LittlePeopleofAMERICA
howtohosta
successful
fundraiser
in 10 easy steps
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Utilizeresourcesfrom
within yourorganization
togeneratefundsfrom
sources outside your
organization!
The Main Goal of Any Fundraiser
Utilizeresourcesfrom
withinyourorganization
togeneratefundsfrom
sourcesoutsideyour
organization!
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Ten Easy Steps
It all beings with
passion and fun
Creatingasuccessfuleventrequiresgood
planning,theabilitytobewillingtoaskfor
help,anorganizedteamwhoworksinunison
andagoodamountofcreativity.Butmore
thananything,ittakespassion.Passionfor
LPA,passionforwhatyourdoingandwhy
you’redoingit.YourpassionforLPAwill
becomecontagiousandotherswillwanttobe
apartofit.Asyouplanyoureventshareyour
passionandhaveFUN!
Step-by-Step
Identifyyourresources
Defineyourevent
Setyourbudget
Setyourtheme,décor&menu
Createatimeline
Marketaggressively
Defineyourgoals
Ask,askandaskagain!
Createyourfinancialplan?
MakeitFUN!
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Queryyourmembershiptolearnwhohas
accesstopeople,products,andservices.
Thefirststepistoidentifyyouroptions.
I’velearnedthatkindnessgoesalongway
andtherearemanykindbusinessowners
whoarewillingtoworkwithour
organization.
Identify your
resources
All you have to do is
ASK!
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
• Professionalathleteorcelebrity
• Accesstouniqueexperiences
• Restaurantownerorchef
• Businessowner
• Philanthropist
WHERE CAN YOU GO?
• Bowlingalleyoramusementcenter
• RestaurantorBanquethall
• Communityoreventcenter
• ChurchorPark
• GolfGourse
• Barn
WHO DO YOU KNOW?
Identify your resources
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Define your event
• Who– Whoisyourtargetaudience?
• Themaingoalofanyfundraiseristobringinfundsforyourorganizationfromoutsideyourgroup.
• Whoarethosepeople?
• AdultsorFamilies?
• CommunityMembersandthegeneralpublicorfriendsandfamilyofyourmembers
• Whatisyourcapacity?Howmanypeoplecanyoucomfortablyhostatyourevent?
• What– Whatistheevent?Definewhatyoureventwilllooklike…
• CasualorFormal
• Dinner,lightsnacks,appetizersordessertbuffet
• Isthereatheme
• Willtherebeentertainmentorakeynotespeaker
• When– Whatisthedateandtimeoftheevent?Makesureyouplanwellinadvance.Thingstotakeintoconsideration
whensettingyourdateandtime:
• Majorholidays
• Schoolbreaks
• LPAnationalsandregionals.
• Familyeventsshouldbeearlierinthedayoreveningasopposedtoadultonlywhichcanbelaterintheevening.
• Willtherebeamealinvolved?Makesuretotakeintoconsiderationmealtimes.
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Thethemesetsthetonefortheentireevent.
Putagoodamountofcareintothethemeyou
select.Hereareafewthingstotakeinto
considerationwhenselectingyourtheme:
• Whatisthenatureofyoureventandvenue
• Resourceswithlittleornoexpense
• Doesithavemassappeal
• Isitanadultorfamilyevent
Develop Your Theme
Décor and Menu
Make It A Memory!
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Setyourbudget!
Whatwillgenerateincome?
• TicketSales
• Auctionand/orRaffle
• Fun,GamesandActivities
• MerchandiseSales
• Concessions
• Donations
Income
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Setyourbudget!
Whatwillyourexpensesbe?
• SuppliesforActivities
• Venueorspacerental
• FoodandBeverages
• Merchandisetosell
• Entertainment
• Insurance
• Prizes
Expenses
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Create a timeline
3‐6Months 60days 30days LastMinute
SetVenue,Date,Timeand
Capacity
PrepareforTicketSales FrequentUpdatestoSocialMedia PrintAllMaterials
SetYourTheme ContinuetoProcure HostWorkParty SetYourTimelineForTheEvent
SecureVendors
SendReminderThatTicketSales
BeginSoon
ConfirmYourVolunteers FinalizeMenu
DefineYourTargetAudienceand
MarketingStrategy
BuildAnticipation
viaSneakPeeksandSnapshots
MockUpDécor/TakePictures AssignTables
DevelopYourTeam/Committees FinalizeFoodandDecor
SiteVisitVenueToFinalizeLayout,
AVandFlow
CreateCheck‐inPackets
DevelopFinancialStrategy
ConfirmVolunteersandAssign
Responsibilities
ConfirmAllVendorsand
Contracts
EmailGuestsWithFinalDetails
SuchAsParking,NewInfo,etc.
BeginProcurementofAuctionor
RaffleorDonatedItems
BeginOperationGratitude PayVendors Placecontenthere
SetUpSocialMedia
SendOutSavetheDate
TicketsGoOnSale45DaysOut CatalogandFinalizeAllDonationsTakeTimeToEnjoy!
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
It’simportanttodefineyourfinishline.
Hereareafewgoalstoset…
Define Your Goals
• Attendance – SoldOutisalwaysthefirstkeyto
achievingyourfinancialgoal
• SharingInformation– CreateawarenessaboutLPA.
Whoweare,whatwedo,whyweareimportant
• Developanemotionalconnectionwithyourguests–
Sharepersonalexperiencesthroughkeynotespeakers
ortestimonials
• Monetary – Setamonetarygoalforbothprocured
donationsandeventincome.Dreambigbutalso
realistic
• Fun – Attheendofyoureventguestsshouldbelooking
forwardtocomingbacknextyear.Thatisthesignofa
successfulevent.
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
• Utilizeyoureventsoftwareto
generatepre‐eventsales.This
generatesworkingcapitaland
minimizeson‐sitesales
• TicketSales
• ActivitySales
• RaffleTickets
• ItemsforPurchase
• MealsforPurchase
• Donations
• Square,Paypal,Venmo
• Onsitesalesareimportant.Thisallows
peopletogiveandrecieve atthesametime
• Howwillyouacceptpayment
• Tablets,phonesandwifi – checkand
doublecheck
• Inventory
• Pricelists
• Welltrainedvolunteers
INCOMEBEFORETHE
EVENT
Create your financial plan?
INCOMEATTHE
EVENT
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Ask, Ask and Ask Again
• Createadonationletterandprocurementform.Besureitincludesthe
national501(c)3number,mailingaddressandcontactphonenumber.
• Bespecificinyourask.Tellexactlywhatyouneedandwhatitwillbe
goingtoward.
• Reachouttoyourlocalcommunity.Yourlocalbusinessesaremore
likelytogivethanlargecorporations.
• Googleisyourfriend.Searchforcompanieswhoaregooddonorsin
yourarea.
• Lookforonlinesubmissionopportunities.
• Reachouttoallyourfamilyandfriends.Theyworkatbusinesses,they
makethings,theyknowpeople.
• ACTEARLY!Youshouldbeginrequestingdonationsaminimumof90
daysinadvance.
• Noaskistoobig.Youwillneverknowuntilyouask.
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Market Aggressively
SocialMediaisafreeandeasywaytomarketyourevent.Hereareafew
suggestionsonhowyoucandothatwithminimalexpense…
CreateapublicFacebookevent.Thisallowspeopletofollowtheeventand
shareit.Itgiveyoutheopportunitytoaddsneakpeeksandsnapshots
EmailMarketing:MailChimporConstantContact
OnlineAuctions
ElectronicInvitations‐ Eventbrite.com
IntegrateswithyourFacebookeventpage
Offerstoolsandresources
Ticketsales
Eventmanagement
Minimalexpense
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Build Anticipation
FOMOisyourfriendwhenitcomestocreatingyourevent.
https://www.facebook.com/events/611655059285137/
Createasenseofurgency
‐Limitednumberofticketsavailable
‐Ticketsarealmostsoldout
‐LimitedVIPopportunities
CreateConversation
‐Whatwillyouwear?
‐WhowillbeatyourVIPtable?
‐Whichcourseareyoumost
lookingforwardto?
DevelopExcitement
‐Buildonlocalcurrentevents
‐Timingiseverything‐
‐Slowlyleakinformation.Itwillkeeppeoplecomingbackformore
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
Make it FUN!
Whetherit’sformaloracarnival
ItshouldALWAYSbefun!
Peoplearecuriousbynature.Mysteryprizesarealwaysabighitandlotsoffun
Surprisesthatwerenotadvertisedareafunwelcometotheevent
Musicians
Speakers
Comedian
Performers
Interactiveexperiences.Peoplelikebeinginvolved.Engagethem.
Can‐CanCompetition
Limbo
HennaTattoos
Havefunactivitiesforthemtoparticipatein.Ofcourse,atacost.
WineRingToss
Messageinabottle
WineCorkToss
Headsortails
LittlePeopleofAMERICA
THANKYOU
DeanaHarris
+206‐200‐0899
LP[email protected]om
GettingStarted
1. Startoffsmallandbuildeachyear
2. Makesureyouhaveastrongteamanddon’tcreatemorework
thanyouhavehelpfor
3. Geteverythingonpaperbeforeyoumoveforward
4. Createaneventthepeoplewilllookforwardtonextyear
5. Don’tovercommit
6. Dosomethingfamiliartoyou
7. Togetthingsrollingcreateearlybirddiscountorbonus
8. CreateaVIPoption‐ getinearly,skiptheline,specialseating,
upscaledécor,additionalraffletickets….
9. Discountatalocalhotelforovernightfun
10. Whodoyouknow??
WebResources
1. Eventbrite
2. Fundly
3. Evite
4. MailChimp
5. ConstantContact
EventManagement
CreativeConcepts
1. Google
2. 1001FreeFonts
3. Pinterest
4. Etsy
5. www.eventmanagerblog.com
SocialMedia
1. ShareEXCITEMENT….It’scontagious
2. FacebookEvents‐ MakeitPublic
3. LinkedIn
4. Instagram
5. Twitter
6. Email
7. Createexcitementanddialoge
8. Getvisual
9. Exercisegoodtiming
10. Askpartnersordonorstopromotealso
11. Promoteearlyandoftenbutalwaysswitchitup
12. Createahashtagforyourevent
13. Hostsocialmediaticketgivealways‐
“joinoureventpageandreceive3freeraffletickets”
On‐LineAuction
https://www.biddingowl.com/
https://www.winningcause.org/
https://www.32auctions.com/
1. Alwaysacknowledgedonors
2. Uselocalvendors
3. Geartowardslocalbuyers
4. Useatheme
5. Determinedeliveryoptions
6. Factorshippinginyourbeginningbid
7. Establishadefined%forstartingbid
8. Bundleifneeded
9. IncludePictures
10. Besuretoincludefinedetails
11. Offerawidepricerangetomeetallbudgets
FamilyEvent
1. Carnival
2. PirateParty
3. CountryFair
4. Bowl‐a‐thon
5. Luau
6. TailgateParty
7. OutdoorMovieNight
8. CircusCircus
9. 50’sSockHop
10. Fiesta
11. HarvestFestival
12. FrightNight
13. Hoedown/WildWest
14. UnderTheSea
15. PancakeBreakfast
16. SpaghettiFeed
AdultEvent
1. WineandDine
2. MardiGras
3. Lights‐ Camera‐ Auction
4. OldHollywood/Gatsby
5. WhiteParty
6. FireandIce
7. WhiteParty
8. GolfTournament
9. CasinoRoyale
10. Fiesta/Margaritaville
11. That’sAmore’Valentine’s
Dinner
12. FrenchMasquerade
13. CaribbeanBreeze
14. Disco
IncludeLPA
DistrictDirector
RegionalRep
NationalOffice
BoardofDirectors
Ask,Ask,Ask
1. Draftaconcisedonationletter
2. Howwilldonorsberecognized
3. Utilizeonlinedonation
requests
4. Mail&EmailProcurement
letters
5. UseGoogletofindresources
6. Don’tbeafraidtoask
7. Createawishlistandshareit
withyourfamily,friends,and
LPAcommunity.
Inordertoreceivedonations,youneedtoaskfordonations.
People do wanttohelp;theyjustneedtoknowhow!
FoodandDrinks
1. Keepitsimple
2. Letthefoodmatchtheevent
3. Keepthemhydrated
4. Getproperpermits
5. You’reacharitynotarestaurant
6. Askgrocerystoresforgiftcards
andaccessmultiplelocations
7. Askwineriesandbreweriesfor
donationsandaskthemtocome
serveatyourevent
8. Keepdietaryrestrictionsinmind
andavoidusingnutsofanykind
9. Askaboutdietaryrestrictionsin
theregistrationpacket
FunandGames
1. HeadsorTails
2. Messageinabottle,mysterybag,chocolatebar
3. Raffle
4. FlingTheRing– WineRingToss
5. CornholeTournament
6. DunkTank
7. DessertDash
8. Birdcage/TreasureChest
9. WinePull
10. 50/50
11. MinutetoWinit
12. CenterpieceAuction
13. Let’sMakeaDeal
https://www.greatergiving.com/en/fundraising‐ideas/auction‐games