How to Fundraise

The Ashtead Fundraising Team  have been extremely successful in raising thousands of pounds over the years for TTR's Wheels for the World programme. In this article you can read their advice and suggestions for holding your own TTR fundraising events:

WHERE TO START

*Pray for inspiration!

*Hold a coffee morning - Invite a few friends for coffee and show a Through the Roof/Wheels for the World DVD. Sell some home-made items to raise a bit of money. Have a supply of literature from Through the Roof to hand out.
*Start an address list of those you have invited.
*Add names and addresses and telephone numbers to the address list of anyone who shows interest in the charity.
*Ask if supporters would like to receive Vital Link and pass full contact details to TTR.
*Keep a supply of Through the Roof leaflets in your bag/car at all times to give to anyone who may be interested.
*Encourage those you have invited to coffee to hold their own coffee morning.

WHO TO INVOLVE

*Friends and family – ask them to support you practically (it is good to have a strong team of supporters to share the workload). Encourage lots of different skills. Ask a group of friends to pray.
*Local Church – ask if your church would consider supporting TTR financially and/or invite a speaker to a service. Give them a DVD.
*Local Schools – ask if they would consider supporting TTR as their charity (many schools support a charity and will consider a fundraising event). Give them a DVD.
*Local Shops – ask them if they would advertise any events you may have or donate prizes for raffles.
*Local Groups (eg. Scouts, Guides, Women’s and Men’s Groups). Many groups raise money for charities. (Give them a DVD).

IDEAS THAT WORK

*Stalls at charity events (Summer Fetes and Christmas Fairs, Craft Fairs, Car Boot sales). Collect good quality items for sale throughout the year. Advertise for goods in church news-sheets, local shops, local newspapers. Give out TTR leaflets at events. Display posters etc. available from TTR.
*Write to local attractions around your area to ask for ticket donations to raffle at events, eg. Children’s Farms, Theatres, Leisure centres, Theme Parks, Restaurants, Gardens. (It is best to write at the beginning of the year as each organisation only has a certain number of free tickets). Send them a leaflet about the organisation. Remember to always include a stamped addressed envelope.
*Curry Nights/Charity week. Approach local cafe/restaurants to ask if they would consider having a charity week/evening. Some restaurants are willing to hire their premises for charity events and will agree to give a percentage of their takings.
*Talent evening. Approach local bands/orchestras etc to ask whether they would consider doing a charity event. It helps if you know someone in the band/orchestra! This could include a meal, raffle etc to increase the donations.
*Save £1 a day for the 40 days of Lent. Encourage people you know to save a £1 a day for a period of time, to sponsor a wheelchair. You can download a collecting box here.
*Theatre discounts. Some Theatres have a discount scheme for charities where you get a group of people together to see a show and part of the money for the ticket will go to the charity. It’s a great evening out and raises money at the same time.
*Make and sell your own cards. If you are ‘crafty’ or good at photography, you can make your own cards to sell to friends and at craft fairs etc. Stick a label on the back which explains that all the proceeds will go to TTR. You can design your own labels, or order them from a label company.
*Encourage people not to give you presents on birthdays, weddings etc but give donations to TTR instead.
*If you receive supermarket Vouchers, use them to buy raffle prizes for events.
*Sell things online. One person's trash can be another person’s treasure!
Send out a letter to your supporters twice a year, thanking them for on-going support and informing them of events and up-to-date information.

THINGS TO REMEMBER

*Use every opportunity to promote TTR
*Take photos at every event
*Contact local press for upcoming events and ask for a photographer to attend
*Write articles for church magazines and websites
*Keep church and clubs up-to-date with latest information
*Keep supporters updated with information
*Write to thank everyone involved after an event

TOP TIPS

*Choose a particular project (e.g. raise £1,000 for DCF Holiday)
*Set targets (eg. raise money by a particular date)
*Keep address list updated
*Keep supporters updated
*Think of new ideas
*Keep a list of all money raised
*Wear TTR/Wheels T-shirts at every event
*Use every opportunity to promote TTR

**HAVE FUN!**

USEFUL SKILLS

Everyone has a skill or skills that are vital for fundraising. Here are some ideas:

*Prayer – You could pray on your own or with a group, for inspiration, for practicalities, for generosity, for the right people to come forward to help etc. etc.. It is also great to know that people are praying whilst a fundraising event is taking place.
*Encouragement – It helps to spur people on in the activities.
*Generosity – You may be unable to practically fundraise, but are in a position to give money. This could be as a donation, or generosity in not claiming for any expenses that may be incurred in running an event.
*Time – You may be in a position to give your time to fundraise.
*Hospitality – You could offer your house as a venue for an event.
*Catering – Providing food for an event.
*Photography – It is great to have photos of each event. You don’t have to be a professional, but it is best to take digital photos so that they can be sent to TTR and newspapers etc. via email.
*Computing skills – It is great to be able to produce good quality flyers and posters for events. It is also good to be able to keep up-to-date address lists and be able to produce PowerPoint presentations to show at events.
*Treasurer – It is good to have someone who can keep records of the finances.
*Speaking – If you are a person who enjoys speaking and is enthusiastic and passionate about TTR/Wheels for the World it makes a real difference to an event.
*Writing – It is good to write articles for magazines, newspapers etc.
*Administration – Writing and sending letters to supporters, possible sources of fundraising and TTR, keeping records etc.

*Hands on practicality:

-Helping on stall at a fair or coffee morning
-Pricing up goods for sale
-Collecting goods for sale and storing them
-Setting up for events (fetching and carrying)
-Counting proceeds after event
-Washing up after a charity lunch/supper

Karen Goodridge
January 2009