Mama's need some advice. What do you do when a fund raiser (one of your 2 major for the year) is not doing well? How do you promote it. How to do something different without getting the same "well we have always done it this way" I am the co chair of our annual Fashion Show. Early in the process my co chair and I tried to add in some new and exciting things. We were shot down. However we have persevered and the show is going to marvelous. The only problem is we are not getting the ticket sales we had hoped. The money from this is needed for several future things we as a parish do. So how do I market this differently what could be done to make it more appealing? we have the usual wonderful lunch, door prizes, raffles, 50/50 etc. we have a fantastic retailer doing the clothing. How can it be made any more appealing to a world at large lol. I am so frustrated. When we get people to go they have a great time but its like pulling teeth to get the tickets sold. If anyone has any great fund-raising techniques they would like to share I could really use them.
thanks
S.
Times are hard and money is tight. I would slash the ticket prices. You can have the most wonderful event planed but what good is that if no one can affort to buy the tickets. If things really are going bad try 2 for 1 buy one ticket let 2 people attend.
j
I have worked in public relations for almost 20 years, so I have a couple of ideas:
1. Promote the event for free in the media. Find out who is in charge of local events in your newspaper and get in touch. Focus your call on your charity/parish -- who/how will the profits from this event make a difference in the community? If there's interest, you might line up someone who can talk personally about how your group has helped them. Also investigate options through local TV stations. Do they run any segments about local charity events? Most stations will have a community relations department (I launched my career interning in one, so I'm certain of this) that you can talk to.
2. Network within your organizing committee to see who's in playgroups or has kids in team sports. Consider offering a group discount to moms they know through these activities (e.g., offering a 20% discount if 10 people buy tickets). Write a short e-mail message about your event and the discount that they can easily send out.
Good luck to you!
M.
Sheri,
I too am in charge of a fundraiser every year. Me and my mom are the two main ones in charge. We find that a lot of people ask us what they can do to help and we always tell them to go out there and find 2 people to come. This has helped us a lot. Also, I did do some research on why people attend fundraisers and realized some interesting things...the people attending do not necessarily care where the money is going. What they know is that they are doing their part in helping raise money for 'something' and feel that they have fullfilled that duty for the year. What the attendees want to know about your fundraiser is 'what is in it for them?' So this is what you will want to stress (ie. what prizes do you have in the raffle).
When I sent out the invite this year, people didn't really pay attention to the fact that they would 'be helping 30,000 families in Illinois that have MS' but they sure payed attention to (and commented on) that fact that there were going to be 3 flat panel TV's in the raffle again.
That is about all I have. I learn more every year. But I agree that selling the tickets is the hardest part.
Good luck with your fundraiser.
C.
I agree that fundraising is having a hard time right now (just finished an auction myself).
It sounds like you are not getting support for changes from the "higher ups", so I think you are limited in some ways.
marketing it to mom's groups is a good idea. you have some great ideas listed below and I can't think of anything else, but realize that you are doing the best you can. Maybe they will realize that some changes might be a good thing for next year.
Hi S.,
I hear ya, the age old issue of fund raising, no one really likes it but we can't live without it. The answer is promote, promote, promote! Get the church/school to back you, afterall they're benefitting from the proceeds; # of tickets sold = tuition credit or reserved church parking space or lunch with the pastor or principal (for your child).
If you want to learn about a fund raiser that will net enough money for your parish to do away with all the little fundraisers, promote health in the parish and eliminate debt, give me a call. I just presented this to my parish! It's cutting edge.
C. D ###-###-####
Maybe try advertising it through the High School or Middle School that is where your target audience is. Offer a coupon for the teen at half the adult rate to get more people in. Or how about listing your event on the Community Events page of your local paper, they offer free ads to not-for profit organizatios. Radio stations often offer free ads for non-for profit organizations like a church as well. Good luck with your event.
Post on Twigger, Facebook, and make flyers to post at stores in your area,
ask each store manger first and also invite them participate if a chothing
store maybe they want to promote some of their wear. Ask your local
church or where you go and ask to make an announcement.
Bye the way where is this fundrasier?
God Bless and good luck!
See if there are any Moms clubs in your area, and promote it to them as a "girls night out", perhaps offering a group discount?
