Fundraising
* Introduction
* General Fundraising Guidelines
* Important Things to Remember
General Fundraising Guidelines
What
First you must decide what type of fundraiser your group wants to hold. Determine what you want to accomplish through the activity and then brainstorm accordingly. Try to avoid fundraising that requires too much money or time up front and anything that has a high risk of losing money. Keep your event simple so that you can manage it.
Who
Audience - Who is the activity aimed at? Pick a target group: students, professors, organizations, etc. How many people do you expect to invite? Is it open to everyone? How are you going to target that particular audience?
Collaborators - Are there other organizations on your campus that would be interested in being involved?
Entertainment - You need to decide who or what is going to be the highlight of the event so that you can attract people. If you are holding a concert, pick a musician. If you are coordinating a fundraising dinner, you need a speaker. If it is a talent show, who will perform? Consider speakers or performers well-known to your audience, and who might be willing to donate their time.
Where and When
Deciding on a location and date is an important part of the process. Choose a place which is affordable, easily accessible, available and appropriate for the occasion. The date is also important. Be sure that not too many other events are taking place at the same time as yours. For example, holding an event too close to exams might not work.
Organization
To make sure that everything occurs in an orderly manner, delegate as many tasks as possible. Each member or volunteer should take responsibility for at least one task. Set deadlines for each task to leave time for mishaps. Prepare for disasters—performers not showing up, lack of food, and bad weather. Think of measures that can be taken in these situations so that things still run smoothly. Always confirm everything...