Whether big or small, the key to a successful fundraising event is planning.
No matter what you have in mind, here are a few things to consider when plan your fundraising activity:
Don’t leave it to the last minute. The sooner you start planning the less you’ll have to worry about nearer the time.
Do you want to organise a gala evening for your local community or keep it small with just friends and family?
Sometimes a series of smaller events can be easier to organise and often raise the most money than a larger event, but don’t let that put you off doing something big.
Set yourself a realistic fundraising target and stick to a budget. If it looks too demanding, rework it so that’s easier to manage. Review it regularly to make sure you’re on track.
If you’re organising a ticketed event, be careful not to overprice or undersell your entry fee. Make sure you set the price to cover the cost of putting on your event.
You can also minimise costs by try to get as many goods and services for free or at a discount. Let suppliers you’re running a charity event and ask local companies to donate prizes to auction or raffle. Remind them it’s for a very good cause and offer them a mention at your activity in return for their support.
Decide who you’d like to invite to your activity, if there will be a cost per person and work out when you need to confirm numbers. This will help you cover your expenses and manage your fundraising target.
When choosing a date, try to avoid clashing with major sporting or social events and public holidays, unless you’re planning your activity around them.
Choose a venue for your activity carefully. If you’re doing a garden party for a few friends, your own back garden may do.
But if you’re looking to extend the invitation to the local community, you may need to hire a venue space. Our local fundraisers can offer advice and tell you what has worked before. If the venue is making sales on the night, ask the venue if they can donate a percentage towards your fundraising target.
We could all use a helping hand so don't hesitate to ask friends and family to help you. It never hurts to ask so let anyone and everyone know how they can help you reach your fundraising goal.
Find out if any rules, regulations or licensing laws apply to your activity and whether you need to do a risk assessment. Find out more in our Legalities section.
©2012 Marie Curie Cancer Care - Registered in England and Wales with Charity Reg No. 207994 and in Scotland with Charity Reg No. SC038731