Fundraisers are admirable commitments that benefit both your company and your community when organized correctly. Take the time to go through the steps below and watch your fundraiser blossom into a memorable event!

1. Know Your Cause

The first step in organizing a fundraising event is knowing your “why.”Why do you need to raise money? Do you have a specific person or cause in mind? You should give a definitive answer to each question before moving on to the other details.

2. Determine a Goal

Set a number for the amount of money you want to raise and how you plan on obtaining it. Here you can roughly plan the events that will take place at the fundraiser, like a car wash or sporting event, that will give you the best chance to reach your monetary goal. Outdoor activities are your best bet if you want to prioritize COVID-19 safety.

You should also determine the avenue through which you will receive payment. Ticket sales, donations and auctions are the more popular methods.

3. Find a Target Audience

With a goal and cause in mind, you can find the target audience that will respond best to your fundraiser’s goal and events. If you decide to organize a sporting event, target young athletic people. If the fundraiser will have auctions, target an older age group.

4. Establish a Theme

Just like a new business getting ready to open, your fundraiser needs to have a theme that people can latch onto. Devise a catchy name and mission statement. Create a color scheme for your decorations. Consider buying some custom apparel to hand out at the event, such as t-shirts, hats or bracelets. 

5. Secure Your Venue

Choose a location that will appeal to your target audience and the space/layout to host all of your planned events. You might be able to get a discount from a venue that supports your cause, so make sure you actively promote the event during your search. You should also add an online feature to your event so more people can get involved.

Community athletic fields are commonly available areas for local outdoor events. If you have a company sports team, check with the proprietors of these fields. You might find a perfect match for your fundraiser and a new gathering place for your team’s future get-togethers.

6. Set a Firm Budget

In the early stages of planning for your fundraiser, you should set a budget that can accommodate everything you need, plus a little extra. Between the venue, food, drinks, entertainment, and the supplies required for the activities, the expenses can vary greatly. Your budget should lean on the safe side and consider all variables.

7. Compile a Schedule

After you’ve determined your plan and budget, you should write everything down into a neat schedule. Assigning dates to key milestones in the weeks leading up to your fundraiser will keep the plan in motion and build momentum up to the fundraiser. 

Focus primarily on the day before and the day of the event. With so many moving parts, it’s helpful to assign a person or committee to set the timeline and make sure everyone stays on track.

8. Promote the Event

With everything beginning to fall into place, now you must focus all your efforts on promoting the event and raising as much awareness as possible. Use social media, email marketing, flyers and other forms of advertising to get eyes on your fundraiser. Keep your target audience in mind here, because that will partly determine what strategies you use.

9. Organize Your Donation Methods

When the day of the event finally arrives, you need to have an organized system in place to accept all incoming donations. It’s best to utilize several methods to make donating easier for the participants.

Set up a webpage, a GoFundMe or use another platform where people can donate online. PayPal is a must for pre-event and mid-event donations. For convenience’s sake, the ticket provider you choose should also have a mobile app.

10. Rely on People and Technology

Social media is a fantastic tool to spread your message, especially to Millennials and Gen Z folks, who use the tool most often. If you promote your event to those people, you can generate a lot of publicity. Information makes its way around the world faster than ever, and if you use all the people power and technology available, you might garner more support than you ever expected.

Remember to offer digital viewing and donation options for those who cannot attend the event. You want to accommodate everyone willing to support your cause.

Make Your Fundraising Event Count

If you’re getting ready for a fundraising event, you have a chance to improve your company, your community and yourself all while supporting a worthwhile cause. Give it your best effort and focus on the above fundamentals to make your chance count!