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Movie Club
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10 fund-raising tips
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How to throw a charity event everyone wants to attend.
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By Nancy Angus
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Writing a cheque for a good cause? Sure, no problem. Donating your time? That's a different story. If you suffer from what career specialist Barbara Moses calls the "busy-ness syndrome," you're not alone. According to the Canada Survey of Giving, Volunteering & Participating, 69 per cent of respondents reported they had "too little time to volunteer." Between work, family and everyday life, time seems to be our most valuable commodity, but don't give up on giving.
Bringing friends and fund-raising together can make volunteering a joy, not a chore. Plus, it can be very satisfying to present a cheque as part of a group who creatively raised funds at social gatherings. While you can't add more hours in your day, you can take advantage of 10 fun strategies to improve your community, friends, charities and yourself.
10 fabulous FUNraising tips
1. Come together
Gather with fun-loving people and watch magic unfold. Remember, it's not what you do, but who you do it with that determines how successful a fund-raising team can be.
2. Find your focus
Deciding what to focus on helps bring people together and keeps them united as they work toward a single goal. Consider your focus as the mission statement for your fund-raising friends. Identify causes that are important to the folks in your group. Have each member stand up and sing the praises of their cause in a North American Idol competition. Open the phone lines, gather a loonie for every call, and let people cast their votes for the cause of choice. Change charities annually and proudly showcase past charity "winners."
3. Expand your giving circle
Remember, the number one reason people say they volunteer is because someone asked them. The more people involved in your charitable venture, the more money you'll raise -- it's that simple!
4. Build a following. Form a club that people want to join
Turn your gatherings into happenings by finding your "unique selling point" -- something that makes your group special. Take the Red Hat Society, for example. Group members stand out and look like they have tremendous fun everywhere they go. Stand out and stand up. If you need extra funds, register memorabilia on an online auction site -- someone may be looking for a new red hat!
5. Stay in the loop
Instead of playing endless games of phone tag, coordinate meetings and gatherings using e-mail. People will appreciate the no-stress approach. You can also send out encouraging messages to the whole group, keeping everyone motivated.
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