Thinking of hosting a fundraising event? Good for you! Here’s our top tips to help you make sure your event is a big success…
Organising a fundraising event can be a big task. Not only do you want your guests to have a great time, but you also want them to dig deep in support of Australia’s brightest emerging cancer researchers. So how exactly do you do that…?
1. Set yourself a goal
Setting a fundraising goal gives you something specific to work towards. The more ambitious you are, the more motivated you’ll be to reach it! Give your supporters an idea of how the money might be used to encourage them to come along.
2. Think about your audience
Your guestlist will help you decide what type of event to put on. Are you looking to focus on friends and family? Colleagues at work? Or perhaps even the general public? Once you’ve figured this out, you’ll be able to design your event to suit your audience.
3. Create a budget
Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money. Your budget should include ALL expenses, from venue and catering right through to printing invitations. Make sure you keep your fundraising goal in mind so that you raise that amount above your expenses. Remember to try and minimise expenditure and maximise fundraising wherever possible, and leave a little extra room in your budget for unforeseen costs.
4. Give yourself time
It’s really important to set a realistic time frame so that you can plan your event properly and save yourself a lot of stress! The style of event will have a big impact on how much time you will need. Something like a ball or formal dinner is likely to take much longer to pull together than a more casual get together like a picnic or barbecue.
5. Get the word out
A big part of your event’s success rests on people actually turning up! Think about the best ways to target your ideal audience. You could email, use social media, post things out, pick up the phone…or do a combination of all those things! Once you’ve got your plan in place, why not reach out to your local media and see if they’d be interested in covering your story?
6. Bring in the Champions
Don’t be afraid to reach out for support. You’ll be surprised at how many people are willing to jump on board and help you promote the event – all you have to do is ask! Encourage them to spread the word to their own networks and show support for the cause themselves by making a donation.
7. Boost your fundraising total on the night
The first rule of fundraising is to ask. Your guests will more than likely be happy to make a donation – you’ve invited them to a fundraising event after all! There’s a few fun things you can do to really help drive those donations on the night…
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Raffle – Small prizes donated by local businesses
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Silent Auction – One off prizes or experiences
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Grand Auction – Once in a lifetime prize
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Wine Wall - Blind draw where every raffle ticket buyer wins a bottle of wine. The donated bottles of wine are wrapped so the labels can’t be seen and then the wrapped bottles are numbered. Each person who buys a ticket wins the bottle that corresponds to a their ticket number. A $20 raffle ticket may win a $100 bottle of wine or a $10 one.
8. Don’t forget to say thank you!
The most important element of a fundraiser is to thank all your guests after the event. Make sure you thank everyone who supported you, from generous donors and supporters to sponsors and vendors. Send an email, write a personal note or even better, thank people in person and tell them the difference they made to the vital work of Cure Cancer Australia.
Successful events take time and effort, but the rewards will be worth it! Remember, the money you raise will go towards making this the last generation to die from cancer.
