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Many people, especially those new to fundraising, see events and activities as the bed-rock of fundraising. It is true that they can be a very successful way to raise funds and generate publicity - but they can also be a spectacularly good way to lose money and credibility.
Events and activities should thus be treated with caution!
Be careful what events you get involved in; think about the amount of risk it exposes your organisation to; and weigh up the potential benefits and risks realistically. Many of the organisations listed in this section can help you to plan and put on successful events, or provide events and activities you can 'sign up' to.
A few points are worth bearing in mind when planning an event or activity:
- Think through what you hope to get out of the event or activity, including: media coverage; new supporters; and profit.
- Prepare a budget which reflects the true cost of putting on the event, and which has realistic income projections. Now increase the projected costs and decrease the potential income by different percentages- is it still viable? What is the 'break even' point with different scenarios?
- Plan, plan and plan again. You must think about every detail. For example, how will people hear about the event or activity? How will they get there (and home again)? What else is happening at the same time? (A world cup final tends to keep your anticipated audience away!) Will the weather affect you? What about other important considerations, including toilets, petty cash, programmes, ticket sellers, etc. etc.
- Involve other people. Delegate tasks to them, and ensure that everyone is doing the things they have agreed to within the necessary timescale.
- Look for ways to increase your income / benefits from the event or activity.
- Decide at what stage you will know if the event is likely to succeed or flop. Will you have time to cancel? If you do have to cancel, is there anything you can do to reduce the costs / risk?
Above all, be realistic about what you want to achieve, what it will cost, and what benefits it will bring you. |
The A to Z of Fundraising Ideas is a good place to start if you are looking for inspiration for fundraising events or activities. You may find it helpful to have a list of your target audiences and potential venues beside you when you look through the A to Z. By thinking about how you could use each idea with a different audience and a different venue, you will soon generate a list of ideas of your own.
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