help you plan your fundraising event from start to finish. Whether you've done this before or it's your first time, we've got you covered. From setting goals to thanking donors, we'll walk you through it all. So, let's get started on creating an event that makes a real impact.
Set Your Goals
First, figure out what you need money for and how much you need. Think about both short-term needs and long-term plans.
Break down your big fundraising goal into smaller, easier-to-reach targets.
Make a budget that matches your fundraising goals. Decide how much money you need for different things like programs, paying bills, and fundraising costs.
Get Your Team Together
Find people with different skills who can help plan your fundraiser, like organizing events, advertising, and handling money.
Have a meeting with your team to talk about what you want to achieve with the fundraiser and who will do what.
Make sure everyone can talk to each other easily and knows when to meet.
Pick a Date and Place
Check out the calendar to find a good date for your fundraiser. Avoid times when there are other big events happening.
Look for a place that's big enough, easy to get to, and has everything you need. Visit a few places to see which one works best for your event.
Make a Money Plan
Use a spreadsheet to write down all the things you'll need money for and how much they'll cost.
Ask different places how much they charge for things like food, decorations, and renting the space.
Decide where to spend money and where you can save by getting donations or help from volunteers.
Tell People About It
Find out who you want to come to your fundraiser and how they like to hear about things. Do they use social media, email, or do they like getting letters in the mail?
Write down what's special about your cause and why people should help. Keep it simple and clear.
Make sure to share your message in different ways, like on social media, in emails, or by sending out flyers.
Ask for Help
See if local businesses or people in your community will help by giving money or sponsoring your event. Make different packages with perks to thank them.
Reach out to people who care about your cause and ask them to donate. Keep in touch with them and show them how their support makes a difference.
Plan Everything Out
Make a timeline that shows when everything needs to happen before and during the fundraiser. Assign jobs to different people.
Write down all the things that need to be done during the event, like setting up, welcoming guests, and cleaning up afterward.
Talk to the people who will help, like caterers and decorators, to make sure everything is ready on time.
Find Helpers
Make a list of all the jobs that need to be done and how much time they'll take. Write down what kind of skills people need for each job.
Ask friends, family, and people in your community to help out. You can find volunteers by asking at local schools or community centers.
Give volunteers training so they know what to do and make sure they have support during the event.
Make It Happen
Double-check that everything is set up the way it should be before people start arriving.
Tell your volunteers what they need to do and make sure they know where everything is.
When people come to the event, greet them warmly and give them any information they need.
During the event, make sure everyone has fun and knows how important their support is.
Say Thank You
After the event, make sure to thank everyone who helped out, donated, or came to support your cause.
Send thank-you notes or emails to show your appreciation and let people know how much their help means to you.
Keep people updated on how the fundraiser went and how their support is making a difference.
Look Back and Learn
Take some time to look at how much money you raised and how well the event went.
Ask people who came to the event what they liked and what could be better next time.
Use what you learn to plan even better fundraisers in the future.
