Well, every NGO needs some kind of funding.
Without funding you just can't help as many people or animals as you probably would like to help. Therefore, fundraising is so important aspect of NGO's activities (although, not always the most fulfilling). In the internet you can find hundreds of ideas regarding fundraising. And because you are in the Internet right now, you can find some ideas here as well. It's not hundreds of them in here, but you might get the gist, and if it's not enough, you could search further in other parts of that Internet.
So, here they go...
Fundraising ideas
1. Grant money (of course). Try to find out where you can apply: government, international organizations, companies, city council, etc.
2. Create local actions with tickets: games, sports (run, swim, run with obstacles, strange sports (boules, carling, etc.)), teaching, theater, concerts, lottery, holiday events: santa, easter egg, christmas, flower sale, etc.
3. Use crowdfunding sites for specific venture or non-specific general purpose.
4. Create gadgets with your logo (t-shirts, hats, ballpens, etc.) and sell them to your supporters or give them after donations.
5. Contact your beneficiaries from previous years and ask them if they would like to become cofunders of your projects (only if it's apropriate, e.g. they are not in bad financial situation).
6. Ask local and global companies for non-material fundings: server for website, website creation, food, drinks, furniture, technology (computers, TVs, phones, etc.).
7. Ask celebrities for something of theirs to sell on acution for the cause.
8. Organise fundraising party maybe with some 'free' entertainment (music, theater) and auction of goods made by your beneficiaries or gadgets you got otherwise, coupons for services (1 hour with a lawyer, surgeon, etc.).
9. Create 1 000 000 steps walk and ask various companies to participate - give 1 USD donation for each step and improve this way healthy habbits and help the cause.
10. Create online challenge for the cause.
11. Create „non event event” for people who want to stay at home and donate for the cause.
12. Create a 'game' when people can „choose something by giving donations” - e.g. prepare 3 bowles and 3 questions, and wherever the more money is, this answer wins (e.g. - NGO's leaders have to wear a funny hat, special glasses or a clown nose for a day).
13. Work with local shops, restaurants - use password / voucher for customers to get discount. Shop/restaurant could a) give 5% to the cause or b) let customers pay normally, but could give 10% of day earnings for the cause.
Also, whatever you do, use the data you get from your actions. For example, when you are preparing 'street money collecting':
- tell your street workers who they should ask,
- give them the list of the people to ask on sheet to follow (with such descriptions as: man / woman, age, with friend or alone, etc.),
- ask them to tick if they asked somebody from the list,
- ask them to tick if talked longer,
- ask them to tick if somebody gave donation for your organization,
- ask them to better describe the person and the situation (man / woman, age, with friend or alone, with backpack or suitcase, during midday, evening, etc.).
Then you can analyze your data and if you have limited resources (not enough fundraisers), next time choose more of the most promising people to ask for donations.
These are just some basic ideas for collecting money. Now, always remember about the founders, and that what you are doing you are doing for all of the people, including founders. In return you could give your sponsors: award, diploma, thanks on site, etc. And remember to always inform your sponsors how their contribution helped, who gained, how much, etc.
And that's it for now. Good luck with raising funds for good causes and good luck with improving the world in the aspect you feel is most important.
