I need a great idea…?

Question

I run a nonprofit arts presenting organization w/ an annual operations budget of about ½ million. Our earned to unearned income ratio is 55 / 45%. I have a terrific group of volunteers that are pretty dedicated when it comes to going out and beating the bushes for $50 to $100 donations from individuals. My experience however, has been that in the wake of 9-11 and more recently, last year’s tsunami and hurricane Katrina, charitable giving to arts programming has dropped significantly. Furthermore, over the last couple of years, the efforts of my committee have begun to grow a little stale, and it is starting to be reflected in our bottom line.

Here is my dilemma: I want to breathe some new life into their fundraising efforts. We’ve added some new committee members, made our direct mail campaign a little more edgy, but I keep thinking that if we want to see dramatic results, we need to make some dramatic changes.

Has anyone done any recent fundraising events that have surpassed expectations? We’ve done the black-tie galas, and golf tournaments, and we’ll continue to do person-to-person contact, but I’d really like to hit on something unique, interesting and fun.

They say it takes a hundred ideas to come up with one great one, so I’m listening… (or technically, reading)

Answer 1

The best fundraisers make people think they are getting something in retuirn for their donation. Perhaps a bake sale? I know it sounds traditional, but people really like home cooked sweets.

Get kids involved in addition to adults. People are more likely to come off their cash if a kid is selling.

Maybe you could rent the girl scouts! hahahah Two for one deal...cookies and kids. Surefire money makers.

Answer 2

We have an annual fundraiser in our city where different businesses (lots of them are really high end) donate things, from patio furniture to a night or two at a bed and breakfast, food, gift certificates, hardware, sports equipment, jewellry, trips, etc. It is publicized on the radio, the items are shown in the newspaper,and you can bid online or by phone. It appears to be very successful. The second year better than the first.. A personable representative on a radio talk show outlining the goals of the organization, with perhaps some musical examples. "Patrons only" raffle tickets sold at each performance, with drawing at the end of the season for next year's season tickets. It doesn't hurt to let your community know you are good people - a Xmas concert by donation, with proceeds to charity, sponser a music student and they perform at a concert - just an idea. Get a nice mascot, like a pug in a top hat - include him in your campaign literature like the "his master's voice dog" - haha.

Answer 3

WOW!!! 1/2 million,wow-wow-wow-wow

My small non-profit survives on $90,000 and less :) I don't know where you are located, but here in Canada, we've got the same problem with people giving less. Enough whining, right!?!
(me, not you)

Other bigger charites up here, like the Children's Hospital and Cancer Society hold lotteries. They give away prize homes, cars, cash and smaller things like DVD players. Is that a possibily where you are or have you already tried it? There are also charity casinos here and one bingo hall rents out to different charites on different nights. The charity in question provides additional volunteer staff for thier nights but the regular paid staff stay the same. The charity of the night get the profits from that day of bingo. It's an ongong thing. Also, the charities here can apply for grants from the monies collected from the government run lotteries.

Hmmm...maybe something that invloves competitive, rich men. They got rich for a reason. Charge them a bundle to get competitive with each other. One organization here recently had a golf contest that cost $1000 to enter. About 100 contestants paid $1000 each to try and get a golf ball on the putting green, which was floating on a barge a couple hundred yards offshore. They each had three tries to get the ball on the green., t-ing off the roof of one of the downtown buildings.(We're a city on the water) Whomever got the ball closest won a free car and a hole-in-one was worth 1 million dollars.

Hope some of these ideas are helpful, good luck.

Answer 4

Do something combining the arts. Have a wine and cheese tasting at some gardens where people can experience different types of live entertainment. Maybe in one room you would have a jazz trio and in another room you would have a string quartet and yet another for something crazy like dueling pianos.
Works of different local artists from different medias for display and possibly for sale...Sell tickets and the cheeses and wines. Figure out from there where the profits will come in. The wine and cheese events we have been involved in have been great.

The other thing that went over really well was (I am not sure how you would incorporate this idea for yourself...) But one local charity had local and not local celebrities paint their own platters and bowls and then auctioned them off.

They did the same thing with local and non local celebrities with a soup cook book. (I think that one was for a soup hall, but you are creative you can "morph" it.)

I want to be invited too!
LOL
As an advocate of the arts, I wish you great luck.
Cheers

Answer 5

What about doing dinner theatre? You could put on a murder-mystery. People usually go for that sort of thing, especially if you are raising money for performing arts. PERFORM!!!

Silent auctions are good coupled with the above too.
The best thing for this kind of donation is to make your donors feel as if they are getting something in return.