Every fundraising event has a goal. Whether it’s to raise money, awareness, or both, the goal is clear.
However, people can easily get bogged down with all the details that go into running an event and lose sight of their overall purpose.
Here are some unique fundraising ideas that can help you reach your goal.
1. Use digital signage
This is one of the most effective and innovative ways to get your message across to potential donors, guests, and sponsors. It’s also one of the most cost-efficient measures you can take. With digital signage, you can target potential donors in one part of your venue while telling everyone else about another important aspect of your event at another location within your venue.
You won’t find this kind of flexibility and efficiency anywhere else. While many people think of digital signage as an advertising tool, it also works well for promoting certain aspects of an event, such as silent auctions or raffles where only certain people are allowed to enter. Another benefit is that digital signage gives your event a polished and professional look, which in turn will enhance the appearance of your donor list.
2. Let donors become organizers
Everyone can be an organizer for this unique fundraising idea, even if they aren’t experienced in the world of planning fundraisers. You need some form of an online presence or a social media account to make this happen, and you’ll need to provide helpful information that can be easily accessed by potential donors who want to learn more about the fundraiser and how they can help. To entice them, include links where they can begin fundraising right away, such as through a personal fundraising page on social media.
3. Have your guests run auctions
This is another great fundraising idea that gives everyone a chance to contribute. Whether it’s your friends, family, or even guests at your event, they can help you reach your goal by donating items for an auction of their own.
This fundraiser works best when the items are related to the event, so people don’t feel like they’re being asked for too much. It’s a great feeling to have everyone pitching in, and it makes the event seem more inclusive. With most auctions, guests write their bids on pieces of paper and hold them up for all to see later when it’s time for the auctioneer to call out each bid in rapid succession. With this unique idea, your guests will be able to bid on items with their smartphones or tableside tablets that are connected to your auction application.
4. Turn your fundraiser into a nice party
One of the best ways to get people interested in attending an event is by transforming it into a party that people want to attend. Doing so takes a little more planning and coordination, of course, but it’s worth the effort to create a more relaxed and fun atmosphere that further enhances the experience for both you and your guests.
Start by making an attractive invitation that depicts pictures of people having a good time at previous events. Distribute these invitations early on, so they get the word out there before potential donors begin to ask about it.
5. Partner with local restaurants
Operating costs can get pretty high when you’re running an event such as this. One way to solve this problem is by partnering with local restaurants in your area who will donate some of their food items for use during the fundraiser, while also offering up special discounts for those who attend your event. People love free food, so this is a great way to get more people in the door and on their way to donating for your cause.
This unique fundraising idea makes use of both local restaurants and the generosity of people who may have extra food in their homes. Sometimes, people are willing to do this because they want it to go toward a good cause and thank them by providing a public shout-out on social media or an additional link where donors can leave a financial contribution.
Why are fundraisers important?
Fundraisers are important because they help charities raise money to continue their work in the community. They are also an excellent way to get the word out about a charity’s mission, which can lead to increased support from current donors and also attract new supporters who might not have become involved otherwise.
Fundraisers are really beneficial for any cause, especially if you want them to succeed in bringing awareness to your local area. It gives them a larger outreach that can reach more people while making it easier for potential donors or clients to find out all about their services.
It’s easy to become discouraged when this happens and start seeing no progress being made with fundraising.
That’s why it’s important to have various ways to raise money, so one isn’t so dependent upon the other. Fortunately, there are unique fundraising ideas that can help you reach your goal, and we’ve outlined five of them for you here.