Running low on fundraising ideas? Well you’re in luck! Paige Robertson has written a lovely book with over 250 of them! Whether you’re charity, school, hospice, church or individual fundraiser you’ll be sure to find something to inspire you. It also provides a diary of national days, international awareness days and important historical anniversaries, so you can link your fundraising to national and international activities for maximum publicity.
All royalties from the sale of the £5.99 book are being donated to the NSPCC. http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0956702406/219
I caught up with Paige to find out a bit more about the book and why she loves fundraising:
What inspired you to write the book?
Inspiration for the book actually came from a parent at my daughter’s school when I turned up to a PTFA meeting with my huge folder of ideas that I had put together over numerous years of fundraising for my local children hospice. She just said ‘you should put all this in a book for other people’ and that’s basically how it came about! I then thought the book itself could be a fundraiser so that’s why I am donating all my royalties to the NSPCC.
You’re clearly very passionate about fundraising. What got you in to it in the first place ?
When the local children hospice was built near to where I was growing up (about 20 years ago now, yikes!) they had an open day for people to come and visit. It was just such an eye-opener on what other people have to deal with, the support they desperately need and the money that has to be raised every year to provide this facility. It just started from there. I then found out that fundraising is actually good fun. You get to meet lots of fascinating people and (corny as it sounds) it really is more rewarding to help others than to just focus on yourself. I get far more out it! It puts many of life’s little problems into perspective when you hear what some people are currently dealing with. And I love fundraising for my daughter’s school! We are having a ‘Royal Wedding Tea Party’ today and the pupils are so excited about it! I have to admit so am I!
What’s the whackiest fundraising idea in the book?
The whackiest idea has to be all the baked beans challenges that I have come across! How many baked beans can you eat with a toothpick in one minute? Could you sit in a bath of baked beans for one hour? Or a wellington boot filled with beans throwing contest? I’d love to know who thought up these!
If there was one piece of advice you could give to other fundraisers what would it be?
My one piece of advice is to have fun and relax. Ensure your organisers and helpers are happy and not stressed as this is crucial in creating a good atmosphere for the event. It also ensures they will come and help at the next event you organise! (My second piece of advice, if allowed, would be to create a draw, attraction or theme for your event to hold it all together, and a third piece of advice (I’m pushing it I know!) is to spread the word, either by word of mouth, social networking or get the local media on your side!)
Tags: fundraising ideas, Fundraising Tips