From Plan to Action
Our Fundraising Steps
Embarking on a fundraising journey requires a strategic approach guided by SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-based objectives. With a clear vision, such as establishing a 1-acre organic vegetable garden at Kisi Primary School, fundraisers delineate targets, assess feasibility, and set timelines. Choosing the appropriate fundraiser, be it online donations, peer-to-peer initiatives, or events like sponsored activities, demands tailored strategies to engage the audience effectively.
Crafting a comprehensive plan entails delineating roles, establishing budgets, and outlining timelines. Making the giving process seamless and meaningful enhances donor engagement. Effective promotion through storytelling and updates fosters community and shared achievement. Expressing gratitude towards supporters nurtures enduring relationships. Evaluating the fundraising initiative provides insights into efficacy and impact, enabling refinement for future endeavors.
SMART Goals
When starting a fundraiser you need a clear vision, set of goals, and deep understanding of why your goals are important. After developing your project proposal with your local African partnering school you are well on your way to develop SMART goals.
SMART goals stand for:
Specific: What is the clear goal of what you are trying to fundraise for?
Example: A 1 acre organic vegetable garden at Kisi Primary School.
Measurable: How much money is required to meet your fundraising goal?
Attainable: Is this fundraising amount achievable?
Relevant: Does this project that you are fundraising for align with your school or partnering Organization?
Time-based: What is the timeline of your fundraising and what will you do to ensure this occurs?
Example: You may need to do a variety of fundraisers such as social media, asking family and friends to donate, hosting a bake sale, etc.
1. Choose a Type of Fundraiser
There are many types of fundraisers. When choosing the type of fundraiser you need to consider your SMART goals, what resources you have, and your target audience. The most common types of fundraisers include:
Online donations: If you would like to set up a fundraising page on our website, reach out! Each time that someone makes a donation they will be able to see their direct impact.
Peer-to-peer: From word of mouth, door-to-door, or even facebook fundraisers, people can all do their part to meet fundraising goals.
Events: From a sponsored basketball game, bake sale, a virtual presentation, or silent auction.
2. Create a Plan
A detailed fundraising plan will help you stay on track with your goals. These would include:
Team members: Who is involved? What are their responsibilities?
Budget: How much money do you have to spend on your fundraiser?
Timeline: How long will your fundraiser run?
4. Make Giving Easy
Showing how far a donation will go is the best way to explain to potential donors. Pairing incentives with each giving level supports the donors envisioning. For example, if you are fundraising for a school garden we could say:
$50 is one row of the vegetable garden, feeding 20 students per year
$100 is two rows and will feed 40 students per year
$1,000 is 20 rows and will feed 400 students per year (the whole school!)
Step 6: Create Your Promotional Materials
Your fundraising campaign needs to be clear and consistent in messaging to motivate your audience to give. What is the story at the heart of your fundraiser? Can you highlight your African partnering school or a friend that you made during your program? By providing photos and stories with your audience people will feel more connected to your cause.
Step 7: Add Your Personal Touch
Explaining how this program and the partnering school has changed you in some way is a great way.
Step 8: Promote Your Fundraiser.
From hosting an event to a Facebook campaign to a bake sale, messaging your audience of upcoming events or letting them know the progress of your fundraiser every few days will increase their awareness of the cause. According to Fundly’s crowdfunding statistics, campaigns that update their supporters at least every five days raise 3x more donations than less communicative campaigns! You have done an exceptional job at your Global Students Program and you should be proud to share the story.
Step 9: Thank you Supporters
From a text to email to letter in the mail, people would love to hear updates and thanks for their support during and after the campaign.
Step 10: Evaluate your Success
You have put in many hours of time and dedication. You should be very proud of the work that you have done. Take a moment to yourself and as a group to understand the impact that you are making in the world. Understanding what your goals were, what you achieved, and what you could have done differently is a great way to expand your understanding. Key takeaways are great!