Fundraising Advice

Getting started

The majority of people who embark on fundraising events do not have any experience of raising funds and therefore we have taken the opportunity to go through some ideas and tips in this section to help you. The important thing is to let everybody know what you are doing and enjoy yourself.

Your fundraising event is obviously very important to you so shout about it as much as you can and get everyone around you as excited about the event as you are. One way to start is to sit down and make a list of all the people you know and work out how they could help you, whether they are family, friends, colleagues or even just the local businesses you use.

Each of those people will be able to help you raise the money! Give them sponsor forms so that they can collect donations from their friends, family and work colleagues and involve them in fundraising activities. If they have a particular talent maybe they can put it to good use helping you raise the money or if they own a venue maybe you could use that for an event.

Your local school, nursery or college may be able to help by holding non-uniform days or taking aboard your cause as their charity of the year/ term. It is a good idea to offer to go into the school and give a talk about the event you are doing and the charity you are supporting; not only does this raise more awareness but it may inspire them to give more generously.

The company you work for could either sponsor you or match fund the amount you have raised.  Although you will have more contacts within your own company it might also be an idea to approach any other companies you have links with, for example the companies your family and friends work for.  A lot of companies will hold annual events for the staff, especially Christmas parties, so this is a good chance to promote your event.  Even if it is just putting collection tins on tables you are still raising money and awareness.

Most companies will have a central notice board or intranet site.  You can utilise this by putting out flyers of any events you are organising and your contact details so that your colleagues know how to support you.

If the company cannot support you in a monetary sense then they may be able to give you a prize for a raffle or auction. 

Unfortunately, approaching companies where you have no personal contact often ends in disappointment.  Therefore we do recommend that you only contact companies you know.

Whatever you do keep smiling and keep fundraising - with a bit of invention and energy you can easily reach your fundraising target - thousands of others have done this so you can too!

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