Paying it Forward: It ain’t over till it’s over!
“It ain’t over till it’s over” Yogi Berra used to say. Your fundraiser is done, on to new things, right? Right after a few follow up actions. Organize and store materials from the fundraiser. Note and schedule needed repairs or replacements.
Communicate your appreciation with thank you notes to guests, partners, volunteers, vendors and other participants while your event is fresh in everyone’s mind. Hand written where appropriate, but all with personal signatures. This is a great way to involve others in your organization.
Make sure you have your records, names and contact info for all participants: sponsors, employees, volunteers, community supporters, and event partners. Keep in regular contact, two to four times per year, so your people know how they impact your mission. Broaden your audience reach using multiple communication channels, especially those with desired demographics.
Make your messages a mix of facts, that connect your cause to readers, and an emotional “pain point” of the need your cause addresses. Does your message bring a tear to one’s eye? If not, repeat till done!
My simplistic financial model for fundraising events has the participant’s fees cover the event cost leaving the sponsor funds to “fall through” as the event earnings. Remember growing more sponsors, volunteers and participants is necessary just to maintain your results as people move away and interests change.
An Event Notebook containing details, processes, lists, etc. helps the Junior League manage events. Their event chair passes the notebook to the successor, thus maintaining the organization’s memory of how to do the event.
This is the place for to add your notes about things to do better next time:
Changes making the event better for participants or volunteers.
New prize categories, competitions, next door prize (magnetic koozies).
Should complement event theme/audience.
Organizational notes, people, duties, schedules, sequences, partners
I have a section called the “Parking Lot” for items worth further consideration but not yet “prime time” ready. Put the great RAW ideas here: new participants, volunteers, fundraising, etc. Later you can sort good and bad.
Southwest Rotary thanks NW Texas Field and Stream, RIBS Inc, Road to College, our shooters, vendors as well as sponsors and community partners for another great Sporting Clay fundraiser April 29th!
Free Ukraine
Service Above Self,
Mr B MrB@NewCollarCoach.com
This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Paying it Forward: It ain’t over till it’s over!
