Essential Things to Consider Before Fundraising for Charity

*This is a collaborative post on things to consider before fundraising for charity

Have you recently lost a loved one and want to fundraise for a charity that helped them in their final days?

Or, are you passionate about a cause and want to ensure that the cause gets as much support and recognition in the public sphere as possible? Either way, both involve fundraising and while this may seem straightforward, there is quite a lot to it to ensure that you make a difference and the charity gets the funds it deserves.

To make sure your fundraising is a success, follow the steps outlined here.

Research the cause before fundraising for charity

Suppose you wanted to raise money for macmillan.org.uk. Do you know where the money you raise is going?

Yes, it will help those who have a cancer diagnosis, but what else? This is important because when you are fundraising, those who donate to the cause are likely to ask you, and you need to be well informed about what you are raising money for. This will also help you ensure that you aim the fundraising at the right group, as you will need to make sure that the cause reflects their passions.

Look into marketing

Marketing, in general, can be a headache. However, when you are looking into raising money for charity, the best way to get donations coming in is to advertise your fundraising online. You don’t need to be a tech whizz to do this anymore, as there are a lot of options on social media and online to help you. Generally speaking, the more people you reach with your fundraising and your message, the more money you will raise.

Consider feasibility before fundraising for charity

As there are so many ways to raise money for charities, you will need to look at the feasibility of how you are going to be raising the money. If you are somebody who is aiming to target your fundraising at an older group, is it likely they will want to go out to watch you run a marathon in the middle of November? Not likely! You need to consider if you are able to take part in the fundraising event (such as marathon running), and you also need to think of a way to align the fundraising with your target audience for donations. For instance, an older demographic may prefer something like a charity coffee morning or a raffle.

Look into legal compliance

You will need to check that the charity you are raising funds for is registered and complies with fundraising laws in your area. Most of them do, but it’s still worth checking.

Going back to social media for a second, you will need to showcase the amount of money you have raised for charity, and you will need to disclose how the funds will be used by the charity. If you are not transparent in this, it can harm the cause you are raising for and may attract unwanted attention from the authorities. So, make sure that any social media page about the cause you are raising for is updated regularly with news for those who have donated.