Fundraiser idea for your organization are in plenty since they come from the creative faculties of humans. However, getting the most from a fundraising campaign will require putting in some form of planning. You must not overlook planning if you wish to have a successful campaign. Some of the best important steps to follow while picking any fundraising ideas for your organization.
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Identify the regulations guiding fundraising within your locale
There are specific regulations that are set out to guide fundraising processes. Knowing the applicable rules within your area is crucial before embarking on any fundraising exercise.
You should be mindful of the rules binding on charitable giving, online fundraising, tax exemptions, and every other relevant aspect. You can hire a legal practitioner to get clarity on these fundraising regulations.
By this, you will not put your organization or those who will eventually send their contributions at risk.
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Evaluate different fundraising options
Once you have sorted out the regulations, you can evaluate the different fundraising options available. Your main objective here is to choose the option that will give the best result. As you do this, you should consider various factors like the target audience, turnover rate, etc.
You should understand that there is something about prospecting people who are likely to give some sizeable contributions. Identifying your target audience can help you design a perfect fundraising that appeals to them. It could be about hosting a dinner, organizing a community-wide walk, or just name it.
You can subscribe to donation management software like Donorbox to effectively manage your fundraising and increase your chance of linking up with some big-time donors.
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Know the cost implications
It will be out of place to map out a fundraising strategy and end up incurring colossal costs right from the planning and setting up of the event – you shouldn’t fall into this trap. Therefore, you should outline every fundraising option you have in mind along with their cost implications while also factoring in the expected results.
It is worth noting that several fundraisers have had a swell campaign just by using a text-to-give platform for nonprofits. You should also consider going this route, adopting it to complement whatever fundraising drive you envision – it is pretty cost-effective.
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Keep it simple
That you desire to make a massive success of your fundraising campaign does not mean you should overburden yourself. Though it is quintessential that you are creative to make your fundraising unique, you don’t have to overkill the whole thing.
A simple get-together fundraising idea that pops up in your mind can bring about a significant outcome – and a memorable event in the end. So, while brainstorming with your team about hosting a successful fundraising event, you should never forget that simplicity can be a force.
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Set out realistic goals
You should ensure that your fundraiser idea is within a realistic and achievable reach as much as possible. In light of this, you need to make informed decisions based on what is realizable and work towards it. You should see that you operate within your means and don’t attempt to go overboard.
Setting aside time to plan and weigh in on different angles of the campaign will have critical roles in this regard. You can even consider framing your fundraiser idea around the SMART goal model. You should make calculated moves and spare some time to itemize the needs before you.
Also, in case you do not have the money to go for hired (paid) services to take care of certain things, you can look to involve volunteers. You can recruit from your friends, family, and other interested parties. By the way, you should not fail to state the amount of fund you want to raise and keep this within a reasonable range – even though you can surpass it.
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Communicate your organization’s values
The best fundraiser idea has to align with your organization’s values. Your core values speak volumes of what it stands for. Hence, it would help if you distinctively highlighted these values for prospective donors to see. This will further project your image as a trustworthy entity.
Moreover, people may be more drawn to join the fundraising campaign – with their donations guaranteed – based on how it is presented. Relatedly, you should also have the purpose for the fundraising campaign clearly communicated to prospective contributors.
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Fundraising options to consider
The list of fundraiser ideas or options available is nearly endless as human creativity is never limited. Hence, an organization may decide to design a fundraising campaign – from scratch – that is best suited to meet its emergent needs. Nonetheless, there are a couple of fundraiser ideas you can easily repurpose for yourself, and some of these are listed below:
- Seasonal fundraiser ideas [with relevant color themes]. You can consider planning your fundraising campaigns around festivities like Christmas, Easter, Halloween, etc.
- Movie/dinner night
- Dance party
- Community rally
- Fun night
- Sports event
- Auction sales
- Video game competition
- Talent show
- Pastry making event
- Social media/online fundraiser
- Direct mail fundraiser
- Car wash
Sometimes, you may need to create a fundraising event in sync with the personality of those you are targeting. So, you don’t have to follow a one-size-fits-all approach necessarily.
And the truth is that there are individuals who are ever ready to give to a charitable cause. You can write to some of these people/organizations or use the donation software to locate them online.
Conclusion
From the discourse in this article, it is evident that choosing the best fundraiser idea is not so much about the idea itself but the planning around the entire process. This shows that fundraising is not an activity that you can abruptly embark on without putting specific things into perspective.
It is pertinent that all fronts – the donor’s end inclusive – be duly covered with the precedence given to extant fundraising regulations. You should tidy things up in the background and have a solid plan with no complexity or ambiguity around it. Plus, you should not forget to keep the cost as low as possible and leverage donation management software to have a seamless process.
