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1) Make it fun every step of the way
Fun is part of fundraising. Don't make it drudgery to be a volunteer or a
participant. Remember that they're giving up their free time to help.
Plan fun things to do during each stage of the process that reward
everyone.
2) Fun incentives
Offer a Cream Pie Attack party to all sellers reaching a certain level.
Have a fun day where key organizational figures do funny things for
meeting goals. Examples: Shaving their head, dyeing their hair blue,
wearing a funny wig, dressing like a clown, risk the dunking booth, etc.
3) Take pictures
Everybody loves to see themselves in a picture. Take some candid shots,
have everybody pose, all ham it up for a group photo, etc. Be sure to post
them where everyone can enjoy them. Reward with prizes for the best, the
goofiest, the worst dressed, etc.
4) Show appreciation
Show your appreciation to all facets of your organization and supporter
base. Be sure to do fun things that aren't fundraisers. Example: Line up
discounts on tickets to athletic events, go on group outings, provide
doughnuts for volunteers, etc.
5) Fun merchant prizes
Work with local merchants for great prizes that mean the most to your
sellers. Work deals for movie passes, merchandise discounts, gift
certificates, miniature golf, IMAX theater trip for top ten, etc. Follow
our Merchant Plan guidelines.
6) Build in fun goals
Do an event based solely on having fun. Have key organization members
commit to doing crazy things once certain revenue goals are reached, say
in $1000 increments. Let things build to the
climactic moment where the head cheese does the ultimate fun thing as a
way to reward the group for all their support.
7) Blend fun and food
Remember that you can blend fun into even the most traditional fundraising
events. Everybody knows what a bake sale is, right? Use a cake walk to
sell a large portion of your donated sweets. Kids love it and you'll get
more for the desserts than if you sold them outright. Consider having
awards for the various submissions and then auctioning off the best pie,
cake, etc.
8) Fun completion activities
These will motivate your sellers and volunteers as much or more as winning
actual prizes. Think about low cost fun events that you could tie to
completing certain tasks: Top sales group gets a water balloon fight; all
volunteers play in a Powder Puff touch football game an ultimate Frisbee
match, etc.
9) Say thank you
You can't say thank you often enough to your supporters and your
participants. Show your appreciation with heartfelt words and deeds.
10) Cast party
Have one for all volunteers at conclusion. Get together at someone's home
or in the fellowship hall with everyone bringing potluck. It's a nice way
to build goodwill and reinforce a sense of community for future
recruiting.
Make it fun and everyone will come back for more!
10 Ways to Put Fun
in Your Fundraiser!!
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About The
Author: Kimberly Reynolds is
the author of
Fundraising Success, a
best
selling ebook on fundraising. You can read
more of
her
fundraising
ideas on her website, FundraiserHelp.com. |
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