At their core, charities rely on donations to do their work. Without people who put in the effort to organise fundraising events, many charities that support and enable so much good in the world might very quickly cease to exist, leaving thousands without the means to meet their basic needs.
That being said, fundraising is about so much more than simply collecting funds to be handed over to an organisation. Strong and well-publicised fundraising campaigns have the potential to raise awareness of specific issues and sway thousands to a cause, building up a base of regular supporters that ensures a charitable organisation’s long-term success.
Fundraising events benefit charities through:
- The actual funds raised: This is fairly self-explanatory—people support fundraising efforts for one or more of many reasons, the funds are donated to a charity, and the charity uses the donation to fund its programmes and initiatives. This is the central point around which fundraising activities pivot.
- Increased awareness: Let’s be honest: the world is full of problems that we don’t even know exist. Charity fundraisers, especially ones with a strong focus on social media storytelling, can quickly go viral and spread awareness of unknown issues far and wide. This increased awareness is one great big step closer to support as your appeals reach more and more ears that are sympathetic to your cause.
- Attracting new donors: This point ties in neatly with the previous one. As you increase awareness of a particular issue, you’re likely to garner more and more support from those who have just learnt about your cause and wish to help out. Slowly building a support base is an incredibly powerful and reliable way for a charity to ensure its long-term viability and survival.
- Building a community: While separate or individual donations are great and enable many charities to function, good fundraising events can help people unify and work together as a community to support a charity. Driven communities can achieve so much more than individuals, spreading the word even further and supporting your cause with fervour.
- Strengthening relationships with donors: “Out of sight, out of mind” rings as true in charity as it does in the rest of our lives. Fundraising events, especially annual or regularly scheduled events, give your supporters the chance to re-engage with your charity, reigniting support for your cause that might have withered since the last donation or event.
- Volunteer engagement: Charities often need more than money to do their job. There are hundreds of charities that need volunteered man-hours or labour to meet their goals, and fundraising efforts are the perfect opportunity to engage with and appeal to people who have already shown an interest in supporting your charity.
If you are looking for volunteers to donate their time, drive, carry, lift, paint, plant, or perform one of the many tasks that your charity relies on, make sure that this information is prominent and easily accessible to all attending your fundraiser. People will only volunteer to help if they know that the need exists. - Encouraging corporate sponsorship: Fundraisers that target the right businesses might get lucky and secure a corporate sponsorship. These could be invaluable to your good intentions, often bringing opportunities for additional marketing, access to equipment, labour, or supplies, and, hopefully, a financial donation that keeps the wheels rolling for your charity.
- Reinvigorating a charity’s drive: Running and ensuring that a charity is well-financed can be a challenging and frustrating experience. Even the most well-meaning and loyal supporters might start turning you away after several appeals for donations, leaving you wondering how you’ll continue your good work.
Fundraising events, especially those that bring a large group of people together in a physical space, can be such a morale booster as people rally around a specific cause with a renewed sense of commitment and philanthropy, providing the financial and motivational boost needed to continue. - Inspiring others: Planning and executing the perfect fundraiser—one that draws in a community of supporters and leaves everyone feeling happy and satisfied with their contribution—could, hopefully, inspire others to take action and organise their own events. This knock-on effect is arguably the greatest benefit of all, as it provides the opportunity to experience all of the benefits on this list all over again.