It's critical that you promote your peer to peer fundraiser to get the word out. They won't come if they don't know about it. It can be surprisingly simple and easy to attract people to your event using methods that are mostly free.
The key to success in this area is to start early and to be very persistent. The city, the media, and companies plan far in advance. If you want them to post your event, ask early. Keep a detailed spreadsheet of calls made, letters sent, and the status of requests made so it's easy to follow up.
Contact your local city hall
- Digital Boards
Many cities/towns have one or more digital boards setup along high traffic streets to promote local events. Contact your local city hall and find out if you can have your peer to peer fundraiser posted on the city's public boards.
- Newsletters / Calendars
Many cities/towns publish a newsletter, and/or a calendar. Ask if you can have your event listed in the calendar or mentioned in the newsletter.
Contact your local media
When contacting the media, use a press release. It should contain all the pertinent information regarding your event such as the cause you are supporting, the date, time, place and the beneficiary that will receive the funds you will be raising. Write a compelling personal story of why you are organizing this event or how beneficiaries of the event will be helped.
- Local Radio
Your local radio station has specific time allotted in it's schedule for non-profit announcements. They are usually more than happy to mention your event on the air if you ask. You might even be granted a short interview on air to talk about your cause.
- Local TV
Just like the local radio stations, your local TV station usually has specific time allotted to mention local fundraisers. They are part of your community and are usually willing to help.
- Local newspapers
It's their mission to report what's happening in your town. Small community based local papers will almost always give you some posting. They may even come to cover the event and write it up with a picture.
- Use your existing contacts/network/database
Do you collect/maintain a database of contacts, donors, or supporters? Does your group have any former members, employees or Alumni who may be interested in this event? If you have held this event before, do you have a list of previous participants and donors?
- Use your organizations newsletter
Does your organization publish any newsletters or other communications you can piggyback on? Are there any partner organizations or other organizations or groups who are sympathetic to your cause that may be willing to promote your event in their newsletters or materials?
Contact local celebrities and politicians
- Media Buzz
Do you or any of your volunteers know any local celebrities? What about local sports teams? Radio personalities? How about the mayor of your town? It might be a longshot, but you can always ask them to come make an appearance or even to speak at your event. If you can get someone recognizable to participate, it can help motivate the public to participate, creates more legitimacy and media buzz for your event, and can help sell corporate sponsorships.
Other free methods
- Public boards
There are many places where you can post a flyer for your event; coffee shops, barber shops, salons, etc.
- Social media
Your MyEvent website includes social media sharing buttons. Consider creating a Facebook group for your event linking to your MyEvent website.
- Flyers/Posters/Lawn signs
Flyers and posters can usually be created and printed relative inexpensively or preferably donated. It's a simple but effective technique. Send some young volunteers out in your neighborhood to local shops, libraries, community centers, parks, and anywhere you can post a poster or flyer. Lawn signs may come at a cost; however, they can be very good at creating awareness for your event if you can place them in the right locations (check local regulations). Try to get a sponsor to donate or pay for your lawn signs. Usually they can be re-used year after year if the date is not permanently printed on each sign.
- Companies
Companies can both promote your event and be a source to recruit volunteers and participants, as well as corporate sponsorships. Corporate sponsorships and other advantages of approaching companies are covered in this guide in more detail in the section on Corporate Sponsorships.
