How to start a fundraiser?

stacy
Sun, 06 Jun 2010 10:21:08 +0000

I think it would help if you had a committee (could be from VFW) and if you started smaller.

I say this not to dash your hopes, but from personal experience.

When I was a college sophomore, I organized a fundraiser for a local women’s shelter. It was a great idea. I did publicity beforehand. Some exciting guests showed up (the mayor, a very famous illustrator, the chief of police, the shelter’s director) and I got many great in-kind donations from local businesses and celebrities.

But almost no one came and while we raised some awareness, we raised no money. Zilch. The best thing that came of it was donating all the leftover refreshments to the shelter, and if my goal had been to get them milk and fruit and muffins I can think of much easier ways to have done it. I was hugely embarrassed. I should have started smaller and gotten more experience, or worked with more people–preferably ones who knew more about organizing such events.

I learned a lot. It wasn’t a total loss. But it could’ve been a lot better.