Fun Ways To Fundraise Brenda Goodell Assistant Vice President, Event Fundraising Creating exciting events to support the Jimmy Fund

Today’s Agenda Discover Your Event Interests Event Planning and Logistics Marketing Your Event Fundraising Tips for Your Event

Huge variety of events Auctions Beauty & Fashion Community Plated Dinner Extreme Sports Family -Themed Foodie Kid-Themed Bike Rides Work or School Performance Sports Discover Your Event Interests

How do you enjoy spending your time? Sports (Lacrosse, Soccer, etc.) Eating or drinking wine Bowling Playing golf

What networks can you easily access in order to make this event happen? How much money do you want to raise? How many participants (people, tickets, tables etc.) will that require? What time of year? Where would your event be? How big will your event need to be? How much of your time will be involved in planning? Who will help you? Discover Your Event Interests Now that you know your interests, consider these questions:

The Team Role 1: Fundraiser Craft the fundraising message Focus on raising money and engaging donors Ask, “Will this raise more money?” Acknowledge gifts and steward donors post event Role 2: Logistics Manage the timeline Contact vendors On site lead for all volunteers Set up/break down Event Planning and Logistics

The Team Role 3: Marketing Create a marketing plan Develop materials like invitations, posters, social media posts, etc. Engage local/national media Get people to the event! Role 4: Finances Create and manage a budget Keep track of spending with receipts Secure incoming gifts: cash, checks, auction items, etc. Submit proceeds and paperwork Event Planning and Logistics

Choosing the right event date: Plan ahead! Leave plenty of time to market your event Research other events in the same time frame, either similar or different Be sure to check for conflicts, such as school vacation, holiday’s, etc. Event Planning and Logistics

Venue: Indoor & Outdoor Rain venue or rain date Permits needed in some instances Insurance requirements Reserve time for set up, break down Trash removal Parking and Security Restrooms Event Planning and Logistics

Food and Beverage If you will be offering food and beverage: Sales of items is often prohibited If allowed, it must come from the venue Vendors must have health permits Understand all gratuities, fees, labor costs and cancellation policies upfront Alcohol requires special permitting Event Planning and Logistics

Use a task sheet to track activity Include: Who is responsible What are they responsible for When should it be done Refer to task sheet frequently Sort by date and person Keep Track of it All Event Planning and Logistics

Determine your target audience Who do you want to attract? Age Gender Income level Interests: boating, hiking, skiing, Connection to the cancer cause Marketing Your Event

Venue Time of day Cost to participate Tone of event: décor, food, music, entertainment, etc. Look and feel of marketing materials: graphic design, size of font, etc. Where your target audience is located and how to best reach them Understand the target audience and let that inform your decisions about: Marketing Your Event Determine your target audience

Use your contacts … all of them! Ask others to use their contacts Make it easy for people to advertise your event … they can be your ambassadors! Create Your Invite List Marketing Your Event

Invitations invites Social Media posts Calendar listings, both online and paper Press releases in television, radio and newspaper, Posters, point-of- sale, slim jims, etc. Create a street team Spread the Word Marketing Your Event

Every contact is an opportunity to fundraise Every webpage, social media post or update should provide an opportunity to “make a gift” Offer “make a gift” option even for a declined RSVP Start Raising Money Fundraising Tips

Ticket sales, participation fees, etc. Establish fundraising minimum Sponsorship In-kind giving Onsite giving, canister collections, etc. Auctions: silent or live Opportunity drawings Online giving via social media, web and mobile Revenue Streams Fundraising Tips

Generate additional online gifts: Your Special Events liaison will set up the blank page for you Easy to customize, add pictures center for easy publicity Pull your own gift reports for follow-up, thank you notes Setting Up a MyJimmyFundEvent.org Page Fundraising Tips

Setting Up a MyJimmyFundEvent.org Page Fundraising Tips

Personalized URL Create your own tag line Add your photos Clear call to action Add event details, your story, contact info Setting Up a MyJimmyFundEvent.org Page Fundraising Tips

Setting Up a MyJimmyFundEvent.org Page Fundraising Tips

Press releases to national and local media … always include a link to “make a gift”! Include celebrities in press releases and photos if possible Update social media with a link to a giving page Send thank you letters with photos to sponsors and participants Post-Event Stewardship Fundraising Tips

Wrap-Up: Let’s Build an Event Together! What do you like to do? Make this your theme How much will you raise? Make this your goal How many people must participate? When and where will your event take place? How much time will you need to plan? How will you get the word out? Who will give to the event? Who will help you? How will you thank people? Consider these questions:

Questions?