Planning your fundraising event

So you want to organise a fundraising event? Here are our top tips to help make it all run smoothly.

Choose a date

Choose a date that is best for you and your supporters and remember that you will need time to organise it. Try to avoid clashes with other big events like the footie.

Choose a venue

Choose a venue that can accommodate your guests and has all the required amenities. If you want to sell alcohol or have live music, make sure it has the necessary license.

Budgeting

Work out a simple budget at the start of your planning - include all the costs you expect to incur (such as promotion and equipment) and estimate how much money will come in (from tickets and sponsorship). Can you reduce your costs through donated goods or company sponsorship? Think about how can you make more money from your events.

Publicity

Do people know about your event? Find out how to add sparkle to your fundraiser and let people know about it. Do you need sponsorship forms, gift aid declarations, collection tins, and so on? Would you like t-shirts for participants to wear, balloons to decorate your venue, banners?

Equipment

What do you need? Write a list so you don't forget anything.

Helpers

Do you need a helping hand? Then remember to ask your friends and family in plenty of time.

Contingency plans

What if it rains? Do you have a Plan B? Are there extra resources or emergency cash available on the day? Don't be afraid of cancelling or postponing an event if necessary.

Write a checklist of all the things you need to do so you don't forget anything. Double check your equipment, brief your volunteers and arrange some refreshments. Decorate the event venue with Scope posters and balloons and display any merchandise you have. Remember: merchandise should only be offered in return for a donation rather than sold for a fixed price but you can suggest a minimum donation.

If possible, announce the anticipated amount raised from the event, reminding everyone why the money is being raised and say a big thank you!

After the event

Don't forget to thank everyone who helped out on the day as well as those who attended.

Get that money working by sending the funds raised together with your sponsorship forms to the Events Team. The quicker you send your money in, the quicker we can put it into use.