How to Raise Money for Children in Need

Bake sales are a traditional way to raise money for children.

Before you start raising money for children in need, it's a good idea to research potential charities. Your fund-raisers will be taken more seriously if you advertise that donations are going to be made to a specific charity than if you merely say donations are "for children in need." Giving money for a good cause makes people feel good, so once you have a cause your community believes in, people will be eager to help any way they can.

Instructions

1. Write down your goals on paper. People are more likely to follow through on goals when they are written down and kept in sight. Once you have decided on which charity for children you will raise money for, decide how much money you want to raise. Write down that amount as well as the date by which you hope to have raised the money. Put these written goals in plain sight to keep you on track.

   Some charities will tell potential donors what they are currently trying to raise money for, which might help you set your goal. Some children's charities are raising money for research and cures for childhood diseases, which is a less predictable sum, and others want enough money to buy new books for the children's hospital book cart or for new shoes for needy area children. You can set your goals according to the goals of the charity and talk to potential donors about the cause in a more specific manner, too.

2. Tell people about your cause. Very few people would deny children in need if confronted with the issue directly. Having to call an toll-free phone number to donate to children halfway around the world seems distant and impersonal and it is easier for many people to just change the channel. If you approach people in your community personally and appeal to their inner philanthropist, most people will give whatever they can, even if it's only a dollar.

3. Ask local businesses to sponsor the children. Businesses often sponsor fundraisers for various causes by donating a small percentage (5 to 10 percent) of their profit from a specific afternoon, day, week or month. Approach businesses frequented by parents and children especially, since they are most likely to want to help. Toy stores, maternity stores and children's boutiques might be eager to help not only to feel good about contributing, but also for the tax write-off and the positive publicity around town.

4. Ask for donations to the children in lieu of gifts for any occasions that will occur before your deadline. If your child has a birthday before the deadline, this is especially effective since word of your good idea will spread to all the other parents at the party and they might decide to do the same come their own children's birthdays. If suitable, incorporate a party theme related to the charity of your choosing to help tie it all together.

5. Get the community involved in the fund raising and plan group events. Try to incorporate the specific purpose of the children's charity in your event. If your fund-raising efforts are for a children's cancer foundation, see how many people would be willing to shave their heads in the name of the children and how much money other people or businesses would be willing to donate per shaved head.

   Game-type fund-raisers are great ways to raise awareness and money for children in need. Charge a team or individual entry fee for team sports like tug-of-war or bowling tournaments -- try to keep the sports throw-backs to childhood. Collect donations from spectators as well. Events like these can take off and include the sale of food and drink, like a traditional bake sale, too.

6. Send in your community's donation to the children's charity with a list providing the donor information. This allows the charity to contact donors already interested in the welfare of children for future efforts. Be proud of yourself for all of your effort and know that whatever the specific cause of your children's charity, you have helped a future generation of young people.

References

• Save The Children: Fundraising Guide
• BBC: Children In Need -- Fundraising
• Children's Hospital Boston: Ways to Give

Resources

• Anne Clark's Setting and Achieving Goals: Tips on Setting Goals