Imagup General Magazine 2024
With the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic starting to creep in, it’s no surprise that many companies (big and small) are looking for alternative sources of operating capital. Perhaps the best option, especially for startup businesses, is to call for fundraising. This is one of the most effective ways of generating funds to stabilize your business and ensure a constant flow of operations throughout the year.
That sounds like a good idea, right? Well, the most difficult part is convincing people to support you. You see, no one is ready to reach into their pockets if you don’t convince them. Apart from all your overall goals and missions, another way of convincing people is by organizing a good fundraiser. When you have a well-planned event, people will see your seriousness and might use their impression to judge your level of professionalism.
According to givebutter.com, the only way you can achieve that reputation, especially as a beginner, is to learn some hints and tips then apply them practically. This article aims to discuss some of the items and features that must be included in any fundraiser checklist.
Have Clear Goals
Every fundraising activity must have clear goals. What are you planning to achieve at the end of the day? You should first start telling your audience what the money will be used for. Are the funds going to help run a non-profit organization, a private course, or your company’s projects? Remember, your honesty will play a vital role in the whole fundraising process.
Once you’ve determined the purpose of your event, you can now go ahead and come up with a budget. How much will your project cost? Be sure to compare with similar projects around you so that you can end up with the best estimate possible.
If your goal is to raise $5000, for example, make sure you break down how you’re going to use that money. Most people are always ready to help only when they’re sure they can trust you. The best way of building that trust is by showing potential well-wishers where their money will go. Breaking down the project into small pieces makes it easier for people to understand and makes your event even more genuine.
There are also some pre-event goals that you’ll need to set for the function to run smoothly. First, how many people are you expecting to attend the event? With this in mind, you can set up the venue with the right number of seats. It’ll also give you a rough idea of the amount of food you should prepare.
Event Planning Team
Whether this is your first time doing a fundraiser or not, you’ll always need to have an event planning team. Setting goals and ensuring that they’re met can be very daunting, especially if you’re doing everything by yourself. Therefore, the best approach will be to build a team that’ll ensure everything runs smoothly.
There are organizations that specialized in event planning. Since most of them provide everything from scratch, you can hire one of them. All you’ll need is to pay for the services, relax, and wait for the event to begin. In fact, many fundraiser planners usually follow through with the event to ensure that all your goals are met.
Inasmuch as this sounds like a good option, it might not be ideal for small businesses. If your fundraising event is geared towards helping you start a new business, then it would be wise to select a few experienced members of your team to take on the duties. This won’t only save you time and money, but it’ll also give you peace of mind knowing that you’ve delegated important tasks to the people you trust.
Set The Date And Venue
These factors might seem obvious but they’re very crucial in meeting your goals. For one, you’d want to select a day when most of, if not all, your target group will be available. On weekdays, everyone is always busy with their daily tasks. Many people are also busy on weekends with their families, while others are trying to push their side hustles. Therefore, there’s no perfect day of the week, but you’ll need to find the best option based on the guests.
With that out of the way, you’ll now need to find the best venue for your event. Here are some of the things to consider when looking for a venue:
- The number of expected guests
- Preparation expenses and time
- Location (is it within or outside the city?)
These are the main factors that must be kept in mind to ensure that you find an ideal venue. It’s also worth noting that some of these venues provide food or snacks as part of the package.
Therefore, be sure to find one that perfectly meets your needs.
Leverage Digital Marketing
Are you looking to hold one of the biggest fundraiser events? If so, online advertisement is the way to go. Many consumers and potential fundraiser partners today are active internet users. This is the new and best way of interacting with other people in this day and age. Therefore, to get the best out of your fundraising, it would be prudent to leverage any digital strategy at your disposal.
The easiest and most affordable form of digital marketing is social media. This is one of the best tools you can use to let people know of your plans and any relevant updates. Also, those willing to give a hand will, more often than not, try to reach you on social media before trying other means. So, being active on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter will help your course.
Conclusion
Calling for financial help through fundraising is a good idea, especially for startup non-profit businesses. However, planning this event can be daunting even for the most experienced players on the field.
Whether you’re holding a fundraising event for the first or second time, all the tips covered in this article will always come in handy.
Just to recap on some of the most important considerations, make sure you set clear pre-event and post-event goals. To meet these objectives, you’ll need an event planning team who will be responsible for all important tasks before and during the D-day. Among the responsibilities of this team include finding the most ideal venue and ensuring that all invited guests are updated whenever possible.
