Fundraising Ideas: Make it a Night to Remember

Raising funds for a non profit organisation can be especially tough in this economic turmoil. It seems that new donors in general are becoming more and more difficult to come by. Old patrons are also giving less. It's no surprise that everybody is contributing less to non profits. This makes it even more important for non profit organisations to think of ideas to raise funds. Fundraising ideas for fundraising events can be very effective in gathering donations for a non profit. In fact, putting together a fundraiser can be a make or break deal for non profits. Events can be either very successful or failures due to key details. A fundraiser can play a very strategic role in the revenues of a non profit organisation and good fundraising ideas can help charities succeed.

One popular fundraising idea is to hold auctions for items that are of value. Either donated by companies and/or individuals, these items are then auctioned off to the guests, allowing the organisation to potentially gain more from the auction as opposed to selling it off outright. Although this is not a new idea, it could potentially earn the organisation large amounts of money if it is done right. One key strategy with an auction is in the selection of the items to be auctioned off. If done right, a non profit could end up earning a lot without having to spend much at all. For example, date auctions are a good way to reduce on cost while potentially earning a lot. Another way to reduce on cost would be to ask for sponsorship from companies. Companies can be solicited for products instead of cash. The products would then be auctioned off t the guests. Auctioning off products that are of limited edition or exclusive would generate more revenue than normal items. Taking note of this would be beneficial for a non profit organisation.

Another key strategy to the auction would be choosing the right auctioneer. Often undervalued, the auctioneer can be a very effective way to gain more revenue with the auction. An auctioneer's ability to inspire and rile up a crowd could work very well for a fundraiser. A good auctioneer knows how to play on the impulse reflexes of a person in order to get the most out of the night so make sure to choose a good auctioneer if possible. Not doing so could potentially leave an organization out with considerably less money than they could have gathered if they only booked the right auctioneer.

Another fundraising idea is creating a heartfelt reminder of what your cause is about. Whether through video or through a speech, tugging at people's heartstrings is always a good move in receiving more funds than by not trying to connect to people’s emotions. Make sure to invest a lot of time and effort with this and you'll be surprised with the results.

In short, creating the perfect fundraiser involves meticulous planning in order to maximise the funds raised. Taking note of small but crucial details like the ones mentioned above could prove to be the keys to making sure a fundraiser is successful.

Barry is a charity fundraiser and has worked in the field for several years. During his career he has enjoyed coming up with new fundraising ideas and sponsorship ideas. For more information on the issues raised visit Easy Fundraising.