Staying Alive’s Big 5
Organising an event can be a great way to raise money for your chosen charity and, at the same time, raise awareness.
It may sound like a really fun thing to do, but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s easy... There’s a lot of work that needs to go into getting it right – which is why we’ve put together this handy guide featuring Staying Alive’s top tips.
1. Decide on your event:
Think about:
Who it’s for?
Number of tickets available and / or capacity of your chosen venue.
If you’re stuck for fundraising ideas here are a few suggestions…
* A themed party / club night
* Job swaps
* An auction
* A fancy dress –maybe even pay to come to work in fancy dress
* Guess the baby competition – in work or school get people to bring in photos of themselves as babies – everyone then pays to guess who the baby is
* Put on a concert, play or music evening
* A trivia quiz - music / sport / general knowledge / etc
* A fête or fair – get people to donate items they no longer want and sell them to people who do
* A fashion show – get local people to either make clothing or lend out their favourite stuff
* A sponsored silence, haircut or walk
* A sports event – five or seven a side football, rugby, baseball – anything you like really
* Get selling – make merchandise to sell at an event – for example badges, clothing and art – and get the whole community involved
* If everyone is feeling fit, why not organise a marathon?!
2. Be Organised
Planning is crucial. Decide on a venue and choose a good location, that is easy to get to.
Decide on a date for the event. Using dates that coincide with national holidays might be helpful.
Check to see if permits are needed or permission is required, especially when raising money in public places.
Get other people involved - two heads are always better than one, divide jobs between your friends and don’t take everything on yourself. You want your event to be a fun experience, not stressful!
Know your stuff. Make sure you’re able to explain exactly where the money you’re raising is going.
Make lists. Note down everything from resources needed to how people are helping you out. Writing everything down saves you from getting stressed and ensure you keep a track of every detail. It’s a good idea to lay down a timeframe for tasks too.
3. Budget
Keep records of all income and expenditure including:
* Publicity
* All advertising - including tickets, posters and handouts
* Celebrities and performers
* Food and drink
* Cost of the venue itself - including staff wages, security, lighting / PA system. It’s a good idea to have a contingency budget for any damages that might be caused too
* Decorations
4. Publicity
Be loud and get known!
Use community notice boards such as those in doctors surgeries, libraries, gyms, shops, school and work – pin up flyer and posters – but make sure you get permission first!
You could try and getting local press from radio stations, newspapers and websites.
Set up an online donation account – which is really easy to do – try www.examplesite.org Try and obtain sponsorship from businesses, note that this will be easier if they know it’s going to be highly publicised event.
Spread the word. Tell everyone you know; family, friends, colleagues.
Try creating a newsworthy story that could be reported such as a publicity stunt, a celebrity appearance or local dignitary). Be sure to create a press release for local media and the internet with details of the event and send it out 6-8 weeks before the event.
5. Stay in Touch
Report on the event, especially to the people that have sponsored you. Create a newsletter or email with photos of the event. Thanks those people that have helped out.
Remember reporting on its success will help you with future events. Be sure to keep records of all your contacts too.
