General Fundraising
Fundraising is an integral part of funding skating activities and events and yet it can be the most daunting aspect. Support our Section sponsors as well as Skate Canada's Corporate and National sponsors as many offer fundraising programs, contact them directly for information.  |
Lamontagne Chocolate Inc. The chocolate product line has increased from one to 14 regular products, plus a complete line of ORDER TAKER BROCHURES incorporating over 100 items, as well as a new UNFROZEN COOKIE DOUGH. Organize your fundraising project today with Lamontagne Chocolates. |
Fundraising Ideas
At Connections, May 2011, a workshop was held on Fundraising 101, the presentation is filled with ideas that will help get you started.11 Tips for Fundraising
- Believe that you can get funds, raffle items, etc.
- Offer Recognition. Make sure that you include donor business cards in participant gift bags, post their names in the rink, announce their gift over the loudspeaker, and include them on event promotional materials.
- Spread it around. Don't always keep going to the same businesses for every event. Mix it up!
- Think big! Don't be afraid to ask for a big-screen TV from a local store or a scooter from a car dealership.
- Go for the non-traditional donors. Look at who benefits from your skaters and approach them. For example take a picture of smiling skaters, all of whom wear braces and send the picture to local orthodontist for a donation.
- Ask the little guys. Sometimes a coffee shop might be able to give just a bag of roasted beans. Bundle it in a basket with a manicure gift certificate and a bakery gift certificate and call it a Pampered Day basket and raffle it off.
- Ask the independent sales reps. Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Avon and other at home sales associates; they often like to make baskets for these events. Put their cards in the gifts bags.
- Go through the local yellow pages. Make a list of businesses in your area to approach.
- No Money. How about a service? For example a copy shop could offer to print flyers at no cost.
- Go in person. It's harder to say no to a real person in front of you.
- Give back. Club members should give back to the community. For example organize a canned food drive for the local food bank. Call the media and make sure the community sees that money spent on skating does more than just reduce ice fees.
