Not sure where to start? Check out these Top 10 best practices for fundraising.
Make a Plan
First and foremost, set a fundraising goal. Utilize this Asset Mapping Worksheet to figure out what resources you already have and what strategies will work best. Create a realistic timeline for your group.
Get Start-up Funds
Brigade Leaders may want to charge small membership fees so that your fundraising team has some "start-up" money to invest into fundraisers and/or fundraising events.
Engage ALL Members
Create a system of accountability. You can do this by tracking hours and distributing the fundraiser money based on how much time each person contributed.
Diversify Your Fundraisers
Try different types of fundraisers -- don't just stick to one! Some fundraising events work better on some campuses than others. Check out these fundraiser examples to get you started.
Meet a Need
Figure out what fundraisers your audience will best react to (e.g. a food sale on a downtown street at the time when people are typically entering/leaving bars).
Share Your Story
Share pictures and stories from your Brigade experience. Sharing the impact you made with your supporters is a great way to secure repeat funding from alumni associations, educational institutions, or corporate sponsors.
Thank You Notes
A handwritten thank you note for your donors with pictures and updates from your Brigade is always appreciated. It can also keep your donors interested in supporting future Brigades.
Utilize a Campus Chairperson’s Expertise
Encourage Brigade Leaders who are struggling with fundraising to reach out to their CC (CC’s know the campus well and strategies that work). If they don’t have a CC, help them get one!
Quality Versus Quantity
It can sometimes actually be more beneficial to plan out fewer really strong fundraisers (e.g. a silent auction, pub crawl, etc.) than to have dozens of smaller ones (e.g. bake sales).
Don’t Give Up!
Not all fundraisers will earn thousands of dollars. Keep trying different ideas -- all of those funds will add up in the end!