What do a 100-hour barbecue, an 8.5km bear-crawl round a park, and a public beard-shaving all have in common? They’re just some of the wacky and wonderful ways Kiwis have raised money for our charity KidsCan over recent years – and proof that the sky’s the limit when it comes to drumming up cash for a cause you care about.
Fundraising isn’t just a tried-and-tested way of donating to charity. It’s also a great way to build ties with your community – and have a little fun while giving something back. In short, it’s a win-win.
And it doesn’t matter whether you’re aiming high or going small-scale. For a charity every single dollar counts – and you can’t put a value on the feelgood vibes you’ll generate.
Here’s an easy step-by-step guide on how to fundraise for a charity in NZ.
Planning is key. Set a date, time and location (after checking your calendar for possible date clashes). Your fundraiser should inspire people to support and donate. It can be anything from a quiz night or school bake sale to running a half-marathon in your wedding dress (yes, one of our KidsCan supporters did just that – complete with groomsmen!). As long as you’re going to have fun doing it, anything goes. If you’re stuck for ideas, contact the charity’s fundraising team and they’ll be able to help.
Decide on an achievable target then let friends and family know what the target is and how it will help your chosen charity. For example, ‘We’re aiming to raise $2000 to buy 1000 hot meals for kids in need.” Stay motivated and encourage others to keep giving by setting fundraising milestones along the way.
The charity will provide you with information on how to register your fundraiser. KidsCan, for example, has a Fundraising Registration Form on their website with all the necessary details to get underway including some downloadable resources.
Promote, promote, promote. Send details of the fundraiser to friends via email, post about it on social media, tell loved ones in person, print out posters for your work lunchroom and/or fliers to hand out in your neighbourhood. You could also ask your local paper or community Facebook page to share the event. Don’t forget to reiterate why the fundraiser is important – clearly explain why the cause matters and what difference the money you generate will make. The more specific you can make this, the better.
For example, in the case of KidsCan:
‘KidsCan helps the 1 in 6 children living in hardship in New Zealand. They provide food, jackets, shoes and health products to low-decile schools and early childhood centres nationwide so that children can participate in learning and have the opportunity for a better future. By fundraising for KidsCan, you’re helping to create a better New Zealand for all Kiwi kids.”
Not sure what platform to use? Here are some tips:
Facebook – is great for creating events and sharing important info. Especially good for sharing with local community groups, pages and on message boards. It targets an older demographic.
Instagram – is a visual platform, ideal for appealing images. It’s best for upbeat posts and targets a younger demographic. Remember to use appropriate hashtags to increase your reach.
LinkedIn – is a great way to reach current and former workmates. It targets professionals who are interested in networking. LinkedIn prefers a limited word count – so be short, sharp and effective.
Don’t let the event fall off people’s radar. Let everyone know how close you are to reaching your goal, how much it means to you and the charity you are supporting, and how they can get involved.
Decide how you want to collect your cash. An easy and secure way to do this is to set up a fundraising page on Givealittle. This acts as a useful one-stop shop – a place where you can tell people what you are doing and why, and collect donations. For some events, such as the Auckland Marathon, you set up a fundraising page when you register as a fundraiser.
If your target is high or your challenge is particularly unique/daring, reach out to businesses for support. Create sponsorship opportunities that are appealing to local companies such as mentioning them on your social media posts or including their logo on your event T-shirts and posters.
Some workplaces have match-giving schemes where they will match every dollar of what you raise – ask if yours is one of them.
If you have an online fundraising page such as Givealittle, the donations will go straight to the charity. If you’re collecting cash at the event, find out what the charity’s preferred method of transfer is.
Don’t forget to post on social media or even send personal thank-you notes to let supporters know how much they raised, what the sum collected will achieve – and how grateful you are for their backing!
You might even encourage others to follow suit.
There are so many great reasons to fundraise for a New Zealand charity organisation – you’ll be contributing to an excellent cause, fostering strong relationships with your local and work community, empowering people to feel they are making a difference – and having a blast into the bargain. And if it’s success, why not make it a yearly fixture on your calendar?
If you decide to raise money for KidsCan, we have a bunch of resources to make the process even easier. Our fundraising toolkit contains posters, social media assets and logos, and information on how to get your funds safely to us at the end of your fundraiser. Check it out today!
