Friday, December 26, 2008

How To Plan A Fundraising Event That Will Be Wildly Successful

By Rick Dupont

Are you are responsible for planning a fundraising event, and don't know where to start. Well for starters you need to be a big success. There's no point in going to all the trouble of hosting a fundraising event that requires planning up the wazoo if no one shows up and people don't donate, so be sure to double check that your i's are dotted and t's crossed, and the payoff will be a spectacular event.

Working Out What To Do

The first thing that you need to do is to decide what type of fundraising event you are going to host. Will it be a $250 a plate gourmet dinner to raise money for a political candidate? Or a simple "please donate" type of campaign to rally on a local politician? Or will it be for your local school, with a $5 a family "Harvest Festival" to raise money for more library books? Or will it be part of an ongoing campaign of selling scrip to local stores where the school gets a percentage of sales? Maybe you will have an online fundraising campaign, using electronic payments? You make the call. You know the cause and organization that you wish to support? what is the best fundraising event to plan?

Drumming Up Support From Your Community

Plan for your fundraising event to have as low of overhead as possible, so that the organization can keep more of the money.

A good idea if it will be a local event is to garner support within your community. Perhaps your local supermarket will donate food items for a breastfeeding walk to support La Leche League in August.

If so, wonderfuol! Be sure to let attendees know who was kind enough to support your cause with a donation ? the good will can go a long, long, ways.

Maybe a hotel will give you a discount on that ballroom, since you're taking the larger room with AV instead of the smaller room ? it can't hurt to ask! Be aware that most businesses will want to see a flyer or something like that to show information about the event.

Who To Invite And How To Get Them To Show Up

You have to ask yourself who cares about your cause and will attend, friends and families in your community, prominent local figures and politicians? Whoever you decide upon be sure to invite them. Another handy hint is to include the local press on your guest list, if you want media attention for your cause. You can even plan your fundraising event so that the media attention can have an ongoing benefit to your organization ? perhaps the media will let the public know where to send their donations toward your cause.

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