Never Fail Fundraising Tips

You’ve got an idea for a great fundraiser – it’s likely the most innovative idea that has ever been used! However, even though you have a unique idea that everyone is sure to love, how do you get the word out on your fundraiser in order to raise the amount of charitable funds that you were hoping to raise?

If you’re a pure ideas person, never fear! We’ve put together this tried and true list of helpful hints to get the word out and the money rolling in for your fundraiser. But before you go ahead and implement the fundraising tips…you’d better make sure that your coffers can hold all the dough.

Here we go…

1. The Early Bird Always Gets the Worm

It’s true even when it comes to raising money for your favorite cause. It’s never too early to begin fundraising for your favorite charity. So get the word out, and get it out nice and early. Many fundraisers demand an entire day, and sometimes even an entire weekend of participants’ time. So it’s best to get the word out early to both your volunteers and your participants if you want a good turnout.

2. You Scratch my Back…

It’s not too bold to ask your friends and family to support your favorite fundraising cause. You see it all the time in the office after all. Jim brings in his box of Girl Guide cookies and sells them for his daughters. See, so there’s no harm in asking your friends, family and even your coworkers to find their spare change to donate. Realistically, those who are close to you will prove the most generous with their purse strings. And since in many cases they are the first ones to sign your pledge form, they will set the gold standard for everyone who pledges you after them.

3. Make it a Team Building Experience

The most competitive I have ever seen teams pit themselves against each other is when you make it a work thing. For instance, ask for fundraising help from your coworkers, but make it into a competitive game. Each group can come up with a fancy team name to identify them and then set up an online pledge system and track their progress as they compete. Trust me; it gives ‘friendly competition’ a whole new meaning.

4. Use Technology to your Fundraising Advantage

If raising funds for your favorite charity is your goal, then the Internet is your oyster! That’s right, what better way to direct your friends to your cause than with an online Donation page? Fundraising online lets you network through the Internet, so instead of a participant base that is just local, suddenly your potential funds are International. So use the Web as a fundraising tool to collect pledges on a much larger scale. Many fundraising sites even offer a donation page that you can customize to suit the charity of your choice. If it’s asthma fundraiser, try using yellow and green to showcase your non-allergenic cause. If it’s a pet fundraiser, post pictures of cute and cuddly animals to spur people to donate. If the fundraiser is meant to raise money for an individual with health needs (say to fund a surgery) include their picture and a personal message from them explaining why the money is being raised and what it will benefit. Now you are set to start raising funds! So start by emailing every single person in your email address book or on Facebook for support. The fundraising site will link your donation page to a secure donation form, which will appear in the email that you send through your donation page. Each time an online donation is made, a tax receipt will be sent to the donor in an instant email. Welcome to the world of instant fundraising!