A community walk or run to support cancer is one of many types of fundraisers.
Going door-to-door seeking money for an organization that benefits cancer research and prevention is one way to raise funds for the cause. But hosting an event is a way to reach a lot of people at one time and have the potential to earn more money in a shorter amount of time, according to the American Association for Cancer Research. Hosting a fundraiser, whether it is large or small, may seem overwhelming, but with time and proper planning, it can be successful.
Instructions
1. Set a goal. Determine how much money the event needs to raise. Set a realistic fundraising goal, and if this is a first-time event, don't set the expectations too high. Figure out how much money will go into planning and hosting the event. Will there be travel expenses? Will t-shirts, food and supplies need to be purchased? How much will marketing materials cost? To ensure you stay on track with these finances, create a budget to ensure that the planning fees don't get out of hand.
2. Determine the type of event or fundraising program. Choose an event that will interest people in your community. If you desire to host a golf tournament, but your target audiences are not golf enthusiasts, then it may be wise not to put time and effort into that type of event, advises the American Association for Cancer Research. Research the types of events that other organizations have successfully accomplished. If gala events seem to be a hit, then that may be the direction you choose to take.
3. Set a realistic and achievable date. When choosing a date, ensure that you give yourself and the fundraising team ample time to plan and market the event. Depending on the event, setting a date for six months to a year prior to the event may be appropriate. For other smaller events, just two months may suffice. When choosing a date, ensure that no other community events are taking place on that day. Check into sporting events or other charity fundraisers to ensure your date doesn't conflict with another event.
4. Develop fundraising committees that will be responsible for handling specific areas of the event. These committees will be in charge of everything from marketing to volunteer recruitment to implementing activities to obtaining sponsorships. It's not realistic for one or two people to implement a successful fundraiser. Delegating tasks to committee members will help accomplish goals more effectively.
5. Market the event. To ensure that people come to the event, donate and understand how the event can benefit cancer research, prevention and advocacy, it's important to create an effective marketing strategy. Aside from creating flyers and brochures, reach out to the local media. Request to be interviewed on the news, or write a press release and submit it to a newspaper reporter. Use social media tools, such as Twitter or Facebook, to market the event. Also, reach out to local hospitals, medical facilities, nonprofit organizations and cancer organizations to advertise the event.
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