Fund-A-Need

Your event is going well, everyone is smiling and having a good time. Everything is as it should be and you're raising lots of money, but at the end of the night, some people are still leaving with money in their pockets that they intended to spend.

Often times, people will come to a fundraising event with a certain amount of money they are willing to spend to benefit the cause. If these people do not see anything in the auctions they would like to bid on or still have money left after buying what interests them they need another opportunity to donate that money for the cause. Fund-A-Need is a request for donations that happens at the end of the silent auction or live auction. Keep reading to discover how to incorporate this element into your fundraising event!

Step One:

Start the fund-a-need with a guest talking about their HD experience or show a short video that explains the certain cause you are fundraising for. This should "sell" your cause to the crowd. A good story is key.

Step Two:

The emcee should then go through a series of donation levels in descending order such as $500, $350, $250, etc. These can be set to best suit your event.

Step Three:

Event attendees raise their hand to support at their chosen level amount and volunteers throughout the room will collect names and amounts.

Step Four:

Thank donors, announce the total and continue with your event.

Tips:
A Fund-A-Need is traditionally done at a gala type event, but can be done at golf tournaments, dances, concerts and even walks. Instead of having volunteers collect the donations, you could also have a jar on the table for attendees to put money in or various other ways, but bids often work the best. To set the tone of the Fund-A-Need, it is best to gather a few "ringers" who agree in advance to donate at a higher level to set the tone for the activity. 

By adding a Fund-A-Need to your event, you can increase your event revenue by giving attendees an opportunity to donate to the cause - often the reason they are there! For more information or to add a fund-a-need to your event, contact events@huntingtonsociety.ca