Nine Steps to a Successful Fundraiser
Fundraisers are a wonderful opportunity to connect with your constituents. A successful fundraiser can also add to the longevity of your campaign. Read our tips on how you can #RaiseTheMoney and execute a successful fundraiser.
1.The Grand Total: Without a healthy bottom line, it is impossible to run a successful campaign. Make sure that your bank account will still have a healthy balance once your expenses have been calculated. If you can’t make your fundraiser happen with the amount of money you’ve budgeted, then you may need to consider other options.
2.Set a Realistic Budget: When planning your fundraiser, make sure that you are keeping your expenses realistic. While you may plan to raise a significant amount of money by the end of the night, there are never any guarantees in fundraising. Factor in the cost of each deliverable and make sure that number will be exceeded by the amount of money you plan to raise.
3.Outline Your Expectations: Make sure you’ve clearly defined and outlined the purpose of your event. Maybe you solely hope to raise money at your event, or your main goal may be to announce an initiative and generate positive PR. Just make sure you have enough time to achieve the expectations you’ve set for the event.
4.Get the Right People in the Room: Be sure to align yourself with the people who can help you make the greatest impact. Determine who your hosts will be so they can help you meet your goals throughout the fundraising process. Brainstorm and determine your target audiences and make sure they are invited.
5.Logistics: Don’t try to throw an event together at the last minute. Work out all the deliverables beforehand so that there aren’t any surprises on your big day.
6.Spread the Word: In order to get the results you desire, you must aggressively market the event to your target audience. Use your host’s connections to get the word out via invitations, direct mail, and digital and social media marketing.
7.Tickets Can’t Sell Themselves: Determine whether you prefer to offer different levels of ticketing or a flat ticket price for your event. Make sure you have a designated individual who is responsible for making ticket sales and accepting donations.
8.Plan a Dry Run: You can’t ever guarantee that your event will go as planned, but running through the event beforehand can help work out some of the kinks.
9.Thank Your Supporters: Take the time to send thank-you notes and you will successfully avoid complaints later on. Make sure you aren’t leaving anyone out; this includes contributors, volunteers, staff and vendors. It should be a top priority to keep your contributors happy because you’ll probably be asking for another donation at some point.