Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tips When Raising Money Using Charity Auctions

The needs in any charitable organization tend to outgrow resources, even though they may receive some type of funding from state/federal taxes. There are many different ways to raise money, called fundraisers, for charity and non profit organizations. One way to do this is to have a charity auction, as this serves two purposes. Donations are collected for people in need and people get a chance to bid on an item or service that they want or need. This additional funding can make the difference in being able to continue to give support and having to turn people away.
Obviously, the fundraiser needs to be well planned and well executed in order to get people interested enough to spend money. When considering ways to raise money keep in mind that it does not have to be one that is on par with huge celebrity charity events, as local community events work just as well and may garner more interest because they are local.
When putting together any type of fundraiser you will need a little creativity and patience. If you are unsure of what will be needed to set up a charity auction, then you can always consult with a professional and perhaps they will decide to donate their time for this charitable event. Or, you can do it yourself. Either way you will need lots of volunteers to make sure things go smoothly and moves along quickly.
You may feel that with the current economy this type of a fundraiser or even any type of charitable event would not produce the desired results. Actually, the opposite may be closer to reality, as people are looking for ways to indulge themselves affordably. Bidding on donated items or services is one way that they can do this and the money goes to a great cause as well.
Coming up with ideas and getting things rolling can be a little frustrating, so a few things you may want to consider would include having a charity auction where the people bid for a date with eligible bachelors and bachelorettes; this is always a hit. Consider getting local businesses and merchants to donate items that would relate to a specific theme, such as a getaway weekend or vacation. One merchant can donate airline tickets, another a rental car or a hotel stay. Most often people are very willing to help when they learn that it is a charitable event and will go out of their way to make it better.
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Sunday, March 14, 2010

Planning Fundraisers - Develop a Game Plan

After the fundraising goal has been set, you need to develop an effective method by which to reach your objective. This is your Project Game Plan.
The game plan may be simple or complex, depending upon the nature of the fundraiser. The important thing about the game plan is that it helps your team members maintain their focus on activities calculated to ensure reaching the fundraising goal. A good plan keeps your team on track.
Tip: Successful fundraisers plan several backup game plans, which provides the option of "switching gears" in the event your initial game plan is not producing the anticipated results.
There are several steps to developing a successful plan:
1. Brainstorming
A brainstorming session should be one of the first items on your agenda. Make this a social event, keep it loose and let the ideas flow. You will be surprised at what ideas are discovered and your creativity will be rewarded.
2. Mirror a Successful Model
Every so often a "new idea" fundraiser comes along. By and large, however, most fundraisers you undertake have been around for awhile and have been used by other groups.
While it is certainly no guarantee, tapping into the previous experience of a successful fundraiser can save you much trial and error, help you avoid mistakes and put you on the path to success.
3. Build Your Strategy
Strategizing your best game plan ideas is the next step. Organize and prioritize the very best of your ideas, creating several plans if possible. Knowing what else is going on in your community is also important to avoid duplication of another group's efforts and prevent bad timing.
4. Putting Plans into Action
Develop an action plan, using an organizational calendar to timetable the various activities involved in the campaign. One of the best ways to do this is to work backwards from the completion date of your event.
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