Local Fundraising Ideas
What other types of activities can you do to raise money besides throwing a party or hiking up a volcano? Different types of fundraisers will create a buzz around Xela simply because it is different. Adding variety to the monthly or bi-monthly fundraiser will be more fun for the NGO.
What Can your NGO Do?
Step 1: Identify and Recognise Unique Knowledge or Ability Among your Members
You need to look at your organisation. Surely the participants, workers or the community it serves possess all types of skills and talents to offer besides their party-planning ones. Any knowledge or talent can be turned into a fundraising activity. For example, the NGO can offer a cooking class where participants learn to make tortillas and other types of Guatemalan food. This type of activity takes little preparation and can be fun. A simple skill like knowing how to make tortillas and cook can be transformed into an activity. Does anyone know about the Mayan religion? Give a conference on religious symbols.
Step 2: Identify Unfulfilled Interests of Foreign Students or Tourists
Once you have determined the unique skills and knowledge of the NGO members, determine which unique skills and knowledge will interest foreign students or tourists. For example, you need to match the skill with an activity that a foreign student or tourist would like to attend. If someone in the organisation knows how to give a cooking class, do not advertise at schools that offer cooking classes for their students. Maybe coordinate activities with a school to do a cooking class in conjunction with the school’s curriculum.
Step 3: Advertise the Event
A fundraiser stands and falls based on how well you advertise the event. Create posters, tickets and spread information on the event by word-of-mouth. Visit every school and café you can find in Xela to spread the information. Send an email about your event to us so that we can publicise it on our events web page
Step 4: Preparation of the Event
A key to continued success is a strong event. If you have a capability to fulfil an interest of a student or tourist and advertise the event, most likely, you will have a well-attended event. Be sure that the event is a success. You do not want to build hype about an event that is a disappointment. You will not be able to sell your second event effectively if there has been too much hype and little output with the previous fundraiser. The key to preparing a strong event is planning, coordination and follow-through. Use one coordinator to monitor the progress but include all members. It is a team effort. Do not let the daily responsibilities blind you from the event preparation.
Here are two fundraising ideas
1. Fashion Show / Art Exhibit
Music, art, fashion. If your NGO or its members produce some type of art, be it textiles, paintings, or music, set up a special exhibit. In the U.S., for example, Art Gallery Exhibits and Live Performances always attract a crowd. Remember often you will sell tickets to fundraising activities to foreign tourists or students. Hosting an event that is something like an exhibit could be a big hit – Guatemala style. Often the events sell or offer the typical wine and cheese. Instead of wine and cheese, a more affordable snack could be Beer and Crisps or Coffee and Cookies.Obviously to increase the value, adding a conference to the exhibit will encourage more visitors. Add interest and value to the products by contextualising them in the culture and daily life by offering a mini-conference on the production of the art, the history of the art or about the artists.
2. Community Excursion
Perhaps you can host an excursion to the community and homes of the members. An excursion could be a product exhibit, a conference and a lunch rolled into one trip. Describe any products your NGO might make, how you make them and why the project is important. Provide an opportunity to learn about the differences between living in the city versus the surrounding communities, about the day to day life in rural communities and perhaps prepare a traditional meal. Excursions can also be visits to clinics if you are trying to raise money for health issues or to local schools if raising money for education. The key to successful excursions is to plan the activity in conjunction with a Spanish school. This will guarantee attendants. Weigh choice between weekend and weekday activities. Most students have afternoons free. An excursion with an early dinner may be just the right activity for your NGO as often students travel and are away from the city on the weekends.
Party Check List
If you decide throw a party, here is a checklist that will help you cover all your bases…
Party Plans:
1. Where will the event be? At a bar? At a school? At a restaurant? At a coffeeshop?
2. When will the event take place?
3. What will you serve?
4. Will there be dancing and drinks?
5. Will there be dinner first?
6. Will there be liquor or beer?
7. How much can you charge?
8. Who will handle the money? Who will record costs and sales?
9. Who will be at the event? When will event start?
Advertising Plans:
1. Who will design posters?
2. Who will produce the posters?
3. Who will hang posters? (usually done the week of the event)
4. Who will sell tickets?
5. Who will visit schools with posters and tickets?
6. Who will visit other tourists sites like Casa Argentina? Salon Tecun? Blue Angel?
Event Preparation:
1. If you make food, what will you serve?
2. Who will buy the food?
3. Who will cook and serve the food?
4. Will there be music?
5. Who will be responsible for finding the music?
6. Who will collect and return bottles?
7. Will there be decorations? Who will buy decorations?
8. Who will clean up?
