Fundraising ideas

The easiest way to raise funds is to ask your guests for a donation of what they would usually spend on a night out or to charge a set entry fee. Many of our hosts from last year were very creative in raising extra funds for their event. To give you inspiration we have listed some on the more popular ideas below:

• Local Business Support – Many companies like to support their local communities by contributing to events such as Girls Night In that are held in their business precinct. You may like to approach local businesses to see if they will consider this option. Some of the ways they might like to contribute are:

  • Dollar-for-dollar matching – This is where the company agrees to match the funds you have raised.
    
    
  • Cash donation – Where a company chooses to make a straight out cash donation to your event.
    
    
  • Donation of goods or services – Many local businesses, if they are unable to support financially, will be more than happy to donate items or services that can be used for an auction on the night or as raffle prizes.
  
  

  To assist you contacting your local businesses we have written a letter for you to use or to use as a guide when writing your own. We have also included a copy of this letter on the website for you to download if you would like to contact multiple companies.
  
  

• Raffles – Raffles are an easy and effective way to raise extra funds. Use your business contacts to source prizes or ask your friends to donate their services – i.e. working bee or spring clean. You can sell raffle tickets on the night or recruit your friends to sell to family and associates prior to the event for a draw on the night. Raffle tickets are available in the stationery aisle in most supermarkets for a couple of dollars.
  
  
• Auctions – If you manage to get some really great prizes donated from local businesses you could nominate an auctioneer and ask your guests to bid on the night. If don’t have a budding auctioneer in the group you could run a silent auction by just leaving the items and a bidding sheet for women to enter their bids throughout the night.
  
  
• Clothing sale – Ask your guests to bring clothing and accessories that they no longer wear and you can either auction or sell the items to other guests. With the money going to a great cause and the guests walking away with a new outfit – this is a sure-fire winner!
  
  
• House sale – A similar concept to above but instead of clothing your guests bring home items or appliances that they don’t use. Your more creative guests might like to make or decorate items.
  
  
• Cooking competition – Encourage the budding chefs in your group to cook up a storm and award a prize for the best contribution. You could sell the winning submission to the highest bidder!
  
  
• Craft night – Unleash your creativity and have a craft night – you could make jewellery, accessories, paint, quilt, sew or make greeting cards. Then you can raise funds by selling your creations to friend’s, family or colleagues.
  
  
• Promotion – For those of you who are going all-out and holding the event in a public place you may want to contact your local media to gain some promotion for your event.  Please contact your local office of The Cancer Council Australia if you need assistance with media.  Click here to find the contact details of your state or territory office of The Cancer Council Australia.

These downloads can be viewed in Acrobat Reader. You can download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe site FREE of charge.

© 2008 Cancer Council