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Before You Get Started…
Make it fun. People will pay to enjoy themselves.
Start with a good idea. A good idea can sell itself. Before moving forward with your event, ask your friends and family what they think. Brainstorm how to make it better.
Know the cause. People are more likely to donate or volunteer to help if you can clearly articulate why a cause is important and why you need their support.
Plan! Plan! Plan! Make sure you have a contingency plan, especially if your event is dependent on unpredictable factors like the weather. Always have a backup plan, it may take a bit of extra planning, but it will help to ensure that your hard work isn’t limited by factors that you can’t control.
Set realistic goals. Setting a realistic fundraising goal helps give you something to work towards, and encourages your supporters to help you achieve your goal.
Timing is everything. Make sure you pick a good time and date; avoid competing with other events and local functions. Once you’ve chosen your day, work backwards and give every task that needs to be completed before the event a deadline. This is your “Work-back plan”, it will help you to keep track of what needs to get done and when in order for your event to be a success.
Set a realistic budget. Establish a financial goal so that you have a realistic idea of how much money you would like to raise. Plan a budget that identifies all sources of income and expenses.
Use your resources. Sometimes it can be very useful to involve other community groups or businesses in your activities
Who will help? Arrange a planning committee made up of individuals who will see the project through from beginning to end. Brainstorm for ideas and be sure you have chosen the right event for your group’s size, energy and experience.
You can maximize the funds you raise by keeping your costs down.
Find donors of free goods and services. A local restaurant could donate food. The print shop could donate flyers or copies; a vineyard, wine; a celebrity, talent; a florist…
Seek out a sponsor. A corporate sponsor may pay for your entire event, in exchange for recognition. A media sponsor (a radio station or local newspaper) may provide free advertising and may encourage corporate sponsors
Who will come? Identify your audience – who is most likely to attend and support your event? You will want to publicize in advance. All publicity material must be approved by the Leacock Foundation to ensure you have the correct use of the title and logo.
…and most importantly:
Complete the Event Proposal Form then email, mail, or fax to the Leacock Foundation. Remember, the Leacock Foundation must approve your proposal before you can use the organization’s name or logo.