Are lackluster fundraisers sucking the life out of your fundraising enthusiasm? It doesn't take much to freshen up even the poorest performing event. If your ideas for fundraising are getting stale, then it's time to take some extreme measures before you have a mutiny within your ranks!
1) Do some serious planning ahead of time and take a good hard look at your event. Do some research and see what others are doing with that same event. Don't assume your way is the only way. You might even ask for help from other area groups if you know someone else who has done this event before.
2) Be honest about what you see. Don't pussyfoot around a problem area. Pick the event apart and be brutal in your analysis. It is like a doctor digging the infection out of a wound. He can't be sure it will heal 100% if there is any remaining infection hiding. Look for it all!
3) Now that you know the weakest part of your event, figure out what would make the problem go away. Sit on the other side of the planning table, so to speak. Be the antagonist and charge yourself with finding a way to fix the problem. Don't automatically assume there is no 'fix' available. Believe me, there is a 'fix' for every issue. You might not be willing to pay the price to repair it though, but with a little creativity who knows what miracles you might whip up.
4) Get creative - even extreme if needed - to solve the problem. Then go one step further. After you've come up with the solution to fix it, give yourself another challenge and see if you can 'go yourself 1-better', bumping it up another notch. A good cook isn't just happy with a good dish. Dedicated cooks, whether in a restaurant or at home, are always looking to tweak their recipes and rachet them up another level or two.
5) Find ways to show off the event's strength. What is the best part of your event? What do people like most about it? Once you isolate the 'Gold Star' area, then you can find ways to show it off even more. Play up the strong points so they stand out beyond any weak areas.
6) Finally, don't complain or talk poison. If you know there are problems with the event that you simply cannot repair, keep them to yourself. Discouraging comments and grumbling only serve to bring down the enthusiasm of your event workers. Instead, think about combining two mediocre events into one 'super day'. This will hide a myriad of weaknesses, and the more excitement going around, the better your whole event vibe will be.
So whatever your event trouble is, either fix it or minimize it. Focus on the fun, and it just might turn into one of your favorite events. Who knows, your group might even like it so much it becomes one of your legacy events, one of your winners that you repeat year after year.
Author Bio:
Sherie Smith has 12 years experience as a professional entertainer and event planner. She has a knack for custom-designing SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISERS. For Sherie's FREE Ultimate Fundraising Success minicourse or more information, visit: http://3hourstofundraisingsuccess.com You can also follow Sherie at her fundraising blog: http://fundraisingsuccessjournal.blogspot.com.
Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Turn-Simple-Fundraisers-Into-Profitable-Legacy-Events&id=4180870
When it comes to organizing a fundraising event, you need to remind yourself what this is for when you feel overwhelmed with the workload. If you stay positive, so will the rest of your team.
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