Fundraising: Getting Started
Making targets
Raising any amount of money can seem really daunting when you haven't started and have no plans yet. An easy way to make it look more achievable is to break it down, divide the amount of money you need to raise by the amount of time you have. This can be to whatever scale you have to work with, monthly, weekly or even daily amounts. Once you get started keeping track of how much you've raised and seeing that you are still on target (or above) can be a real boost.
Ideas
Deciding what to do to reach those targets can be hard, but once you have some ideas's down and get fundraising it all gets easier. A good way to brainstorm is to write an idea that starts with every letter of the alphabet, that way your guaranteed twenty six ideas, and once you get going the ideas just keep coming. Bagging shopping at super markets, fancy dress events, quiz's or just getting sponsored (example form) by friends, family or work colleagues to do something are all an easy way to get started.
Newspapers
It is always worth putting something in the local newspaper, so as to warn the local population that you will be out and about. The easy way to do this for free is to get them to write an article about you and the project. You can do this either by approaching them and asking if they would like to write about you, but this can be slow and sometimes too brief to help at all, or you can send them a pre-written document and they will normally use the whole thing as long as it is short enough.
Here is a basic example of a newspaper article:
(Full name), (age) from (local area), is embarking an adventure this (season). He/she will be raising (amount) to go to (country) to be able to help a community there with (topic). This work will benefit the local community there by (more about what you will be doing). (First name) is working with the International Voluntary Service which promotes peace and intercultural understanding whilst supporting the sustainable development of British and global communities though volunteering. IVS aims to be the catalyst for change within individuals and society, and to help breakdown prejudices and stereotypes for a world of mutual respect and understanding. So when you see him/her doing (event and place and time) please come over and say hello! For more information please contract (best to leave an email).
Half way there
Events
The best way to get a lump sum fast is to hold an event where local people can join in. Church halls and community centres can be rented cheaply and they sometimes have equipment you can use, such as microphones and speakers for quiz nights or a small kitchen for food preparation.
If you have any links with a restaurant it will be worth asking them to host an evening with a simple set menu and entrance fee that you invite friends and family to, you will have to cover the costs of the food etc, but the rest will be yours.
A popular idea for those going to developing countries is a ‘rich man, poor man' night where you pick out of a hat a piece of paper telling you which you will be for the evening, the ‘poor men' get rice (or the such like) and the ‘rich men' get the rest of the curry (or similar that goes with the poor mans dish). The idea is to get everyone to share, so they all have a good meal.
Running a quiz is a lot easier than it may sound, once you have equipment. Answer sheets just have to be numbers down the page and rounds can include guess the face, new items from the week, gossip items, guess the introduction of songs and trivia.
Do not be afraid to get any group you may be involved with included. Local faith groups tend to be supportive and people who have known you for a long time are more likely to give more, either money or time.
It is worth running a raffle at any event you run to get the extra funds! Prizes can be just chocolates or a cheap bottle of wine. Try asking local restaurants to donate gift vouchers.
Places of education
Going back to places you were educated can be helpful, particularly if the teachers still remember you they will be more willing to help. If they are holding an event anyway, such as a school play, they may be able to give the proceeds to you, as a former pupil it sounds good for them to be supporting you.
There are also little things that can be set up in local schools that you may not have attended. First schools are good for doing money lines, where every class brings in coppers and lines the hall ways (this does not work as well when the children get older).
Places of work
If you are in a place of work you may be able to run an event in the office or with the resources you have there. A dress down or fancy dress day that sponsors you will generally be a hit.
Depending on where you work you may be able to create a small poster explaining what you are doing and a change tin. These do not tend to be high donations, but if you get talking to people about what you are doing they will be more willing to give more, you may have to tie the tin down if it is in public.
Finished
Thank you
It is always good to leave a trail of Thank you notes behind you as you go. This leaves people feeling like they have made a difference and contributed to something. It also leaves them with a good impression, so if you need to fundraise more for another project they will be more willing to help.
If you have found an idea worked really well or you would like to share some stories or photo's about your fundraising antics please email them to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it