Non-Profit Fundraising

Often, it is necessary for non-profit organizations to solicit donations from the community or hold non-profit fundraising events. Are you in the process of planning a fundraiser for your non-profit organization? If so, here are some tips to make your non-profit fundraising event a success!

Find the right fundraising organizations:

There are many great fundraising organizations that can help you with your efforts to raise money. Some of these organizations will plan and orchestrate the entire event for you, while others work more as consultants. You don't necessarily need a fundraising organization to help you, but if your non-profit fundraising is on a large scale, it certainly wouldn't hurt! Just make sure to research a company thoroughly before committing to work with them to ensure they're legitimate.

Choose products people want and need:

When selling merchandise for non-profit fundraising purposes, choose items that people naturally want and need. One great idea? Food! Gourmet items like chocolate, popcorn, cheesecake, coffee, tea, pizza and pasta are examples of food items that many organizations have successfully sold in their non-profit fundraisers.

Other popular merchandise items for non-profit fundraising include scented candles, holiday collectibles, gift wrap, coupon books, discount cards, and home decor.

Your non-profit organization will usually be charged a wholesale rate for the merchandise. Your customers will pay retail prices, of course. The difference between the two prices equals your earnings. Some items can be marked up quite a bit, equaling large profits for your organization!

Hold a fun event:

Examples of fun events that can work as excellent fundraisers include car washes, bake sales, breakfasts and dinners, carnivals, raffles, and auctions. Events are great for non-profit fundraising because they attract a larger portion of the community. One event that always brings in crowds is Casino Night. Set up authentic casino games, but use play money. Charge attendees at the door for tickets. To add even more appeal and earning power to any event, hold a raffle. Ask local
businesses to donate prizes like gift certificates and merchandise. The better the prizes, the more raffle tickets you'll sell.

Remember the basics:

To make any non-profit fundraising idea a success, you need determination and hard work, as well as an enthusiastic group of volunteers to help you. If you're excited about your fundraising efforts, others will be, too. And when it comes to non-profit fundraising, it takes a village, so to speak!

Copyright 2006 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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