Tips for organizing a successful fundraiser

Many not-for-profit organizations in the Cape Girardeau area focus their fundraising efforts on mainstay and unique efforts to draw in donations and better the community around them.

Elizabeth Shelton, executive director of the United Way of Southeast Missouri, says although her organization uses the same fundraisers annually, they have unique aspects.

"United Way has a unique model in that we go into the workplaces, and that's where we get the bulk of our funds that we invest back into the community through partner organizations and agencies," she says.

Through payroll deduction, donors are able to give money directly from their paycheck each cycle. United Way also hosts an annual golf tournament to provide an opportunity for community members to connect and donate to local causes.

Another effort includes raising funds through affinity groups, like the GRACES Women's Council, which, according to the United Way, provides opportunities for women to become engaged in their work and strengthen families in the community.

Drew Beussink takes a tray of meals to the patrons in line at the Activity Week dinner Sept. 22, 2015, at Notre Dame Regional High School.Fred Lynch

"That's getting people involved and giving them an opportunity to learn a lot more about you up close and personal," Shelton says. "And one of the unique things about GRACES is the women get to determine how they want to invest their annual membership."

Notre Dame Regional High School also focuses a large amount of effort on fundraising to help support the school and reduce the amount of money parents have to pay for tuition.

Every year the school hosts an Activity Week with nightly dinners, silent auctions and car washes, and students provide many products for family, friends and neighbors to purchase, the most unlikely and popular of which is trash bags.

"It is the single most demanding of products we sell in that time period that we make the most money off of," says Tony Buehrle, Notre Dame's development director.

Along with Activity Week, Notre Dame hosts an extravaganza in January to help the school recoup and try to keep up with technology.

Ben Pfau washes a car with the sophomore class for Activity Week Sept. 22, 2015, at Notre Dame Regional High School.Fred Lynch

"We do that event trying to buy computers and terminals and Chromebooks and laptops and printers and all those kind of things. We're not a public entity, so we don't have bond issues and those kinds of things, so we raise that money for ourselves," Buehrle says.

Other unique fundraising techniques include a raffle for four years of free tuition at the school, a large craft fair sponsored by the Performing and Visual Arts Department and an annual "Cow Flop" that helps students raise money for a summer mission trip.

The Cow Flop allows community members to bid on a certain square in a gridded enclosure. After all bids have been made, a cow is let loose in the space and left to "flop" wherever it sees fit.

"If you buy a square for X number of dollars and that cow flops on your spot or the closest one to your spot, you have the most cow flop in your square, then you're going to win half of the money," Buehrle says.

Buehrle says the fundraisers typically are successful because the parents and students invest their time and become involved.

Hogan Coad, right, and Grant Beussink work at the kitchen sink at the Activity Week dinner Sept. 22, 2015, at Notre Dame Regional High School.Fred Lynch

"You've just got to have that (commitment) to make sure it works right," he says.

Over the summer, faculty and staff from St. Mary Cathedral School in Cape Girardeau were given the opportunity to conduct a fundraiser selling fireworks for Bellini Fireworks. The goal was to bring in funds to send the school's teachers to the National Catholic Education Association Conference in St. Louis next year.

"Usually when it's held this close we like to send all of the teachers to be able to participate and take advantage of many things that are available there," says Carol Strattman, St. Mary's principal.

Although the fundraiser ended up being more challenging than school administrators expected, the funds eventually were raised to send the teachers to the conference.

"The thing is, when an opportunity comes along, if you think it's something that you can do, it's worth it," Strattman says. "It was a very good opportunity and it came at a perfect time for us because we were looking for a fundraiser for this convention."

Strattman recommends researching responsibilities of certain fundraisers so expectations are clear before the fundraiser begins.

Ultimately, Shelton says an organization's fundraising efforts should serve a helpful purpose and encourage other community members to give back.

"It's important for us to have fundraisers that create awareness and invite volunteerism and engagement," she says.

More tips for a successful fundraiser:

Know your audience: "Know your audience," says Kristin Funderburk, community relations manager for United Way of Southeast Missouri. "You definitely want to make sure that whoever you have coming to your event or whoever you're wanting to donate, whatever it may be, you need to know what's going to make them enjoy their time or give or whatever it may be -- what do they want to see? What change do they want to see be made?"

Always have a checklist: "A checklist of everything you need to bring to the event, and then that helps you make sure you get back with everything you brought to the event, which doesn't always happen," Shelton says.

Subcommittees are a must: "You have a committee for your event, whatever it is, but then it's helpful to have smaller subcommittees ... one might focus on marketing and one on food or whatever it is you're planning," Shelton says.

Communicate properly: "Communication is key," Shelton says. "You want to start early enough out that you have time to promote it, to seek ideas and input."

Get the word out: "The most important thing is just to get the word out to any people that you think may be able to help you with it," Strattman says. "Get the word out is the most important thing because people will help; people that are connected with you at all will help."