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Play it by Ear: Fundraising Suggestions
| Pledges |
| Pay to Play |
| Tickets |
| Raffle Prizes |
| Concessions |
| Matching Gifts |
| Business Sponsorships |
| General Donations |
All of our event suggestions are built around one or more of the following methods.
Be creative and remember that we're here to help you implement these ideas!
Pledges
Raising money through pledges can be as simple as asking participants to collect donations of any amount prior to the event that are turned in the day of the event.
Or you can ask participants to find donors (i.e. family, friends, and co-workers) who will give a set amount per increment. This could mean $10 for each mile of the hike completed, $1 for each minute of hula hooping, or $5 for each strike in a bowl-a-thon.
Something to consider… The second idea raises more money per participant but also adds time and administration to wrapping up the fundraiser because money isn't collected until after the event.
Other thoughts:
- Give participants a goal. For example, ask each person to raise $50.
- Give participants an extra incentive. For example, the top fundraiser gets a prize or special recognition during the event.
Pay to Play
This method is typically used for charging participants to enter a contest or tournament. It could be $10 per person to enter the bowl-a-thon, $25 to enter the fishing tournament, or $100 to enter the golf tournament.
"Pay to play" and pledges often work hand-in-hand – e.g. you could charge what sounds like a high amount to enter a contest but emphasize that participants can either pay the fee themselves or with donations collected from friends and family.
Tickets
Tickets work best for any event in which the general public is more of an audience than a participant – e.g. concerts, ball games, and "silent" movies. But you can also sell tickets to an event in which your participants are collecting pledges. For example, you could sell tickets for $5 to the "celebrity" softball game AND challenge each team to raise $250.
Raffle Prizes
Prizes are great because they give participants extra motivation to attend your event and they help you attract people not attending the event. (Prizes are even better if they're donated.)
Sample prizes: Raffle a $100 gift certificate or a GPS tracker from your local sporting goods store for your Hike for Hearing, a coveted putter or round of golf for your Hole-in-One for Hearing, or a Harley Davidson jacket for your motorcycle ride.
Concessions
This could be as simple as selling bottled water to thirsty hikers or peanuts to fans at your softball game.
The Moses Lake Lions
have found that deep-fried
Twinkies are a big hit.
Matching Gifts
Here's a relatively easy way to double the amount of money raised from your event – ask a local business to give a donation that matches the total amount you raise.
Not sure which company to approach? Start with places where you have a direct connection, like an employer or a place where you frequently shop. Businesses are more likely to support people and organizations that give them something in return. More information is available on the web here.
Business Sponsorships
Similarly, nearly every business today has some kind of a marketing budget, which means they want to publicize their name to get more customers.
Many also want to be known for contributing to the community, which means they want to be affiliated with local charities, sports teams, and performing arts groups.
Asking a business to sponsor your event can take the shape of anything from including their name on a flyer for a $50 donation to letting them post a banner at the event for $500. More information is available on the web here.
General Donations
Include your Club PO Box or treasurer's address in promotional materials about your event in case someone can't participate but still wants to make a gift. Ask donors to write the name of the event on the check so you know what prompted the donation.
And don't forget to thank them! You can download a sample letter here.