Planning
Former participant Merilyn Newnham (Hot Shoe Shufflers)
In the same way that you need a training schedule, it really helps to plan your fundraising. Fundraising is a challenge, but it can also be great fun! To make it easier, start your fundraising planning early and agree on a target that you would like to reach. As the weeks go by, you will spend more and more time training, and there will be many other things to organise just before the event – so start fundraising now!
Ask friends, family and colleagues to help by fundraising on your behalf. Some people will be extremely successful at asking for sponsorship even though they are not taking part in the event themselves. Make sure you collect sponsorship as you go. The last thing you will want to do after completing the event is chase people for sponsorship money.
Your Very Own Team Web Page
Go to the Team login area on this site and log into your personal dynamic team web page (Teamspace). This will be the hive of your fundraising activities and you can personalise this page and make it your own. You can upload photos of your training sessions and/or your fundraising activities; write some team updates or anecdotes, etc. More importantly, you can send the link to your friends or family so they can visit your page, follow your team’s progress, and sponsor you by donating online using our secure credit card facility. Online donors will instantly receive a receipt via email. On your Teamspace you will be able to check who has donated to your team, plus view a summary of donations and messages from your donors. Online donations greatly reduce our administration costs so please help by encouraging sponsors to donate online.
Where Does The Money Go?
Find out where the fundraising dollars go. Read about the stories of projects funded by Oxfam Australia which are possible because of your fundraising efforts. We support community development projects in 27 countries around the world, including Indigenous Australia. The more you know about Oxfam's work and where your fundraising will go, the easier it will be to ask for sponsorship. Get inspired, read about it here, or contact us for more information.
By The Book
Every team receives four donation receipt books in their registration packs which are sent out to the team leader immediately following registration. As a team member, you have been issued with a donation receipt book in your name for recording and receipting personal donations. Carry it around with you everywhere as you never know when or where you will find someone wanting to sponsor you. Your book is an easy face to face fundraising tool as it allows you to issue a tax deductible receipt (over $2) to your donor on the spot. Find out more about donation receipt books.
The Art Of Self Promotion
There are lots of ways to ask people for support. The important thing to remember is that everyone is different, so make sure you think about your audience.
Email - Send an email to your friends, family and work colleagues. Tell them what you are doing and why you are doing it. Send them a link to your Teamspace and encourage them to sponsor you. For an instant response, why not send a newsletter to everyone in your email address book?
Spread The Word - Put promotional materials such as posters, flyers etc. around your workplace, club and local area. Post a bulletin on your work intranet, university newsletter or club news. Check out the Promotional Materials section of the website.
Sponsorship - Ask a local business to sponsor your team. Ask for financial support or for ‘gifts in kind’ for fundraising prizes. In return, you could acknowledge their support by having their logo printed on your t-shirts or on your Teamspace. Or why not send a picture of yourself training or fundraising along with a short piece mentioning the support of a local business to your local paper? You can download a sample media release from this website before contacting them.
Inspire And Excite - Keep your friends, family and colleagues updated with your fundraising progress whether it be through your Teamspace blog, emails, a photo diary or in person. Continue to inspire those around you!
Host An Event
Organising a fundraiser can be great fun! You can make it as simple or involved as you like – from a workplace snack food drive, to wine sales or a big party with a door charge inviting everyone you know. Fundraisers can be an effective way to raise money and they give a little back to those supporting you. Click here for more ideas.
Promotion Within Your Workplace
Put posters and promotional materials around your workplace and inspire your colleagues.
Post an article on your work intranet, university newsletter or club news using one of our prepared blurbs.
Send An E-card Or A Newsletter
Send out a great looking e-card to your contacts in your email address book. You can change the text to suit your audience - tell your friends/contacts what you are doing, why you are doing it, your team's goals, trials and tribulations and let them know how they can support you! Or why not send a customised newsletter? To create a newsletter log in via the Team Login area and follow the instructions.
Update Your Email Signature
Each team member can attach a signature to the bottom of their work or personal email which has a link to the team donation page, for example:
Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne 100km - teams of 4 - 48 hours
To read more about my team go to www.oxfam.org.au/trailwalker/melbourne/team/[insert team number]
What Else?
Check out the other web pages under this section of the website for information on:
- match funding from your employer
- promotional materials
- Teamspace
- donation receipt books
- fundraising ideas / events etc
- and more
