| Putting together nonprofit fundraising events is | | | | Those of you who are running small, less established |
| challenging, but if you do it correctly, it can really pay | | | | nonprofits should go for cheaper nonprofit fundraising |
| off. | | | | events. Auctions and bingo are popular, cheap |
| Getting Started | | | | nonprofit fundraising events. These events are cheap |
| The first thing you need to do to put together | | | | because they require little overhead. |
| successful nonprofit fundraising events is put | | | | For an auction, all you need is a big space, such as a |
| together a comprehensive fundraising plan. Look at | | | | churchyard or room in a community center, to lay |
| your fundraiser as a business venture. You need to | | | | out the goods. You can get all of t he auction items |
| find a way to maximize your profits and minimize | | | | by asking friends, family or community leaders to |
| your losses. | | | | donate stuff. |
| Get the people in your organization together and put | | | | Bingo is also cheap. It requires a large room, some |
| together a fundraising budget. It takes money to | | | | bingo cards and bingo sticks. The key to making |
| make money so you're going to have to put | | | | bingo profitable is charging a high enough entry fee. It |
| something into it. It is critical that you don't go over | | | | also helps to have prizes donated so you don't have |
| budget. The minute you go over budget you start | | | | to cut into your profits to pay for prizes. |
| cutting into your profits. | | | | To minimize the cost of your nonprofit fundraising |
| After you put together your budget, you're going to | | | | events, find organizations or businesses that will |
| need to brainstorm some event ideas. Obviously if | | | | donate goods or prizes to the event. Also, use your |
| you don't have much money, you're not going to put | | | | connections. Family, friends and professionals may be |
| on a concert. However, there are event ideas that | | | | able to connect you to a few people who will donate |
| are relatively cheap and popular. | | | | some time, money or goods to your cause. |
| Event Ideas | | | | Bringing guest speakers into your community is also a |
| If you're a well established nonprofit and have a lot | | | | cheap nonprofit fundraising event. These types of |
| of front money, you can put together a large dinner, | | | | events are more likely to get picked up by your local |
| dance, gala or masquerade. These events typically | | | | paper than a community auction. Press is always |
| cost upward of $1,000 a head. They cater to the | | | | good because it will help you sell more tickets. Also, |
| wealthier crowd and can bring in a lot of money. | | | | you can bring in a guest speaker that addresses a |
| Obviously a local nonprofit environmental group will | | | | topic that falls in line with your cause. That way your |
| not have the funds or the friends to support this | | | | nonprofit fundraising event brings in money and |
| kind of event. | | | | educates the public. |