Organizing a Fundraiser

Have you been chosen by your local youth organization to help organize a fundraiser for their annual campout? Maybe you volunteered, only to get lost in the details and don't know what to do now. Whatever the reason, organizing a fundraiser can be pretty confusing for those who have never done it before. In fact, it can be pretty confusing for just about anyone, unless they happen to do this for a living. To make the task as easy as possible, simply go through these guidelines and answer the questions on a separate piece of paper. By the time that you have answered the last question, you will have a perfect plant to follow for organizing a fundraiser.

1. What's the cause? Every fundraiser needs to have a cause, and it should be one that is readily identifiable. Are you raising money for the local girls club to go on their annual camping trip? Perhaps you are raising money for the high school band to go to the big State Competition. Whatever the reason identify it, this will help narrow the focus and help contributors to feel like they are really helping for that specific cause.
2. Do you have an organization's help? It is always a good idea to have the help of a local organization to help with your fundraiser. Often this can be done with very little thought or effort. For example, are you raising money for the high school's band? If so, then you should use the high school as an organization. The reason that you want an organization to be affiliated with your fundraiser is that they often have established guidelines for fundraisers that you can follow. These guidelines are typically time tested and proven to work.
3. Have you decided on the type of fundraiser? Have you decided on the type of fundraiser that you will be having? Some examples that you can have are cakewalks, car washes, raffles, carnivals, dinners, auctions, dances, and so on. About the only two limits that you can have to your fundraiser is your imagination and the budget.
4. When will you have the fundraiser? Decide on the date that you will have the fundraiser. This will give you a deadline to work towards, and help galvanize everyone to action.
5. Do you have volunteers? Regardless of the type of fundraiser that you will be having, you will need to have volunteers to help ensure it runs smoothly. Remember, you cannot do everything yourself. You will need to have chaperones, and music for your dance, or workers for your carnival and carwash. Put out the word that you would like some volunteers, and utilize their talents and skills appropriately.
6. Do you have a host? Every event needs to have a host of some sort. The best host is someone that already has a relationship with the event or cause. For example, if you are raising money for your high school band, then you could have the band director, or even the principle be the event's host.
7. Do you have a budget? No matter how little we may like to admit it, we often have to spend money to make money, and a fundraiser is no different. You need to know how much money you have to work with, and if necessary find ways to stretch that budget. For example, if you are having a dinner, contact local restaurants and grocery stores to see if they would be willing to donate any food to your event.
8. Have you selected the location? Every fundraiser is going to need a location to hold it. Contact some of the local schools, event halls, and churches to see if you could hold your fundraiser on their premises. This usually won't be a very difficult thing to do since this can also be a good public relations opportunity for that place as well.
9. Do you have your invitations? Put the word out about your fundraiser. If it is an open event that anyone can attend, put the word out at community bulletin boards, in the newspapers, and even on the local news if you can. If it is going to be a private, invitation only event then have you made and sent your invitations to the people you want to come?