Fundraising tips

YOU CAN RAISE £1,000 + TO SUPPORT THE WORK OF YOUR CHOSEN CHARITY

Your challenge  is more than just  physical exertion. Your goal is as much about fundraising, as getting fit. When you commit yourself to a Transylvanian challenge you pledge to raise as much sponsorship as possible for your chosen charity. Many people find this aspect of the challenge daunting, but by being original and planning ahead, the fundraising can be as rewarding and enjoyable as the expedition itself.

We know that the hardest part is just getting started, so here's a simple fundraising guide. Read on for useful practical tips on how to achieve your target..

Sponsored expeditions generally have two very different elements of ‘challenge’. The first is of course the physical aspect of the expedition, the actual trek or bike ride. The other challenge and for many people the tougher of the two — is to raise in excess of the minimum sponsorship you have committed to raise for your chosen charity. It is well within your reach so be positive.

Here are just a few ideas. But first draw up a plan of action and start close to home. We have also added a sample sponsorship request letter below.

Talk to people, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by their reaction and response.

• Carry your sponsor form with you everywhere so that whether you are out at the pub, at the sports / leisure centre, at work or at church you can ask people for support
• Ask friends, neighbours, relatives, people involved in past and present interests, people on courses you have attended, overseas relatives or friends. One fundraiser raised over £300 by sending an early Christmas card to everyone asking for a donation. Ask all your local shops to support you – your gym, swimming pool, dentist, doctor, hairdresser. Ask any contractor who has done work on your house – decorator, plumber, electrician, window cleaner – even your postman or milkman.
• Ask all your families and friends to do the same – think how quickly those donations will come in once you add all those people together.

At work, business associates and contacts

• Is there a department or staff member that deals with charitable donations? Ask your company to make a large donation to get you started.
• Use your notice boards, circulate details and talk, talk, talk to all your colleagues.
• Ask companies you do business with and suppliers to make a good size donation. Some people raise all their sponsorship money this way.
• Approach all your business contacts, large and small.
• Speak to your clients and tell them what you are doing and ask them to sponsor you.

Small fundraising events

• Ask your local pub, working mens’ club, rugby, football, cricket, tennis or squash club to organise a small event for you – eg. quiz night, darts night, raffle, karaoke night, sponsored pub crawl, car washing, bed push, the list is endless.
• Ask your friends and family to hold an event for you – jumble sale, car boot sale, garage sale, disco, themed party evening and so on. Just think, if five friends did a car boot sale each for you and raised £100 each, you would have your first £500!

Hold your own event

• Consider holding your own event. Some people have been successful in organising their own disco, quiz or bingo night, folk concert, sporting challenge, dinner dance and even a full-scale ball!

Other ideas

• Raffles – You can have a “private” raffle – which doesn’t need a promoter’s licence – at any function you organise. Ask a local business / shop to donate a prize.
• Collections – Ask your local supermarket for permission to collect outside their store or outside your local pub, club or hotel. We can provide you with collecting tins and ID cards. Look at your contact list and see who you can approach to undertake one of these collections for you. Draw up a list and then approach them.

Of course, you can always call us for unlimited encouragement!     01243 536323

Your fundraising plan

1. Oct - Jan - Choose your challenge, departure date and make your booking.
2. Draw up your fundraising plan to include a contacts list and ideas for fundraising.
3. Plan all your fundraising activity – contact everyone on your list and get them to support you in some way
4. Nov / Dec / Jan – start of the challenge: Main fundraising activity takes place.

Here's how you could raise £1,000 by Spring 2007:

• Your local school holds a non-uniform day and charges pupils 50p each to support you. £100
• Your company has a “dress-down” day. £ 50
• Three friends / relatives each do a car boot sale and raise £50 each. £150
• You ask family, friends, everyone you know for a small donation. £100
• Cake sale at your office. £ 25
• Your local shops, hairdresser, plumber, electrician etc., each give you a small donation. £100
• Your local pub organises a quiz night for you. £ 50
• A themed party evening with family, friends and work colleagues. £ 50
• Get some collecting tins and ask your busiest local pubs if you maycollect on a Friday or Saturday night. Enlist some friends to help you. £100
• Organise your own raffle – ask local shops businesses to donate prizes. Friends and relatives can help you to sell tickets. £ 75
• Book a venue for an event and, with a group of friends, organise a function of your choice. £200

YOU’VE DONE IT!……. £1,000

Don't forget the press...
Try contacting local newspapers, radio and television stations and community newsgroups, maybe a reporter would like to write a piece about what you are doing and follow it up afterwards. Perhaps you could write an article yourself. Your local media will always be interested in hearing about what its readers are up to and these expeditions are very newsworthy. Try and find an ‘angle’ that will particularly interest them. Think also about the magazines and journals that are published specifically for your profession or hobby. To get your name and story in print is one of the most effective ways in gaining support for your cause. If you send the local media a press release, make sure you follow it up with a phone call in case there are any unanswered questions. Send a photo or make yourself available for a photocall if required.

Important
It is important for you receive the sponsorship money before the start of the challenge, so it is always best to ask people to give you the money as soon as they pledge it. Otherwise it may sometimes be difficult to get all the money after the event.

Sample sponsorship request letter (copy and paste)

Dear ………….

In ... I am embarking on a 6-day trek deep into the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania. If I make it to the peaks and through the deep valleys and forests, not only will I be achieving a personal life long dream, but hopefully I will be making many other dreams come true too.

Every foot of the mountains I climb, every blister I get, and every shallow breath I puff will be worth the pain and effort because it will all be in aid of the (chosen charity details + registration number). The money that I hope to raise for this trek / bike ride will enable the charity to ..............................................................

Despite all of my physical training and preparation, the biggest challenge so far seems to be finding the financial support to make this event a success for the (chosen charity name). This is where I hope you can really help me.  Please do not feel obliged, but  I would really appreciate it if you could provide some financial support in order to help me achieve my £1,000 fundraising goal.

I have paid £... for the costs of the challenge myself, and have agreed to raise a further £1000, ALL of which will go to the (chosen charity name).

In addition to the knowledge that you are helping the (chosen charity name), I would like to offer you something in return for your kind support. If you would like me to, I will wear your company t-shirt, or carry a banner with your company logo on it, to scenic parts and famous castles of Transylvania and take some photos. You can then feature them in your company newsletter or perhaps for some PR for the local newspapers. I am open to any other suggestions if you have any. I have enclosed a stamp-addressed envelope for your reply and please remember that no matter what you are able to give, it will be gratefully received by the (chosen charity name) and the people that they care for.

I thank you in anticipation of  your support.

Yours……….

Finally,

Good luck. Just give us a call if you need any more encouragement.   01243 536323

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just romania              Tel: 01243 536323              Email: james@justromania.co.uk