Your goal in organizing a fundraiser is to make money for your cause. Even though your fundraising event will have a main theme or activity, you may not want to limit your event to a single money-raising technique.

Budgeting for Expenses

When budgeting for your fundraiser, unexpected expenses can reduce your earnings drastically. Don’t forget to take into account materials, rental, product customization, and taxes when you set your fundraising goal. If you have a very clear idea of your total expenses, you have the potential to earn more from your fundraiser than expected.

Selling customized products, such as t-shirts stamped with the name of your event or organization, can be a great way to increase your net fundraiser earnings. There are various sources for every kind of custom product, from coffee mugs to frisbees. The price of customization will vary based on the detail and color(s) of your design, and based on the specific product you choose to customize.

Selling customized products at your fundraiser has a secondary benefit: repeatedly seeing the name of your event reminds donors and participants of your cause, which in turn makes them more likely to attend future events for your group or organization.

Secondary Fundraisers (Micro-fundraisers)

Raffles, scratchcards, and other lottery-style micro-fundraisers can be used as secondary income sources at your fundraising event. Because they require very little overhead, they yield a high percentage of profit. If you set a fairly low price for participation in these mini-fundraisers, more people are likely to buy in.

Give People Multiple Ways to Donate

To maximize donations to your fundraiser, make it as easy as possible for people to donate. For example, if you have a special account set up for your fundraiser, set up a system with the bank by which people can deposit directly into the account.

You should accept as many forms of payment as possible. You may be able to partner with a business that processes credit cards so you can accept credit card donations. If you accept checks, make sure they are made out to the name of your special account, and be sure to get a current phone number for the check writer. This way, if the check doesn’t clear you will be able to contact the donor.