The Basics of Fundraising

In order to be successful at organized fund-raising, you must believe in what you are doing. The type of fund-raising project in which you participate must be well-planned and meaningful. If items are being made for a bazaar, they should be neat, serviceable, reasonably priced, and visually appealing. If you are using throwaway items or scraps of any kind, make them so attractive it will be hard to identify the "leftovers."

The project leader and volunteers need to be persistent, energetic, dedicated, and caring people. They need to be able to encourage themselves. They need to be self-starters and creative.

Take pride in the merchandise you sell at bazaars. Everything you do is a reflection on your group and your church. Less attractive items should be placed in the least visible spots. Unique or very pretty items should be placed in high-visibility areas.

The cliche, "It takes money to make money," is true. You cannot begin a fund-raising project without money. If you have a very limited budget, have several small fund-raising projects before trying to sponsor a larger one.

Make all fund-raising activities realistic. Identify your audience (buyers), and work accordingly. When shopping for usable items or materials, compare prices before making purchases. If you are buying large quantities, ask for price breaks.

Ingredients of Successful Fund-Raising

There are five basic ingredients in every successful fund-raising project. Without them, any type of fund-raising will be risky.

Purpose

The first element you must have is a cause or purpose. If you do not have a legitimate reason for raising funds, don't. You won't be able to convince others to give or get involved. On the other hand, if you have a worthwhile cause, you can promote your efforts with confidence.

Leader

The second ingredient you need is a good leader. She should be qualified to do the job. She should be enthusiastic, a good communicator, persistent, and determined. Otherwise, she may drop the ball in the middle of the project. Choose your leader carefully!

Volunteers

Another necessary part of your fund-raising is volunteers. One person cannot accomplish the task alone. She must have help. Check out your volunteers. Have they had previous experience? Are they self-starters? Are they hard workers, dependable, and dedicated to the cause?

Audience

A very important ingredient to consider is your public or audience. Without them you cannot succeed with your fund-raising project.

Plan

Once you have considered the first four ingredients, it will be necessary to develop a plan. At this point, you should bring in your leader, assistant leader, volunteers, and others to complete your project with detailed plans. Make decisions affecting the project from the beginning to completion. Know where you are going.

When you have the necessary ingredients, feel confident and proceed with your fund-raising project!

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