Fundraising is usually a big part of volunteering. Lack of financial resources often require you to get creative, which when done well, can be very successful not to mention fun.
If you need some cash for your nonprofit or project but aren’t sure where to begin, here are ten fundraising ideas to get your creative juices flowing.
1. Hold an auction.
For the past two years and counting, we have been running a Cinco De Mayo auction fundraiser for Holy Cross School. We set up a committee and get local businesses to donate prizes, and have the newspapers help promote the event.
2. Host an event at a local restaurant or bar.
Most businesses are willing to help support local organizations and fundraising efforts by holding events and even donating a portion of the proceeds to the cause. The curry cook off at Lime and and the July 4th pool party at Pedro’s are both good examples where the involvement of local businesses can make a difference.
3. Organize a community yard sale.
Friends of the Humane Society periodically organize community yard sales in the park. People pay for use of a table to sell their goods, and the money raised from tables plus the $1 entry fee goes to the local humane society, SAGA. This type of fundraiser is always a big hit here in San Pedro.
4. Sell raffle tickets.
Selling raffle tickets – which is very common here in Belize – is a great way to raise money. At $5 – $10 a pop, it’s easy to sell tickets for great prizes such as a cell phones and iPods, which are often donated by people visiting on vacation.
5. Get out the barbecue.
Doing a community barbecue and getting local businesses to donate food is a delicious way to raise money. We did this when we needed to fundraise medical expenses for Gaspar, one of the Holy Cross kids who had been having back-to-back seizures.
6. Organize a torch run or walk.
Organizing a torch run or walk is a great way to get people together. San Pedro has an Annual Torch Run/AIDS walk that has been successful in not only securing funds, but creating awareness.
7. Set up a school fair.
In Belize, when a school has a “fair,” it is commonly known among locals that this is a fundraiser for the school done by the teachers, parents and kids to include the broader community in its money-making efforts. Holy Cross School uses calender events such as Halloween and Valentine’s Day as great excuses to host fairs.
8. Become active on Facebook groups and message boards.
Since volunteering at Holy Cross School, I have found that members of the Ambergris Caye message board are more than willing to help from afar. They love the island and the people on it, and have stepped up to the plate on numerous occasions to help when money or various items were needed. Same goes for people who have joined our Facebook group, Holy Cross Journey of Hope.
9. Approach bigger businesses for donations.
Our good friend Joanne started a company in Canada called Direct Abundance, which is working toward using the resources available in Canada to help those in Belize who need it most. They do this by securing donations from different businesses and organizations who are willing to donate.
10. Contact schools back in your home town.
Heather, a teacher at Greenholme School in Canada who is also involved with Direct Abundance, has taught her kids who do not have a lot themselves the importance of helping those less fortunate. She has gotten them to donate school supplies for kids in Belize, and they are also planning a program where the students are required to complete 40 hours of community service work before graduating. Through activities such as selling chocolate bars, the money raised will go to sponsoring a student’s high school education in Belize.
Whether you are volunteering abroad or want to help from afar, I hope you find the ten ideas listed above a useful starting point in your own fundraising efforts.
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This is very helpful, thanks.
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