Has anyone ever organized a fundraiser? A friend's son was critically injured in a car fire and has exceeded

Question

his lifetime medical coverage of $1,000,000.
Is it wise to use professionals, or should we try it ourselves? Does anyone have a successful formua?

Answer 1

Here's a website full of useful tips and ideas.

Answer 2

You'll need to establish an account at a local bank to receive the donations. If it's a one time event, you'll need to figure out how you're going to market it such as to work related individuals, clients, those who can afford whatever the event is going to be. Is there a local 501 C3 or C4 that you can work with to raise the money. Check with your local United Way to look at their member agencies to see if you can find one that would be sympathetic to your cause and maybe share in some of the money raised. Some events can be pulled off fairly quickly while others will take more planning such as golf tournaments versus a concert with donated musician time. You'll need to coordinate with the local cable company for some public service announcements and see if you can get the local paper to do an article on the anticipated event once you decide. You may want to establish a website where you tell the story and people can make donations and/or register for the event. Just a few thoughts. Silent auctions are good if you can get items donated. You need others to help you. Don't try and do something by yourself.

Answer 3

I am so sorry to hear of your friend's son's accident.
I think it would be greatly beneficial to you to contact a local Public relations firm or advertising agency. The professionals may be willing to donate their help and they will know how to go about making the fundraiser successful. Contact local printers to see if they will donate making up flyers or posters for you.
Good luck.

Answer 4

Using professionals cuts into how much money you guys actually see from the fundraiser.

You'd want to start local- jars at local businesses, garage sales, bake sales, etc. All stuff that makes some money, but nothing big.

Once you have that started, you can contact local places about holding a benefit dinner. You'll want to get a location for free, or extremly cheap, so call churches, schools (the son's school, perhaps??), clubs, etc. Once you have a location, talk to managers and owners of local businesses about donating the food, and get together volunteers to do the serving, etc. Once you have it set up, contact places like local newspapers & radio stations about getting the news out. You'll want to set a price for the benefit dinner, like $5 for kids, $7 for adults, etc. Have a set menu, like "Pancake Dinner with pancakes, sausage, and orange juice!". Spaghetti dinners are also cheap to put out.

You might also want to see if you can get local businesses to donate items for a silent auction to raise money as well.

Businesses like doing this because they also get thier name out there. You have to post who donates items, but it's free advertising for the companies. You'll want to contact them as soon as you can about doing this.

Maybe ask on freecycle.org (look for your local one if you have never used it) for item donations for the benefit yard sale. Start slow. As you do things, more people will hear about the little boy's needs, and you'll get more help.

You might also want to have your friend look into public health care for her son to cover future expenses. There are state programs for low income, as well as for the uninsured kids. You don't have to be low income to get insurance for children now days, so it's worth looking into.

Answer 5

I done many fundraisers. I have a few ways to do them. If you have messenger hit me up there and we can talk.

Answer 6

go to your newspaper and see if they will do a write up about your sons accident and see if they can help