How to Fundraise for a Trip
For many organizations, travel is the best way to spread a particular message or philosophy. However, traveling costs money. So how you do you raise funds for a trip if you don't have the money to go? Here are some tips to get you started.
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Instructions
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Staying Focused on Fundraising Goals
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Establish a monetary goal. You must know what you need to raise before you can establish events to help generate those funds. Take into consideration every possible expense that could be incurred on your trip to ensure that you raise the right amount of money. Things like method of travel, number of participants, lodging, food and any miscellaneous expenses that might crop up on your trip all must be considered. Once you have figured out what you need, you can then proceed to come up with ways to get it. A good rule of thumb is to establish your goal at least nine months away from the time you really need it in order to give yourself a solid opportunity to raise the money and change course if what you are doing isn't working.
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Brainstorm ideas with your group. There are many ways that you can fundraise for a trip. Some of the more popular methods include car washes at neighborhood businesses, placing donation cups at local grocery and convenience stores, holding a bake sale and writing letters asking for support from major community leaders. The ideas that work the best are those that allow people to donate to your cause while getting something in return. For example, if you hold a car wash for a few bucks per car, customers not only get to help a worthwhile cause, but they also save money by allowing you to wash their car instead of a much more expensive car detailing company. Some additional ideas include asking parents/family members to provide monetary support, and selling items from catalogs that work with groups/students to raise money for trips, schools, etc.
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Get online. These days there is so much you can do online to help just about any cause. Set up a site with details about your group, where you are trying to go and why. Be sure to include lots of pictures, anecdotes and some fun facts about your organization. If possible, work with an online payment company to accept payments online right from your site. This is a great way to get money for your trip from family members and friends outside of your community.
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Spread the word about your trip in your community. Parents, neighbors and friends are usually very supportive when they hear of community groups trying to raise funds for a trip, particularly if it is educational or cultural in nature. Crash neighborhood association meetings and make a pitch for support. Contact local newspaper reporters in your town and try to get a story done on what your group is trying to do. You may be surprised by the enthusiastic response you get in terms of donations.
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To keep your group motivated, reward those who volunteer or go the extra mile to help raise funds for your trip. People are usually motivated by rewards, so in addition to being able to go on the trip, members of your group will likely raise even more money for personal incentives, such as paid meals on the trip or some sort of grand prize, like an iPod or scooter, for raising the most money. This motivates group members to do everything they can to get you closer to reaching your monetary goal for your trip.
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