Fundraising Publicity

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Fundraising Publicity

So you have planned your fundraiser, your members have everything they need to go out and raise the money, but does anyone else know about it?  Publicity about what you are doing will tremendously improve your results.  People go to the mall ready to buy Girl Guide cookies because they know that Girl Guide cookies will be sold at that time.  You need to make sure your community is aware of your organisation and your goal.  Don’t limit your results by relying on the direct family and friends of your members.

Publicity will not come to you – you have to actively look for it.  

Here are some ideas of how to generate publicity:

• Get into any community newsletter or publication that you can. 

• Send out press releases to local media.

• Get listed on public service announcements on the radio.

• Make announcements at events to advertise what you are doing.

• Use posters at community centres and shopping malls to advertise future fundraising drives.

• Use whatever forms of communication you can – email newsletters, website, roadside signs, posters, bulletin boards etc.

• Try to get sponsorship from local merchants for your group, and ask them to put a sticker or poster at their storefront.  This will help to brand your organisation and shows a strong support base.

Make the community aware - it makes your job much easier.

Remember that many of your members will have difficulty in clearly communicating your goal to prospective supporters, especially if they are children.  If the community is already aware of your fundraiser, they are much more likely to respond to a request for support even if the person asking for the support cannot really get the message across.

Gaining publicity need not be expensive - all you need to do is ask people to help you, and you will find that many will be willing to promote your cause.  The more people that know who you are and what your campaign is all about, the more likely you are to raise even more towards your goals.

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