What You Need to Know About Fund Raising

1. What You Need to Know About Fund Raising Presented by Bonnie Sirower, PDG Rotary District 7490

2. What We Will Cover Today • Are you ready to hold an event? • Event possibilities • Outlining event mechanics • Leadership responsibilities • Projecting expenses • Creating time lines • Reaching out to the public by mail, e-mail and online • Evaluating your event

3. Why Have a Fund Raiser? • It is the starting point for members of your neighborhood to meet like-minded individuals, and potential new members for your club. • It takes some of the burden of financial support off of your members and gains the support of a wider audience. • It provides the opportunity for good public relations, both before and after the event.

4. The Cardinal Rules of Fund Raising • If you don’t ask, you don’t get… • Network with everyone –your colleagues, your vendors, your members, your community, corporations in the community

5. Are you ready for an event? • Are your Board/ members committed to the event? Your Board/Members should give or get or take credit for 45% of guests. • Where are the necessary sources of support – people who can bring in new sources of money? • Do you have access to potential event leadership? • Do your leadership possibilities have the capacity to raise the money necessary to meet your goal? • Is your Rotary club interested in participating in an event? • How will an event promote your organization? • Can your Rotary Club undertake the necessary start-up costs? • Do you have a stable donor base to support the event?

6. Are You Ready for an Event? • Are your lists current and accurate? • Can your organization justify the time and effort necessary? • What types of in-kind support can you garner? • Is an event the best use of staff time? • Are your financial expectations realistic? • You need a structure. Chairs are honoree specific. Is it an anniversary year? • The best programs sell your mission.

7. Target Your Audience • Who will be interested in helping you meet your goal? • Who will be donating money? • What are the interests of the people who make up your club and your community? • What are the demographics of the people who make up your community?

8. What Type of Fundraiser will you have? • Auctions (Tricky trays, silent auction, service auction, bid on a bachelor, traditional auctions • Contests – “Idol” contest, tournaments • Galas – not quite in vogue right now, as they require too much legwork • Beefsteaks • Athletic events such as runs, golf tournaments, athletic contests of all types, “athons” of all types • Comedy night or Las Vegas nights • Non-event events

9. Set a Goal First…. • Be clear what the money will be used for. Are you using it for a project? General funds? • Do a preliminary poll first to see what might work • Keep your organization on track and structure your plans • Involve as many people as possible right from the beginning in brainstorming and coming up with ideas.

10. What Should You Expect? • Special events are very cost-intensive and labor-intensive. • Many times, special events cost 50% of what you raise • Special events are more often friend-raisers than fund-raisers • Special events do not materialize overnight like Athena from the head of Zeus – they take time to build.

11. Rally the Troops… • Plan a job description for each volunteer piece you need to make your plan work • Set reasonable goals. • Show proof that what you are doing works by making sure that your event in some ways shows off what your Rotary Club has accomplished. • The rule of five fingers on a hand: Each chair for each segment of the event should recruit five more volunteers.

12. Your Time Frame… • Don’t go into any event last-minute. • Allow at least six to nine months for a large event • Re-visit your backwards calendar each month to gauge what still needs to be done and what has been completed. • Plan your work and work your plan.

13. Plan Your Work… Work Your Plan • Create a backwards time schedule. • What has to be done by the night/day of the event? • What do you expect to see when you walk into the room? • How can you get to those expectations? • When does each step have to be carried out? • Who will carry out each step of the process.

14. Event Mechanics and Timing • Preparation • Design an event consistent with your organization's objectives • Establish goal in terms of size and net • Select site and develop theme or format as appropriate • Identify and secure leadership • Prepare expense budget • Prepare income projection • Prepare event timetable • Develop lists for personalized mailing(s)

15. Implementation • Implementation • Coordinate design and printing of event materials such as save-the-date, stationery and invitations • Arrange for mailing of event letters and/or invitations • Arrange for production of other printed materials such as the program, signage, • Place cards and name tags • Process and track responses; prepare regular financial reports • Communicate with leadership and volunteers - keep them informed • Follow-up as necessary with potential participants

16. Implementation • Prepare guest lists and seating plans • Arrange catering, decoration, entertainment, audio/visual services, equipment, • photography and other professional services • Coordinate any public relations activities • Prepare and implement minute-by-minute schedule for day of event • Identify who will make last minute decisions at event • Prepare and mail thank you notes and tax receipts

17. Post-Event Activities • Post-Event Activity • Collect outstanding pledges • Evaluation meeting • Begin cultivation of selected event participants • Begin planning for the next event

18. Create a Budget Things to consider • Cost of renting the facility • Cost of food • Cost of decorations, balloons, etc. • Cost of entertainment, singers • Permit costs for raffles, etc. • Cost for printing of journals, invitations, programs, and tickets • Cost for flowers, give-aways

19. Project Your Income and Expenses • Basic Expenses • Site rental • Food and beverage per person and gratuity • Personnel and equipment • Printed Material • Graphic design and production of save-the-date cards, event stationery, invitations, program and/or journal, posters, banners and signage • Preparation of mailing(s) • • List preparation, addressing and postage

20. Project Your Income and Expenses • Supplemental Services • Audio Visual Services • Decor • Entertainment • Photographer (Include estimated number of prints that will be ordered) • Publicist • Consultants • Video production • Other Costs • Office expenses (photocopy, fax, telephone, messengers, overnight mail, etc.) • Transportation and travel • Gifts and Awards • Any additional fees or expenses that are event related

21. Don’t Forget to Publicize… • Public service announcements on the radio (2 month lead) or TV (3-month lead) • Magazines • Rotary District 7490 website • Flyers everywhere • Blogs • Tchotchkes – magnets, pins, etc. to remind people. • Save-the-Date cards • Articles in your local newspapers

22. Use Online Tools to your Advantage • Online invitation www.e-vite.com • Online journals www.EventJournal.com • Rotary District 7490 Website • Sending event info to all Rotarians in the District • ConstantContact.com at www.ConstantContact.com • Use Facebook cause pages, Linked-In, Twitter • www.firstgiving.com

23. And remember…. • Your event should be fun! • Your event should be memorable! • Your event should make people say, “I can’t wait until next year • Your event should provide satisfaction to each volunteer and each attendee.