The Golden Key
A newsletter for chapter advisors, chapter officers, and regional officers.

Strike Gold!
Tips for Fundraising Success

In life few constants exist. Weather is unpredictable; schedules change; and chapter functions do not always go according to plan. But one constant will never change - chapters can always use extra funding. Depending on fundraising efforts to provide chapter funds may seem risky, but by putting the following fundraising tips into action, your chapter can strike fundraising gold.

Research.
This is the most important aspect of fundraising. You must know what appeals to your target audience. Start by polling new inductees. Chances are the diversity in age, ethnicity and gender among your new members will give you insight into trends on campus. Use the information gathered to tailor your fundraiser to the interests and needs of your audience.

The chapter at Austin Community College in Texas appealed to members with a Halloween Party & Movie Night. The event raised funds and donations for area food banks and homeless shelters. "Showing a movie concerning the Honors Study Topic is a good idea," says chapter member Deanna Root, "This way you can have fun and raise funds while working toward your Five Star goals!"

Set a Goal.
Without defined goals, fundraisers can become chaotic and ineffective. Knowing the monetary goal for the project and the length of time that exists for implementation will provide the guidelines needed to keep your efforts organized and effective. For example, raising funds to send your chapter's officer team to the International Convention may require a longer amount of time and more extensive planning than participating as a team in a local Relay For Life.

Choose Wisely.
Select a few quality fundraisers on which to focus. More fundraisers do not always equal more money earned. Make quality, not quantity, the key to your fundraising efforts. Often having too many fundraisers can lead to burnout and limit the amount of time your chapter has to spend on implementing chapter programs.

The chapter at Shelton State Community College in Alabama added a healthy dose of fun to their fundraising projects by hosting a day of "Limp Olympics." The event included a tricycle tractor pull, a blind driver race and a frisbee discus throw among its Olympic events as well as a silent auction. Money earned from the collection of registration fees and the silent auction yielded $500 in donations for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

"This was a fellowship activity that was designed to be fun for the members, but at the same time raise money for breast cancer awareness," said Stephen Johnson, Chapter President. Three or four quality fundraisers such as this can form an effective fundraising campaign.

Establish a Timeline.
To keep fundraising on track, establish a timeline. Determine how much time you can allow for preparation and the event. Remember to schedule check-in dates periodically during your fundraiser to check progress or collect money that has been raised.

The chapter at Sauk Valley Community College in Illinois involved the faculty in a fundraiser for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer by circulating a large teddy bear in each office to remind faculty to donate to the American Cancer Society. The chapter raised a total of $200 in one week!

Publicize.
It is important that students, faculty and staff on your campus know what is happening. Communicate with them early and often. Advertise your fundraiser in the campus newspaper or on a few strategically placed flyers on campus weeks before your fundraiser starts. Be specific on your flyers. It's important that people know why you are having a fundraiser.

The chapter at San Diego City College in California publicized their Buck- A-Book program by placing detailed flyers around campus about the project. By participating in this program, the chapter earns $1 per book sold through the chapter's website at the online bookseller www.ecampus.com/html/buckabook_ main.htm. "We'll do the flyers again next year," says Sandi Garcia, Vice President of Communications, "and we are also investigating the possibility of an email blast to current students."

Evaluate.
Once your fundraiser is complete, evaluate how the event was carried out. Everyone involved should list and discuss the strategies that worked and areas for improvement. After you complete your evaluation, use the information gathered from the evaluation to refine the chapter's fundraising efforts and make the next event even better.

Remember.
Before your chapter has any type of fundraiser always remember to obtain the proper approval from your campus administration.

Share your chapter's fundraising ideas by visiting Phi Theta Kappa's Chapter Officer Conference Center at www.forums.ptk.org/~chapoff.

For questions regarding fundraising, contact Chapter Programs Assistant Garon Tate at garon.tate@ptk.org or 601.984.3555.

Copyright 1996-2003 by Phi Theta Kappa, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The name, logo and various titles have been registered with the U.S. Patent Office.

This page last modified -- Wednesday, 31-Dec-2003 10:00:32 CST (cwe)