Fundraising for Your Fundraising for Your StateState

Bob Donnelly (DE)Bob Donnelly (DE)

FundraisingFundraising

It is the process of soliciting and It is the process of soliciting and gathering contributions by gathering contributions by requesting donations from requesting donations from individuals, businesses and other individuals, businesses and other foundations.foundations.

Why should You Fundraise?Why should You Fundraise? You fundraise for a sense of purpose or You fundraise for a sense of purpose or

meaning that you find in your work.meaning that you find in your work. Fundraising provides financial freedom Fundraising provides financial freedom

for a non-profit to pursue their mission.for a non-profit to pursue their mission. Most people continue to fundraise Most people continue to fundraise

because they strongly believe in their because they strongly believe in their mission and they have a vision for their mission and they have a vision for their organization.organization.

PublicityPublicity The success of your Fundraiser The success of your Fundraiser

depends on how much publicity your depends on how much publicity your group can attract. Community group can attract. Community awareness will always increase your awareness will always increase your overall financial results.overall financial results.– Press ReleasesPress Releases– WebsiteWebsite– FacebookFacebook– Flyers/PostersFlyers/Posters– Other EventsOther Events

Press ReleasesPress Releases Do public announcements. Do public announcements.

DSRC utilized radio talk DSRC utilized radio talk show hosts, they did show hosts, they did FREE FREE announcements over the announcements over the air. air.

Public Service Cable Public Service Cable Channel (Free)Channel (Free)

Newspaper ads (Small Fee) Newspaper ads (Small Fee) $180.00 sm ½ pg ad.$180.00 sm ½ pg ad.

Target your audience. Target your audience. Delaware has a local free Delaware has a local free paper called the Spark that paper called the Spark that targets locals under 40yr.targets locals under 40yr.

Website / FacebookWebsite / Facebook Society website and Facebook is the easiest Society website and Facebook is the easiest

way to spread the word, communicate and way to spread the word, communicate and highlight your goals , thank your sponsors, highlight your goals , thank your sponsors, thank individuals who made contributions and thank individuals who made contributions and give constant updates.give constant updates.

E-mail- Spread the word, do the chain e-mails.E-mail- Spread the word, do the chain e-mails. DSRC used a server called Piryx, which DSRC used a server called Piryx, which

allowed us to put pictures of people and allowed us to put pictures of people and collect donations via Credit Card. They collect donations via Credit Card. They charged about 4.5 % of transaction fee.charged about 4.5 % of transaction fee.

Flyers / PostersFlyers / Posters

Place at local Hot Spots that are Place at local Hot Spots that are highly visible and high traffic areas.highly visible and high traffic areas.

-Depending on what cliental you -Depending on what cliental you are looking for will determine where are looking for will determine where you are placing the advertisements.you are placing the advertisements.

Preparation for the eventPreparation for the event Recruit good volunteersRecruit good volunteers

- Start early- Start early- Energetic and Helpful- Energetic and Helpful

Define PositionsDefine Positions-Set up a list that clearly defines:-Set up a list that clearly defines:

- Job roles, responsibilities, and - Job roles, responsibilities, and expectations.expectations. Be proactive, target specific skill sets: match up Be proactive, target specific skill sets: match up

tasks with personalities.tasks with personalities. Have a core of volunteers with experience and fill Have a core of volunteers with experience and fill

out the rest with ones that you can groom.out the rest with ones that you can groom.

Board MembersBoard Members

Use Them !! Every member should be Use Them !! Every member should be involved in one way or another.involved in one way or another.

Every board member has connections Every board member has connections with someone within the community. with someone within the community. Utilize !!Utilize !!

Every board member should make a Every board member should make a contribution to your event.contribution to your event.

The more people that get the word out The more people that get the word out the more successful your event will be.the more successful your event will be.

Failures / MistakesFailures / Mistakes

Lack of Planning- Start out with a time line Lack of Planning- Start out with a time line at least 6-8 months. Get the ball rollingat least 6-8 months. Get the ball rolling

Don’t repeat the fundraiser if the results Don’t repeat the fundraiser if the results were marginal.were marginal.

“ “The goal is to make money not lose The goal is to make money not lose it!”it!”

Not enough help- You could burned out Not enough help- You could burned out your core group.your core group.

Low quality merchandise- stay within a Low quality merchandise- stay within a budget but don’t be cheesy.budget but don’t be cheesy.

Inadequate sales presentation- If Inadequate sales presentation- If volunteers are selling items make volunteers are selling items make sure they know the script, you want sure they know the script, you want them all to be on the same page, you them all to be on the same page, you don’t want missed opportunities == don’t want missed opportunities == less $$$.less $$$.

No Donation script- Have a donation No Donation script- Have a donation letter sent out to prospective donors letter sent out to prospective donors with your organizations letterhead with your organizations letterhead describing your mission.describing your mission.

Why does the DSRC Why does the DSRC Fundraise?Fundraise?

MembersMembers

We offer free CEU Dinners to a limited We offer free CEU Dinners to a limited number of members.number of members.

We offer “A Night Out At The Blue Rocks” We offer “A Night Out At The Blue Rocks” tickets to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, a tickets to the Wilmington Blue Rocks, a minor league Baseball Team in Delaware, minor league Baseball Team in Delaware, limited number of members.limited number of members.

Free Hayride and BBQ before Halloween Free Hayride and BBQ before Halloween for members and their families.for members and their families.

Free Bowling Night to a limited number of Free Bowling Night to a limited number of members.members.

Asthma CampAsthma Camp

Asthma Camp takes place over 3 Asthma Camp takes place over 3 weeks each summer, one week in weeks each summer, one week in New Castle County one in Sussex New Castle County one in Sussex County and one in Kent County. This County and one in Kent County. This camp enables area children with camp enables area children with chronic asthma the opportunity to chronic asthma the opportunity to attend a camp supervised by a attend a camp supervised by a Respiratory Therapists, Rn’s and Respiratory Therapists, Rn’s and Physicians.Physicians.

Last Year’s FundraisersLast Year’s Fundraisers

Poker TournamentPoker Tournament Golf TournamentGolf Tournament Guest Bartender NightGuest Bartender Night

Poker NightPoker Night 40 people paid $100.00 to enter40 people paid $100.00 to enter Spent about 4 months prep timeSpent about 4 months prep time Had to purchase liability insurance ($200.00)Had to purchase liability insurance ($200.00) State Gaming License ($250.00)State Gaming License ($250.00) Purchase food/beverages ($450.00)Purchase food/beverages ($450.00) Poker Co. to run Tournament ($250.00)Poker Co. to run Tournament ($250.00) Raise minimal amt of funds (couple hundred Raise minimal amt of funds (couple hundred

dollars)dollars) Now Delaware has Racenios. Live Table Now Delaware has Racenios. Live Table

games and slots.games and slots. Bad timing?? Not enough interest?Bad timing?? Not enough interest? Not a event that we will pursue in the futureNot a event that we will pursue in the future

Golf TournamentGolf Tournament Held once a yearHeld once a year Local courseLocal course 6-8 months in advance prep time6-8 months in advance prep time 12 volunteers on the course12 volunteers on the course - Beverage carts- Beverage carts

- Speciality stands- Speciality stands - Selling Raffle Items- Selling Raffle Items

Silent auction itemsSilent auction items Mulligan' s and String GameMulligan' s and String Game 5 yr average $8,000 - 10,000 net5 yr average $8,000 - 10,000 net

Some ways we were making Some ways we were making $$$$

Guest Bartender NightGuest Bartender Night Once a year fundraiser at a local pubOnce a year fundraiser at a local pub 3 year average $19,000 - $24,000 net3 year average $19,000 - $24,000 net 6- month prep time6- month prep time Group of 10 volunteers Group of 10 volunteers 3 Committees3 Committees

- Bartenders, Silent Auction/Volunteers - Bartenders, Silent Auction/Volunteers and Sponsorsand Sponsors

Need motivated Bartenders (Volunteers)Need motivated Bartenders (Volunteers) Need Silent auction donationsNeed Silent auction donations Must buy Bartender shirts and wristbandsMust buy Bartender shirts and wristbands

BartendersBartenders

We need 3 bartenders @ each bar (3 We need 3 bartenders @ each bar (3 bars) 36 bartenders 7-11. bars) 36 bartenders 7-11.

Each bartender must sell 15 tix @ Each bartender must sell 15 tix @ 10.00 each ($5400.00) Prior to the 10.00 each ($5400.00) Prior to the Night. Most sell more. Waiver to sign.Night. Most sell more. Waiver to sign.

Each bartender must bring a silent Each bartender must bring a silent auction item.auction item.

Bartender WebsiteBartender Website

We have a bartender link attached to the We have a bartender link attached to the DSRC website that has a list of all the DSRC website that has a list of all the bartenders with a picture of them and a bartenders with a picture of them and a running tab of online donations that they running tab of online donations that they collected. Piryx website. Link can be collected. Piryx website. Link can be attached to Facebook and emailed directly attached to Facebook and emailed directly out to solicit donations.out to solicit donations.

We had over $3,400.00 online donations We had over $3,400.00 online donations from our bartendersfrom our bartenders

Night of $2,800.00 Bar TipsNight of $2,800.00 Bar Tips Total $6,200.00 just in Tips.Total $6,200.00 just in Tips.

Bartender Tip Jar- We raised Bartender Tip Jar- We raised over $2,800.00 in bar tips in 5 over $2,800.00 in bar tips in 5

hrs.hrs.

Silent Auction items- 30 items Silent Auction items- 30 items varies GC/Wine/Pics/Jerseys varies GC/Wine/Pics/Jerseys

etc…etc…

Wheelbarrow of Cheer. Wheelbarrow of Cheer. Bartender donations. Over 30 Bartender donations. Over 30 bottles of alcohol, raffle tickets bottles of alcohol, raffle tickets

($2-5 $5-10 arm -$20)($2-5 $5-10 arm -$20)

2 Bands that played in upstairs 2 Bands that played in upstairs bar area from 7:30-12 pmbar area from 7:30-12 pm

Live auction- 2 Game 2 tix to Live auction- 2 Game 2 tix to Phillies vs Cincinnati Gm 2 Phillies vs Cincinnati Gm 2

PlayoffsPlayoffsTix sold for $550.00Tix sold for $550.00

Some BartendersSome Bartenders

Totals for GBN 2010Totals for GBN 2010 Pre event tix salesPre event tix sales $5,400.00$5,400.00 Tips (online and night of)Tips (online and night of) $6,200.00$6,200.00 Night of event andNight of event and $10,500.00$10,500.00

Sponsorships _____________Sponsorships _____________

Total $22,100.00Total $22,100.00

Expenses (Bar, Shirts) - $1,500.00 Expenses (Bar, Shirts) - $1,500.00

____________________________

TOTAL GBN 2010TOTAL GBN 2010 $20,600.00$20,600.00