Fundraising Pack
Table of contents
- Part 1 - Introduction
- Fundraising - Three Golden Rules
- What is my Fundraising Target?
- Breaking it down
- How do I work out my Additional Costs?
- Where does all the Money Go?
- Tips on Saving Cash
- Planning a Successful Fundraising Campaign
- References
- Know Your Three C's - Essential Facts about CCC
- Coral Reefs and Rainforests - Background Information
- The CCC Trust
- Professor David Bellamy
- Part 2 - Getting Started
- Part 3 - Fundraising Ideas
1. Introduction
Background information essential to every fundraising campaign
Congratulations on enrolling on a Coral Cay Conservation Expedition! You are about to embark on the experience-of-a-lifetime - an expedition to help safeguard one of the world's most important, yet endangered, environments. Even before you reach your expedition base, you will be faced with many exciting challenges - foremost of which are likely to involve fundraising.
It may seem daunting joining an expedition lasting several weeks and costing more than you might be used to spending on an average fortnight's holiday. But don't worry. We appreciate that the costs of the expedition, flights and equipment all mount up, but we also know that thousands of past CCC volunteers have tackled the challenges of fundraising as vigorously as expedition life itself!
This unique CCC Fundraising Pack is full of useful tips and practical advice. It includes information on everything from sponsorship, events and publicity to case studies of past volunteers and essential background information on CCC.
Fundraising - Three Golden Rules
- Have a clear target and plan carefully.
- Be prepared for hard, but rewarding, work.
- Make it enjoyable!
What is my Fundraising Target?
First things first - set your goalposts.
Write your EXPEDITION FEE here: £
Now consider the ADDITIONAL COSTS. The Expedition Fee above covers all accommodation, food, training and expedition activities. For more details of the following extras, see section below. Write estimates, or actual figures if you have them, for the following:
| INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS | £ |
| INTERNAL TRANSFERS | £ |
| INSURANCE | £ |
| EQUIPMENT | £ |
| PERSONAL EXPENSES | £ |
| FUNDRAISING TARGET | £ |
Breaking it down
Think of your fundraising target as lots of small, enticing chunks, rather than one large overwhelming one. We've broken down the costs into Skills Development Weeks, Conservation Weeks etc so that you can ask potential sponsors to support individual components of your expedition, i.e. sponsor X to cover conservation week 1, sponsor Y to cover week 2 and so on.
How do I work out my Additional Costs?
Travel
You can obtain a quote for your flights through our recommended travel agent, Key Travel. Contact Rachel Welton tel: +44 (0)161 819 8912, email: yellow@keytravel.com
Insurance
For a travel insurance policy which covers unlimited scuba diving and provides travel and medical cover required by all CCC volunteers, we recommend Axa Insurance plc, details of which (together with an application form) can be obtained by contacting Key Travel on +44 (0)161 819 8912 or by emailing yellow@keytravel.com The insurance can be extended to cover travel beyond your expedition as part of a wider itinerary.
Equipment
On marine expeditions, all volunteers must bring their own mask, snorkel, wetsuit, fins, booties, knife, torch, watch, cylumes (for night dives), digital depth gauge or computer and wrist mounted compass. BCDs, regulators and octopus will be provided for volunteers on CCC's Scuba Training Programme. They are also available for hire by other volunteers, although we recommend that qualified divers bring their own diving gear (including spare parts). CCC supplies cylinders and weight belts for all volunteers. For a basic outfit, budget on between £200-£250. Buoyancy Control Devices and Regulators can be rented for £10 per item per week.
On forest expeditions, all volunteers must bring a pair of sturdy walking boots that offer good ankle support and are well broken-in, a 70-80l rucksack, sleeping bag, sleeping mat, head torch, waterproofs, walking socks and trekking trousers.
For more details of what you need to bring - check out the Coral Reef Expedition checklist , Tropical Forest Expedition checklist and the Equipment section of the CCC Expedition Guide.
Mike's Waterfront Warehouse provides a range of equipment packages for coral reef expeditions. Through this partnership members of the CCC Society can benefit from a 10% discount on dive equipment. Equipment can be purchased by contacting Mike Calder, Managing Director, Email: mike@mikesww.com Tel: 0208 994 6006.
Terrestrial equipment can be purchased through Cotswold Outdoor Ltd. A 10% discount is available to CCC Society Members. To obtain this discount, email:info@coralcay.org for the CCC Promotional Code.
Personal Expenses
Miscellaneous items whilst on expedition might include bottled drinks and chocolate bars. Remember also to budget for Long Weekend excursions and further scuba training. As a rough guide, CCC recommends a budget of around US$200-300 per month.
Visa costs
Visas are required for some of the countries in which CCC operates. For further details contact Rachel Welton tel: +44 (0)161 819 8912, email: yellow@keytravel.com for more information. visa.
Where does all the Money Go?
When you pay to join a CCC expedition, your money plays a crucial part in funding our conservation work. At least 80% of the funds CCC uses to operate its programme of expeditions, local training, education and other priorities comes from your contribution as a volunteer. There is much behind-the-scenes work undertaken to ensure that each project we run is as effective as possible. Here's a breakdown of what's involved:
- Expedition logistics and field expenses 59%
- Volunteer recruitment, marketing and PR 20%
- Administrative overheads 12%
- Insurance 2%
- Education 7%
And the end result? Since 1986, thousands of CCC volunteers have enabled us (through their time and financial contribution) to assist several countries with establishing marine reserves, research centres, education programmes, local livelihood projects, diving scholarship opportunities, wildlife sanctuaries and even a new World Heritage Site. We hope you agree that your contribution is fair and worthwhile and we thank you for your support.
Tips on Saving Cash
- Have a clear-out and sell things you don't need at a car boot or garage sale.
- Don't take a credit card or cheque book with you when you go shopping - set yourself a weekly cash budget instead.
- Use a friend's washing machine rather than the launderette.
- Take your own lunch and snacks to work or college rather than shelling out on expensive food and drink.
- Walk everywhere (within reason!).
Planning a Successful Fundraising Campaign
OK, so you're clear about how much you need to raise. Don't panic! A well-thought out fundraising plan will break down that daunting total into more manageable and realistic chunks that inspire rather than intimidate.
Time
Remember to allow plenty of time for your fundraising campaign. There's little point leaving it to the eleventh hour. Many of the activities you'll want to try will require lots of planning. You may also need to be patient for the money to roll in even after a successful sponsored event or letter-writing initiative. If you are applying for grants or donations, remember that many of these have structured timetables for applications, release of funds etc.
Knowledge
Know your three C's. By now, you should have a pretty good idea of who CCC are, what we do and why we do it. If you don't, you're going to find it difficult to convince someone else - and even harder to convince them to part with their cash to support your CCC expedition. Our website, brochure and other material is full of information and you should also have garnered some useful snippets from staff and past volunteers at your CCC presentation evening.
Too much information, however, can 'overload' a fundraising event and be off-putting to potential donors. We have, therefore, included an essential guide to CCC on page 5 containing key phrases that you can simply lift and use in your fundraising campaign.
Ideas
Nothing beats a bit of brainstorming to kick-start a fundraising campaign! Grab some brightly-coloured pens and a large piece of paper, find a quiet place to sit and start scribbling down ideas. The first things likely to spring to mind will be pretty obvious - your savings, perhaps, or putting aside a certain amount from your monthly pay packet. That's fine, but you'd be fortunate to reach your fundraising target from these sources alone.
Try writing down the following headings and see what you come up with under each category. Think laterally!
- Activities
- Events
- Sponsorship
- Grants
- Publicity
Now embellish your brainstorming session with some research. As well as the ideas in this fundraising pack, you'll find plenty more in the other resources listed in the reference box opposite.
Plan
Finally, prepare a fundraising plan.
- Include a mixture of approaches.
- Only do things that you enjoy or find stimulating.
- Be enthusiastic and positive.
- Be thorough and professional.
8 Key Points
- Set a fundraising goal.
- Develop a plan.
- Make a fundraising schedule.
- Do one thorough fundraiser at a time.
- Be excited and enthusiastic.
- Use press releases, posters, prizes etc to promote your fundraising.
- Treat your fundraising as a mini-business.
- Think success!
References
All of these titles are available from www.amazon.com or www.fundraising.co.uk. Otherwise hunt them down in your library or careers office.
- A Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need 2004
- Directory of Social Change
- The Directory of Grant-Making Trusts
- Directory of Social Change
- The Environmental Funding Guide (4th Ed)
- Directory of Social Change
- Successful Fundraising
- John Baguley
- Bibliotek Books 2001
- Teach Yourself Fundraising
- Jenny Barlour
- Hodder &Stoughton 2002
- Complete Fundraising Handbook
- Directory of Social Change 2001
- How to write successful fundraising letters
- By M.Warwick 2001
The website thesite.org has useful links to fundraising topics.
Know Your Three C's - Essential Facts about CCC
This section contains essential information about Coral Cay Conservation. You'll find some KEY PHRASES below which are useful to include in letter-writing campaigns or on raffle tickets and event flyers. We've also included a brief insight into why coral reefs and rainforests are important and how they are threatened.
Background
Coral Cay Conservation (CCC) is a non-government, not-for-profit, award-winning organisation at the cutting edge of ecotourism. We send teams of volunteers to survey some of the world's most endangered coral reefs and tropical forests. Our mission is to protect these crucial environments by working with the local communities who depend on them for food and livelihood. Anyone can be a CCC volunteer.
How CCC Achieves its aims
- CCC provides the technical and financial support that developing countries need in order to produce conservation management plans for threatened reefs and forests.
- CCC trains international volunteers and host-country partners to gather, interpret and monitor the data that's urgently needed.
- CCC works with host-country governments and other organisations to encourage education and sustainable livelihood opportunities in local communities.
Major Achievements
- CCC volunteers have helped create 8 marine reserves and wildlife sanctuaries, plus a World Heritage Site on the Belize Barrier Reef.
- CCC Trust's Conservation Diving Scholarships have trained hundreds of local people in diving, marine biology and survey techniques - essential for monitoring their reefs' long-term health.
- CCC and its partners have received numerous awards, including Best Managed Reef 2002, British Airways Tourism for Tomorrow Award 1993 and CMAS Marine Environment Award 1992.
Key Phrases
CCC provides resources to help sustain livelihoods and alleviate poverty through the protection, restoration and management of coral reefs and tropical forests.
Although only a small organisation, CCC plays a fundamental role in protecting some of the world's most threatened areas of coral reefs and tropical forest. It achieves this largely by training volunteers to gather the data that not only informs the choice of where a protected area should be, but also how it should be managed.
CCC works in partnership with (and at the invitation of) governments, NGOs, local communities and educational groups to ensure effective conservation that meets the needs of people and wildlife.
Coral Cay Conservation is:
- Real adventure, real science, real results.
- Non-government and Not-for-profit
- Closely linked to the CCC Trust.
- Award-winning.
- Working with local people.
- Long-established (since 1986).
- Reef and rainforest.
- At the cutting edge of ecotourism.
Coral Reefs
- Support over one third of all known fish species, plus countless other creatures.
- Protect 100,000km of coastline from storms.
- Provide the main source of animal protein for 1bn people in Asia alone.
- Provide a source of medical compounds for treating leukaemia and skin cancer.
- Provide a crucial source of fishing, tourism and other income to some of the world's poorest nations.
Coral reefs are threatened by commercial over-fishing (which forces subsistence fishing communities to resort to using poison, dynamite etc); smothering run-off from rainforest felling; pollution; irresponsible boating, diving and other recreational activities; and climate change which causes lethal rises in seawater temperature.
The Bottom Line
"Less than 10% of an estimated 1-2 million reef species have been identified. The reefs are degrading faster than data can be collected. An estimated 58% are under threat from human activities, whilst we have no idea how much has already gone."
Mark Spalding, UNEP World Atlas of Coral Reefs, 2001
Rainforests
- Support more than half of the world's estimated 10m species of plants and animals.
- Are the 'planet's lungs', making 02 from C02.
- Protect watersheds.
- Provide ingredients for over 120 prescription drugs.
Rainforests are threatened by commercial logging; industrial development and pollution; and indiscriminate hunting of rare species for the bush meat and pet trades.
The Bottom Line
"Rainforests once covered 14% of the earth's land surface; now they cover 6% and experts estimate that the last remaining rainforests could be consumed in less than 40 years."
Other aspects of CCC to emphasise in your fundraising
The CCC Trust
When you begin fundraising, you need to be clear about what kind of organisation CCC is. Broadly speaking, CCC is split in two parts: a non-governmental, not-for-profit limited company which you deal with directly when booking your expedition, and a registered charity called the CCC Trust. Profits from CCC Ltd are either recycled into developing new expedition sites etc or are donated to the CCC Trust. No profits go to shareholders. In addition, the CCC Trust raises funds from various sources, such as grant-making organisations. Here are two examples of projects funded by the Trust:
Conservation Diving Scholarships
Since the early 1990s, the CCC Trust has funded hundreds of diving scholarships for local people at expedition sites worldwide. Scholars have included fishermen, marine biology graduates and teachers. With training provided by CCC's expedition scuba instructors and marine scientists, scholars are given courses in diving, marine biology and survey techniques - essential skills for monitoring the long-term health of their coral reefs.
Educational Posters
The CCC Trust has produced four stunning posters depicting life above and below the waves in Belize, the Philippines, Honduras and Fiji. The posters not only show the bewildering range of species that inhabit coral reefs and tropical forests, but also the importance of these environments to local communities. Along with other educational resources, the posters have been distributed to schools at CCC expedition sites worldwide.
Charity Facts
- The CCC Trust is the UK's only charity dedicated to protecting coral reefs and tropical forests - and the livelihoods of the people who depend on them.
- Registered charity 1025534.
Key Projects:
- Funding conservation diving scholarships for local people.
- Producing education resources for schools.
- Raising awareness of conservation issues through events and displays.
- Supporting alternative livelihood schemes and other local community projects.
Professor David Bellamy
CCC is extremely grateful for the support of its President - botanist, conservationist and TV presenter, Professor David Bellamy. Not only does he actively support our work, but his name adds considerable weight to CCC's approach to conservation. Use this quote from Professor Bellamy to endorse your fundraising:
"I must be the luckiest man alive! I was once able to explore vast tropical jungles packed to the highest tree top with two-thirds of all plant and animal species known to man and, at sunset, stroll down to the beach to join the original 'gin and tonic set' - local fisherfolk who swam in gin-clear seas amongst luxuriant coral reefs, catching a seemingly endless bounty of fish to take home and cook with fresh herbs and spices plucked from the jungle - the best tonic in the world! Today, over half of the world's tropical forests have been destroyed just to feed, house and pamper us, leaving behind little more than deserts. Massive soil erosion usually follows, dumping millions of tons of silt, along with other pollutants, onto fragile coral reefs - choking them to death and destroying the home of more than a third of all known fish species and a life support system that, for millennia, has fed, protected and provided medicines for humankind.
If you and I do nothing to help stop this, two-thirds of all coral reefs will vanish within 20 years, resulting in poverty and hunger for millions. So, what can you and I do to help put our home planet back into working order? Well, one way is to join Coral Cay Conservation. We're an organisation that's really doing something positive for this world of ours - and you can help by taking an active role. Each year, hundreds of international volunteers join CCC expeditions to help alleviate poverty by providing countries with the information they desperately need to protect and sustainably use their tropical forests and coral reefs."
Lost for Words?
Sum up your CCC Expedition in a few non-scientific words with these opening one-liners:
Philippines: "I'm off to explore some of the Philippine's last remaining pristine rainforests in search of highly-endangered species found nowhere else on earth."
Fiji:"I'll be able to help protect vulnerable coral reefs and islands in the South Pacific by gathering information that's urgently needed for new marine reserves and forest sanctuaries."
2. Getting Started
Some practical tips to lay the foundations for successful fundraising
Group or Individual?
Why not encourage a group of friends or fellow students to enrol on a CCC expedition and then combine your fundraising efforts? The group approach has several advantages:
- You can share skills such as letter writing, leaflet design, event planning or making phone calls.
- You can share contacts - one of you may have personal contact with a famous sports person who could endorse an event, while another member of your group may know a senior business person who could provide a shortcut to potential sponsorship.
- You can share the workload organising fundraising events that would be over-ambitious for an individual.
- You can approach certain Trusts that only consider applications from groups.
- You can share the challenges and fun of fundraising with others!
Individual fundraising also has its merits:
- You keep all the funds you raise - no sharing!
- You have complete control over the whole process.
So, which is best? Probably a combination of the two. That way, you can reach the greatest range of potential fund-givers, but also have the satisfaction of raising money totally from your own endeavours.
Fundraising Bank Account
It's very important to set up a separate bank account for your fundraising. Not only will it help you keep a clear eye on fundraising targets, but it should stop you dipping into it for non-expedition purposes!
Publicity
A little bit of publicity can go a long way towards raising awareness of your cause. A small feature in your local newspaper could catch the eye of a potential benefactor, while a captioned photograph of you shaking hands with a local business person could be just what's needed to seal a sponsorship deal or donation. Here are some other publicity ideas:
- Send a press release to local and regional newspapers and magazines.
- Web diary sponsorship - arrange to send 'live' reports from your expedition to be published on an adventure travel or related website.
- Produce expedition T-shirts and sell 'space' for sponsors' logos on the back.
Remember
Don't spend too much money to make money!
Funding Proposal Checklist
Presentation
- No typos!
- Send originals.
- Never email or fax unless asked to.
- Break up long paragraphs.
- Use sections and headings.
- Keep folders/covers simple.
- Paper clip - don't use staples.
Language
- Avoid jargon and clichés.
- Assume the person you are talking to/writing to has no knowledge of CCC, your expedition or even the country you're visiting.
- Support facts and statistics with explanations, but don't overdo it.
And Finally
- Be brief - less is often more
- Don't sound desperate - be energetic and positive.
- Know the interests of the potential supporter and target your approach accordingly.
Did You Know...?
A study of newspapers in the United States revealed that nine out of ten press releases received never saw print. The main reasons for rejection were:
- Lack of local or regional tie-in.
- Releases were too long or cumbersome.
- Releases arrived too late to be useful.
How to Write a Press Release
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letter
Green Light for Reef Rescue David Bellamy launches new expeditions to safeguard threatened paradise For immediate release 20 February 2002 If you have always wanted to do your bit to help save the world's threatened coral reefs, 2002 may well be the year you've been waiting for. Heralded by the United Nations as International Year of Ecotourism, 2002 marks the launch of two major conservation projects by award-winning expedition group, Coral Cay Conservation (CCC). On 20 February at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London, broadcaster, Mariella Frostrup, introduces CCC's president, Prof David Bellamy, who will give the green light to pioneering expeditions in Fiji and the Philippines. Both expeditions will provide unique opportunities for adventurous volunteers from the UK and abroad to survey and help protect some of the world's most endangered coral reefs. "Coral reefs are nature's very own front-line sea defences," enthuses Bellamy. "Self-building, self-repairing and solar-powered, they do the job for free and provide homes for a third of all fish species." However, like rainforests, coral reefs are vanishing at an alarming rate. Some scientists predict that current trends in pollution, over-fishing and other impacts could destroy most of them within 50-100 years. This would be a disaster for one of earth's most beautiful and important ecosystems, and a devastating blow to millions of local people who rely on coral reefs for basic necessities such as food and livelihood. Since 1986, thousands of CCC volunteers have helped establish numerous marine reserves, wildlife sanctuaries and even a World Heritage Site - all with the emphasis on working with local communities to sustain livelihoods while ensuring the long-term protection, restoration and management of coral reefs. Bellamy is convinced that CCC's new projects can achieve the same positive results. "If we can help put Fiji's environment back into working order," he says, "not only will Fiji have a sustainable economy, but my grandchildren will be able to come and see Fiji and its reefs as I knew them 20 years ago." ends Contact: Peter Raines, CEO |
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How to Write a Letter Requesting Sponsorship
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10 The Street
London SE20 1AA Mr A Contact Tel: 020 777 1234 Potential Business Ltd Email: ahopeful@aol.com 50 New Ways London N50 9XX 10 June 2002 Dear Mr Contact Coral Cay Conservation Expedition to Fiji I'm delighted to have recently been accepted on an exciting and challenging expedition to help protect the threatened coral reefs of Fiji. From September 2002, I will be spending three months with award- winning expedition specialists, Coral Cay Conservation (CCC), learning how to dive and gather the information that's urgently needed to create new marine reserves and wildlife sanctuaries. Please find attached additional information about CCC and this unique project. As a committed conservationist I have already spent many years volunteering for my local wildlife trust. This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a CCC expedition will now broaden my experience and enable me to make a valuable contribution to what I believe is a sound and worthwhile international conservation project. To date, I have managed to raise nearly £1,500 towards the expedition cost of £3,250. I organised a sponsored beach clean (which also helped to raise awareness of the importance of the marine environment) and also ran a successful Fijian-themed party! I am now determined to reach my fundraising target through a variety of other activities, including company sponsorship. In return for any financial assistance Potential Business Ltd may be able to provide, I would be delighted to offer you a fully-illustrated article for your company newsletter describing my exploits in Fiji. I would also be keen to arrange a photo opportunity, highlighting your support in local newspapers and I am also looking into the possibility of producing expedition T-shirts with sponsors' logos on the back. I do hope you will be interested in this proposal. I have always been passionate about conservation and marine life and, as you will see from the enclosed material, this expedition will make a real difference to the future of Fiji's coral reefs - as well as the people who depend on them. I look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely Adam Hopeful |
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3. Fundraising Ideas
It's an obvious start, but these are the people who know you best and are most likely to be sympathetic to your cause. You can simply chat to them informally about your forthcoming expedition, enthusing to them about what you will be doing and being candid about how much money you need to raise.
It might be a bit much to expect them just to whip out a cheque book there and then, so why not offer something in return? You could, for example, produce a diary of your expedition complete with photographs and sketches and sell copies for, say, £50 each.
Alternatively, ask friends and family to sponsor 1 day of your expedition. You could even break this down into different categories. Some people might be interested in sponsoring part of your dive training week, while others might want to support your skills development week.
Friends and Family
It's an obvious start, but these are the people who know you best and are most likely to be sympathetic to your cause. You can simply chat to them informally about your forthcoming expedition, enthusing to them about what you will be doing and being candid about how much money you need to raise.
It might be a bit much to expect them just to whip out a cheque book there and then, so why not offer something in return? You could, for example, produce a diary of your expedition complete with photographs and sketches and sell copies for, say, £50 each.
Alternatively, ask friends and family to sponsor 1 day of your expedition. You could even break this down into different categories. Some people might be interested in sponsoring part of your dive training week, while others might want to support your skills development week.
Why not...
- Sell copies of your expedition diary.
- Ask friends and family to sponsor your expedition.
- See if they have any gear you could borrow (even a snorkel helps).
- Find out if anyone has a useful contact that would help with other fundraising approaches.
Grant-Making Trusts
There are thousands of grant-making trusts in the UK, but you need to do some thorough research before contacting them. Some key points to consider:
- Some only support groups.
- Some have certain periods in the year when they accept applications.
- Most require applications well in advance.
The first step is to visit your library and ask for information on books listing grant-making trusts. Compile a shortlist and if you are unsure as to your eligibility, a quick phone call to the trust concerned will save you a lot of wasted time filling application forms.
Think Laterally
A company might not be willing to offer you cash, but that doesn't mean they can't support your expedition.
- Offer to 'field test' travel or scuba gear for a manufacturer in return for a full write-up and photos of their products 'on-location'.
Corporate Sponsorship
There is little point in writing a general begging letter and mailing it to 100 random companies. You need to take a far more focused approach to stand any chance of getting a positive response.
- Do you have a contact? It might be a family friend, someone you met on holiday or a fellow member of a sports club.
- Is there a local angle? A business which has a head office or regional outlet in your area might benefit from some local newspaper publicity from sponsoring you.
- Does the company already have a business interest in the kinds of things you will be involved with, ie: coral reefs, rainforests, conservation, scuba diving, trekking.
- Remember to follow up letters with a brief phone call.
Promises, Promises
Don't forget to keep your side of the deal. If, for example, you've promised photos or an article in return for sponsorship, please remember to send them when you return from your expedition. You owe it to the company concerned and it will help assist future volunteers' fundraising efforts.
CCC Awards
Coral Cay Conservation has won the following awards:
Universities and Schools
If you are a student, investigate whether your school, college or university has any funds available to support scientific expeditions such as those operated by CCC.
In return, you could offer to give a presentation or slide show - or even put up a small display illustrating your experiences.
Schools (past and present) also provide good opportunities for more imaginative fundraising ideas:
- Mufti day. Why not arrange for all the pupils in your old school to pay £1 each for turning up without school uniform for the day?
CCC Resources
Need some posters, leaflets, brochures or display boards to brighten up a presentation, a talk or a slide show? We'd be happy to help. Just give us at least two week's notice and we can provide all sorts of material, including copies of our newsletter and some stunning educational posters.
Local Community
There's a whole range of organisations right on your doorstep who may be prepared to make a donation. The trick is often to get the local media on your side first. A personal crusade-type story always goes down well and many clubs, societies, businesses, trusts, individuals and other local groups like to be seen to be supporting such initiatives.
Try contacting...
Rotary Club, Round Table, Inner Wheel, Probus Club, district and county councils, local businesses.
Jobs and Skills
OK, so working in a pub, doing a paper round, babysitting, washing cars or stacking shelves in a supermarket may not be the most inspiring ways of fundraising, but if they help you realise your goal, then go for it!
Don't forget that there may also be some 'freelance work' opportunities to exploit. Make use of skills (either your own or those of family members and friends) to launch small business enterprises, such as:
- Selling home-grown plants, home-made jewellery, home-baked cakes or hand-crafted cards.
- Offering homework or piano tuition.
- Organising a music concert.
- Offering beauty make-overs.
Organising the perfect jumble sale
- Venue - is it accessible?
- Jumble - where from?
- Layout - enough tables?
- Prices - be realistic; select the best for separate display.
- Refreshments - make folk stay longer, spend more.
- Raffle - draw the winners at the end of the sale; keep customers with you.
- Publicity - if they don't know, they won't come.
Collections
Check with your local authority before taking to the streets armed with collecting tins and buckets! You first need to obtain written permission and there may be regulations you must apply to. For example, you may only be allowed to collect on a certain day in a particular area.
Dress to be noticed
No-one's going to pass you by dressed as a coral polyp or a fish without at least giving a few pence out of sympathy!!
Events
This has got be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding ways of fundraising. There are so many types of fundraising event that you are sure to find something that suits you. Here are some examples:
Sponsored Events
- Beach clean-up.
- Number of bags of litter collected, miles of beach cleaned etc.
- Canoe, hike, swim, run or bike from A to B.
- Be imaginative! For example, simulate a jail break obtaining sponsorship for every mile you can travel from a starting point without using any money.
- Bungy jump or parachute.
- Watch out for the costs of doing daredevil stunts - they may be fun, but they might not make you much money.
- Sit in a bath of baked beans etc.
- Wacky, fun - and great photo opportunity for the media.
- Give up coffee for a month.
- A nice simple idea to try at work.
- Abstain from swearing for a month.
- A swear box at work or your local pub.
Sales Events
- Car boot sale.
- Try to get your pitch for free.
- Fete or tombola.
- Crucial to get large numbers of people to attend (more publicity!). Obtain prizes from local businesses. Invite them along and put up a stand acknowledging them.
Themed Home Parties
- International evening.
- Everywhere CCC operates is rich in local culture. Put on an evening of music, food and dance for your friends themed around Fiji, Malaysia, Honduras or the Philippines.
- Horse racing evening.
- You can hire the whole package. Obtain some prizes, get in the experts and place your bets!
- Casino night.
- Again, there's some initial outlay in hiring the kit and experts, but this usually proves to be a very popular money-spinner.
- Wine, beer or food-tasting session.
- Get the nosh at cost, enlist a friend who knows his stuff and away you go.
Other Events
- Pub quiz and karaoke evening.
- Get hold of some prizes, appoint a quiz master and set an entry fee per team.
- Barn dance.
- Venue is critical. A good band and caller will also make things go with a 'yee-har!'. Think about additional spin-offs like refreshments, raffle, cabaret, side shows etc.
- Sports or games tournament (5-aside football, scrabble etc).
- Organise the prizes and registration procedure.
- Slave auctions, Blind Date...
- Why not...??!!
Event Planning
Like all fundraising activities, it pays to plan well in advance when organising an event. Here are a couple of key points to consider:
- Venue - can you get it for free? Do you know someone who owns a pub or club? If not, choose a night that isn't likely to be packed and guarantee the owners a certain number of people at the bar. Get clear permission to charge at the door.
- Publicity is crucial. If people don't know about your event, they won't come! Be imaginative and broaden your approach as wide as possible.
The Best Event
The best fundraising event to plan is the one you are most likely to enjoy. Don't opt for something you hate just because everyone else is doing it. That's a sure recipe for failure.
Budget
Don't let costs spiral out of control. Look to achieve at least £3 for every £1 spent. Work out your break even point and aim to pass it.
Timing
Try to pick a date for your fundraising bash that doesn't clash with any other events that might keep your supporters away. Prime examples are major sport events and bank holidays and school holidays
And now it's up to you...
Good luck! And don't forget to let us know how you get on. If you're willing to share your brilliant fundraising ideas, we would be happy to print them in the CCC newsletter, Reef & Leaf.
