Looking for some fundraising input, please

banslug

banslug

Cathlete
Without going into details right now, cancer has struck again in my tight circle. I'm sick of it. I've done my share of fundraising (TNT Disney Marathon, events at our school, neighborhood bake/garage sales, etc), but I want to go BIG this time.

I'm interested in a lift-a-thon and/or a benefit concert. I have a contact or 2 in the works for BOTH of these and I'm even considering the possibility of combining the 2 events for one large event. My question for YOU......do you, or anybody you know, have ANY experience (no matter how little or big) in one of these events? Or do you have any ideas or suggestions for events like this? Would you be willing to share your input with me....either in this post or thru PM or email?

Thanks in advance.

Gayle
 
Gayle, I am so sorry to hear that your circle has been struck by cancer yet again. It seems so unfair! As you may know, my young niece was taken from us this past December due to complications from Juvenile Diabetes. There was a concert in her memory the same weekend as the RT and the proceeds were donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. I don't have the final tally, but the last I heard they raised over $5000 for the cause.

I was not in any way involved with organizing the concert so I don't have a lot of the details, but my brother put this whole thing together in a relatively short period of time. His band played and all of the members donated their time. The event was held at an AMVETS hall and someone donated the rental fee. They bought some advertising and some was donated. Articles about the concert ran in 2 or 3 area newspapers. I'm not sure if there were TV or radio ads. They charged $5 for the tickets which were sold in advance. They also sold T-shirts for $20 apiece and those went like hotcakes.

They auctioned off a few items, including memorabilia related to my brother's band (I submitted the winning bid of $375 for an old publicity photo taken of the band in 1966 :eek: :D). It was a live auction and pretty laid back and silly. It was meant to be fun.

We were completely blown away by the turnout. The hall was filled beyond capacity and several people had to stand outside. It was a lot of fun and we felt it was a huge success. I'm not sure if this is the kind of thing you're thinking of, but I can talk to my brother and get some details about the planning that went into it if you like. Just let me know.
 
Thanks, Michele. I was actually going to email you today about your niece's concert.

I have so many thoughts and ideas going thru my head right now, and I'm piecing it all together. I love the idea of the benefit concert and have been involved just a wee bit with something like that (DH's family and I started up a scholarship fund at our High School and the first 3 years or so they had a concert similar to this to help add to that scholarship....I've sinced pulled away from the involvement of that scholarship because I didn't agree with some of the family's 'antics' with it).

Anyway, THANK YOU for your input. I truly appreciate it.

Gayle
 
Gosh, there are so many details to events like this--kudos to you for taking it on! I think if I were you I'd start with an affiliation with a nonprofit so you can have 501c3 status. That way you can go after sponsors. If you can get local retailers to give you $500-1000 you'll be in good shape. Places like Whole Foods, Target, Home Depot, etc. do both monetary & product donations. The product donations might worthwhile for auctions.

Obviously, the more free services you can get the better off you'll be. Hopefully you can get some entertainment at no cost. Maybe some kind of battle of the bands or something, that way you can give away a cheesy trophy & have incentive for free music.

The biggest events I've worked were the children's hospital telethons, they were a 3 day thing (exhausting), & we had our entire staff take on different aspects of the event. But by the time I started there it ran like a well oiled machine. Too much info to even try to write here, but maybe if you want specifics re. how it was managed I can answer through PMs.

Good luck--fundraising is so difficult in this economy, but you certainly have a worthy cause.
 
I actually do fundraisers for youth goups, school groups, 4H clubs, etc...But I think you need to be looking at a full fledged benefit. I've directly helped with 17 of them over the past 5 years. PLEASE let me know if you need anything!!

Contact your local Jaycees, they will let you use not only their gambling license (for raffles, bingo, etc.) but the tax exept number that was refered to in a earlier response. If you're looking at a "lift-a-thon", contact your local gym. They may be willing to donate a time slot at the gym.

You will be AMAZED at the outpouring of suggestions and support you will get once you start asking. Most people, by nature, WANT to help. They just don't know how. Don't be afraid to get specific when you need something.

Where are you (sorry, didn't look!). If you're in the midwest, our sporting goods store sponsers the AWF. They would be THRILLED to send someone for a couple of hours! Trust me!!

MJ
 
Thanks, MJ. I may very well need to pick your brain in the very near future. The PR guy for the band I contacted emailed me back this morning so I'll be chatting with them very soon to see if they can help me out. This band is actually made up of folks from my high school and hometown so I know all of them. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I can make this work successfully. As for the AWF (not sure who/what that is, actually), I'm in the NorthEast but may check into that sponsorship here? Ya never know, right?

Thanks, and I'm sure I'll be in touch!!!

Gayle
 
Some friends of ours are heavily involved in fundraising for the American Cancer Society. Their approach is to use the local elementary school gym and put on a bingo fundraiser and sell food/drinks also during the games. It's crazy how much people (especially some of those aggressive little old ladies!) will shell out for a chance to win a basket of donated goods!! They make about $10,000 per bingo night!! It's become a big thing in the town where they live. I don't know that much about their specific methods, but I found this website http://www.fundraiserhelp.com/bingo-fundraiser.htm.

And, Gayle, I'm so sorry to hear about cancer striking your loved ones again. My heart goes out to you. :(

MC
 
Gayle,

I can't really help in the fundraising aspect, but I do want to send lots of hugs and prayers your way! I can relate to what you are going through. And I wish you nothing but the greatest of success in this endeavor!

Iris
 
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