5 things you need to know when planning your first fundraising benefit

Organizing a fundraising benefit requires a lot of planning time and deliberation, but if executed successfully, you can secure a lot of donors for the event and future events. To help you ensure your breast cancer research fundraising event is a winner, here are five components you should incorporate into your event plan:

Have a plan and budget: Regardless of how big or small your event may be, in order to be successful and raise the most money possible for your cause, you need to come up with a detailed plan. First up in that plan, cost.

Your budget plays a huge role in determining the type of event you can have because certain events require money up front for deposits. The size of your budget may be determined by how many sponsors you are able to secure. The key is to try and get as much stuff donated as possible and get as many sponsors as you can. The first place to look for sponsors is by reaching out to those who have a stake in your cause. Businesses or families that have an attachment to your cause are often willing to help raise money by being a sponsor.

Build a team: You can’t do this alone. You must have a team in place of like-minded individuals who you can trust. It does not have to be a big team. The most important thing is that the team members share your enthusiasm for the cause because after all, they are not being paid.

Decide on a theme: Incorporating a theme into your fundraising event can make an ordinary event feel more special. Try to pick a theme that gives your guests some flexibility to choose whether they want to go all out or stay conservative with their attire. Incorporating a theme into your fundraising event can make an ordinary event feel more special. Try to pick a theme that gives your guests some flexibility to choose whether they want to go all out or stay conservative with their attire.

Create a marketing strategy: Just like a new product, your event needs to be aggressively marketed to your target audience. You need to convince your supporters that your organization and event are worthy of their time and money. Social is a great place to promote and share information your fundraiser and help you reach a larger audience quickly and easily. Post on Facebook, Instagram, Vine, Twitter and Google+.

Have fun! Don’t make it a chore to be a volunteer or a participant. Remember that your team and participants are giving up their free time to help your cause. Plan fun things to do during each stage of the process that will reward everyone. Not only will it be a more rewarding experience for everyone involved, but you will keep your participants and volunteers eager for the next fundraiser!