Tried & Tested

Experience has shown that the following are very popular ways to fundraise:

• Corporate Contacts
• Social Contacts
• Internal Company Support
• Social Clubs & Gyms
• Using a Company Event
• Email & Intranet
• Collection Boxes
• Dress Down Days
• Treasure Hunts 
• Auctions
• Sports Events
• Sponsorship
• Green Day
• Party
• Happy Hour
• Hidden Skills
• Fines
• BBQ
• Sweepstake

Corporate Contacts:
Consider approaching your corporate contacts and suppliers for support. If you are planning to make use of corporate contacts, letters signed by a senior company representative often make a bigger impression. Consider your approach to your corporate network carefully. Ensure that your letter holds their interest and provides enough information about both the event and this year’s beneficiary - Habitat for Humanity.

Social Contacts:
Setting a target per head for personal sponsorship is an excellent way of raising core funds. Including a prize or incentive for the person that raises the most adds an element of competition.

Internal Company Support:
Find out whether your company offers charitable incentives such as matched giving. Most teams are successful in gaining some sort of company support. Even if the gift is not a cash donation, you may benefit from asking them to sponsor your accommodation, supplies, or transportation expenses.

Clubs, Sports & Gyms:
If you are a member of a social club, sports team, or gym, it may be worth asking them to help you organize a fundraising event. For example, a restaurant may be happy to host an evening for you and a company gym is ideal for organizing knock-out competitions or other sporting activities.

Using a Company Event:
If your company has an annual dinner or conference, it is well worth finding out if you can use the event to fundraise. You could place posters, set out collection boxes, or hold an auction or raffle. This way, you will save on the cost of room and refreshments for a separate event, plus you have the attention of your entire company.

Email & Intranet:
Plan early - instead of sticking to your department, get as many people as possible involved, including colleagues based overseas, by simply emailing them with details of forthcoming fundraising events and how they can donate to your team through FirstGiving. Placing a banner on your Intranet will make your fundraising more accessible and raise extra awareness.

Collection Boxes:
Placed strategically, collection boxes are an easy way to fundraise and remain a favorite quick source of funds for many teams. Placing them by snack machines or in the lunchroom works best.

Dress Down Days:
These are a traditional and simple way to fundraise, while requiring minimal effort. They can also be themed; football Jersey days have been popular but you can do anything!

Treasure Hunts:
A great event to combine training with fundraising, treasure hunts (on foot, bike, or by car) can involve big numbers of people.

Auctions:
If you are uncomfortable asking contacts for a financial contribution, you could always ask for gifts to use as prizes at fundraising events.  A great alternative is to hold a “slave for the day” or skills auction. It is always beneficial to contact your local shops and restaurants for goods, and a good idea to coincide this with a local press release about your Challenge.

Sports Events:
These are a great way to get lots of people involved. Events such as softball and touch football tournaments can become annual events. A stipulation that the teams must be mixed sees a variety of people taking part. Don’t just limit your sporting events to your company – get other companies in your surrounding area involved as well!

Sponsorship:
In return for a contribution, why not sport your supporters’ logos on your team t-shirts or banner? This PR can encourage companies to support you and your team.

Green Day:
Organize a series of Green Days, where people are encouraged to take the bus, walk or cycle to work. Any money saved on transport is donated to the team. 

Party:
Think big and organize a party for your colleagues and friends, charging guests per head in return for a fabulous night out! It is important when organizing events such as these that you bear in mind the culture of your audience; don’t organize a booze cruise, if an evening dance would be more appropriate and vice versa!

Happy Hour:
Approach local bars to run a Happy Hour for your team and invite all your friends, family, and colleagues along. By charging an entrance fee and devoting the proceeds from the hour going to Habitat for Humanity, it can prove to be a great fundraiser and an easy one to repeat!

Hidden Skills:
Make use of a team member’s other skills, such as hair cutting, car washing, DIY, cake baking, sports tuition or language lessons and charge for the service!

BBQ:
Setting up a BBQ at lunchtime in the office grounds or at home is a great way to get people involved. It is very simple to run, and the temptation for something at lunch other than sandwiches appeals to lots of people!

Fines:
Announce a policy and charge fines to staff/friends/family who violate them. These can be for anything: being late to meetings, forgetting building pass/security code, IT helpdesk call outs, mobile phones going off in meetings...  being late home from the office!

Sweepstake:
You could try running a sweepstake based on the time taken to complete the Challenge. See how much faith your supporters have in your team!