Regardless of your Fundraising model (Registration Fee and/or Peer to peer Fundraising), the amount you raise is directly a result of how many participants you can get to participate. It's a numbers game. Keep this important fact in mind; the more participants, the more you will raise. Corporate Sponsorships, Recruitment, Media, and PR are critical tasks to maximizing your fundraising. In addition to "Registration" and/or "Peer to peer Fundraising" there are other ways to raise more money with your event.
- Corporate Sponsorships
Selling sponsorships, can be an excellent way to raise additional funds. Companies pay for exposure to your group of participants and/or donors (sponsor). Your sponsors get to have their logo displayed on your website and on a board at the event. The MyEvent website and system makes selling sponsorships online easy. If you're printing banners, flyers, posters, t-shirts, or advertisements, your corporate sponsors logos can appear on those materials as well.
A more detailed description and explanation about Corporate Sponsorships is in the "Event Planning Task List" section under Corporate Sponsorships.
- Raffle
This is one of the oldest tried and true ways to raise additional money. Before planning to hold a raffle, check with your local authorities to see if you require any permits or licenses. Running a successful raffle requires a good main prize and/or other prizes. Therefore, there is usually some work involved in procuring your prizes. Most of all, you'll need volunteers to sell your raffle tickets. If you're able to procure good prizes, and you've checked and obtained any necessary permits, the MyEvent website and system makes selling your raffle tickets online easy.
- Silent Auction
The Silent auction can be another way to increase your overall fundraising. To hold a silent auction, you need to assemble a bunch of items that people will want to bid on. In some cases, you may be able to get some items donated. In other cases, you may be able to get suppliers to provide items at a heavily discounted rate. For these items you'll need to impose a "minimum bid" to ensure you don't sell anything below cost (plus a markup). Once you've assembled a group of items to auction, you can place pictures and descriptions of each item on your website, so people can see the items in advance.
At the event, you'll need tables to display all the items up for bid. Place a description in front of each item that lists the actual retail value of each item. Then place a paper on a clipboard in front of each item. Bidders who are interested write down their bid on the clipboard. If another person wants the item, they list their higher bid below the prior bid. People continue bidding until the auction is officially closed, at which time the items are awarded to the winners. Items that did not reach their minimum bid can be returned to the vendor who provided the goods.
- Sell T-shirts
T-shirts can be a source of revenue if you can sell them either at the event, or by giving T-shirts to all registrants who pay a registration fee, or as an incentive to give to those who raise a substantial amount. If you are selling T-shirts, make sure your markup is adequate as you may have loss, shrinkage, or leftover unsold inventory. T-Shirts have the benefit of creating awareness for your cause, organization, and/or event. If possible, get all your volunteers to wear the shirt the day of the event. It adds an element of professionalism to your event. It's even more impressive if all the participants wear the same shirt. T-shirts that are attractive or that have a “cool” factor work best. Finally, you can charge your corporate sponsors even more if their logo appears on your T-shirts. If your lucky, you may be able to have the T-shirts donated by a manufacturer who agrees to become a sponsor, or to have them paid for by a donor, technically avoiding any "expenses".
