Holding a youth fundraiser can be an exciting and fun experience, but it can also be a bit overwhelming. There are many factors to consider when a person puts together a youth fundraiser, including monetary goals, group size and ages, and particular interests. Parental and community involvement also constitute key points for a person to consider. Certain organizational aspects, such as leadership roles and timeline, must also be clearly established.
First and foremost, when planning a youth fundraiser, the monetary goal must be carefully considered. The amount of money a group wishes to raise directly impacts the type of fundraiser. For instance, if the goal is to raise $10,000 US Dollars (USD) for cancer research, a simple candy sale probably will not be sufficient. On the other hand, if a youth basketball team is hoping to raise a few hundred dollars for new uniforms, a city-wide runners’ marathon might be considered overkill. The size and type of fundraiser should match the ultimate monetary goal.
It is also important for organizers to consider the interests of the youth group involved in the project. If the members of the group enjoy baking, then perhaps a bake-off or cookie dough sale might be the best choice. Maybe the group loves animals, in which case, a community dog wash might be ideal. If the group’s interests are matched to the fundraising activity, inevitably, the members will be more excited and enthusiastic about the event, which will likely translate to success.
The age and size of the youth group is also important when considering a youth fundraiser. Older and larger youths can probably handle more complicated tasks and have a broader range of potential donors than younger, smaller groups, so the nature of the fundraiser should be tailored accordingly. For example, while an entourage of 30 teens could likely handle a large-scale community car wash, a handful of seven-year-olds probably could not.
For any youth organization, and especially for those that have younger members, parental involvement is often very important for a successful youth fundraiser. Most of the time, not only will parental permission be required, but the moms and dads are often the ones behind the scenes driving the sales and motivation of the young participants. Consequently, the individuals holding the fundraiser must make sure that the parents are on board with the idea and are kept informed every step of the way.
In addition to parental participation, fundraising leaders should assess the extent of community needs, interests, and involvement as well. Again, this in large part depends on the size and type of fundraiser. For instance, if a performance troupe is running a duck derby to support a local theater programs, the members might consider obtaining corporate sponsorship through various area businesses, such as restaurants that might benefit from advertising and supporting such an event.
Adequate leadership is also a crucial aspect of running a successful youth fundraiser. No matter what the size of the event, it is important to have go-to people to troubleshoot and make the decisions necessary to propel things forward. The more complicated or involved the fundraiser, the more leaders a group needs. For instance, if a church youth group is planning a craft sale, it is wise to have several leaders in charge of different facets of the event, such as vendor registration, setup, refreshments, and so on. In this way, no one person feels overwhelmed, and no part of the event gets neglected.
Having an adequate timeline is also an essential factor for the proper organization of a youth fundraiser. The fundraising team needs to have enough time to perform the tasks necessary. Again, the more complex the fundraiser, the more time should be allotted. Organizers shouldn’t be afraid to start early, and many experts agree that six to nine months of lead time is needed to successfully run any type of fundraiser, even those that are not all that complicated or involved.