Fundraising FAQs – 4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Launching Your First Fundraiser *

*Collaborative post.

Fundraisers are a great way to bring your community together and support a worthy cause in a more substantial way than any of us could do alone. That doesn’t mean, however, that organising the event will make you feel as good as supporting your cause. 

Bringing together everything you need to make the event happen safely and smoothly can be quite stressful if you’re not familiar with planning this type of thing. That’s why we’ve put together this list of questions to ask yourself before launching your first fundraiser to help you make sure everything runs as smoothly as possible. 

How Will You Promote It?

Even the smallest local fundraisers need to be promoted if you want to get the best results. As such, you’ll want to work out what digital and traditional channels you’re going to use to get the word out. You’ll also need to sort out a proper plan to help maximise your budget. 

A great traditional option to consider is merchandise. While generally associated with businesses, promotional products are a great way to get additional advertising for your fundraiser. Simply include them in your welcome pack for those involved, and you’ve got bonus exposure that will spread further and last longer than the event itself.  

How Will You Incentivise Participation?

Plenty of people will participate out of the goodness of their hearts because they also support your cause, but if you really want to get the best results, consider offering people the opportunity to win a prize. Gourmet gift hampers and vouchers to local businesses always go down well. 

Another option is to sell products and donate the proceeds. For a local fundraiser, chat to businesses in the area who might be willing to donate goods or services. For larger-scale projects, select partners who best align with the event you’re running. 

How Will You Collect And Donate Funds?

If you’re running a fundraiser for a small, local cause, this process will probably be fairly straightforward – simply collect cash in a locked box, and at the end of the event, pass it on to the appropriate representative. 

If your fundraiser is running on a larger scale or is for a cause not based within your community, things can get a little more complicated. Make sure you’ve worked out how funds will be collected and donated well in advance so that you can make this process transparent for those who will be donating.

How Will You Keep Everyone Safe?

Another important thing to consider is the safety of patrons at any physical events you intend to host. Ensuring that attendees have adequate access to clean drinking water and that there are enough first aid stations and staff for the size of your event should be your top priority. 

You’ll also want to check with your venue whether security is needed. If you’re hosting an indoor event, many venues have their own staff available either as part of the package or for a nominal fee. 

Additionally, outdoor events may require temporary fencing and the installation of portable light towers if you’re covering a large area and your event will be running into the evening. Fundraisers are a great way to support causes you care about, but a lot more goes into organizing one than simply having a big heart. By asking yourself these four questions before launching your first fundraiser, you’ll set yourself up to get the results you’ve set out to achieve. Good luck!