Fundraising TipsTO HELP YOU REACH YOUR TARGET

Sometimes it’s diffi cult to know where to start when you begin fundraising. To help make it easier, we’ve pulled together some

ideas and tips.

ASK. It sounds simple, but it’s often the hardest thing to do. Don’t be afraid to ask everyone you know; be proud of what you are doing because the funds you raise could have a dramatic impact on a young person’s life. To make it a little easier we’ll send you some examples of how you can ask.

SET A REALISTIC TARGET AND THEN SHARE IT. Targets are great motivators and people will really rally to help you reach yours. It’s best to set a realistic goal and then increase it once you’ve reached it, rather than set an amount that’s too high. We’re happy to help provide some guidance with targets.

LET PEOPLE KNOW WHY YOU ARE FUNDRAISING. Why have you have chosen to support ReachOut? Some of the people you ask may not have heard about us, but they will support you when they see how passionate you are.

MAKE THE FIRST DONATION. By donating to yourself, you are giving a guide to people on what they should donate – when raising over $750, a great entry point is $50, which provides access to ReachOut for 25 young people. Research shows that those who self-gift raise more money than those that don’t.

SEND AN EMAIL TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW. And don’t forget to include your fundraising page link. Your supporters will find clicking on a link more convenient then having to do a search for you.

USE FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND YOUR BLOG. Social media is a great place to drum up support – and ask your friends to re-post it too! It’s easy to engage your friends and family in the journey you’re on if you send them the link to your fundraising page which has updates on how you’re going.

REFRESH YOUR FUNDRAISING PAGE. This can be with a status update, new photos or a video. Update your blog and explain why you are passionate about raising funds for young people going through tough times, how your training is going, what you’ve learned about youth mental health, or how you’re feeling about the ‘big day’.

INVITE YOUR COLLEAGUES TO MAKE A DONATION. You’ll be surprised at how many people are passionate about young people and mental health too, and who will find you inspirational.

FOLLOW-UP. Send a reminder e-mail to anyone who has not sponsored you yet or who has said they would but haven’t had the chance. People get busy and it might not be at the forefront of their mind so sometimes a reminder is all they need (and remember to always include the link to your fundraising page). Research shows that people who follow-up their initial request are more successful in their fundraising efforts—so don’t be shy in asking again.

ASK YOUR EMPLOYER IF THEY WILL MATCH DONATIONS. Lots of businesses encourage employees to take up community events and are really supportive, so why not ask?

HAVE A BIRTHDAY IN THE LEAD UP TO THE EVENT? Ask for donations rather than a gift (or ask for both – we don’t want you to miss out)!

ORGANISE A FUNDRAISING ‘EVENT’ LIKE: ► Morning/afternoon tea – set a target for the event and ask for a donation ► Sausage sizzle – Places like Bunnings often support fundraising initiatives – you just need to register with your local

store. ► Lawn bowls – a great way to spend an afternoon and raise money ► Guessing competition – one of the simplest things to do! Fill a jar with lollies and have everyone make a gold coin

donation to guess how many are in there.