As Development Director, I found many people wanted to help but didn't know how. I researched fundraising ideas from organizations around the globe and created this catalog to share with interested groups and individuals.
1. Non-profit fundraising is all about multiple streams of income and that’s where you can help. Every dollar
you collect for Habitat’s cause will help house a deserving family in our community. Less than ten cents on
every dollar is used to help pay for the costs of Habitat’s operations. That means for every buck you bring
in, 90 cents goes into housing families. Remember, fundraising is not only about the money; it’s also about
Fundraising Catalog
2011
spreading the message of affordable housing through Siouxland’s Habitat for Humanity. We want to give
you a step by step guide on how you can create a successful, fun-filled fundraiser for our organization.
F
irst, pick an event that suits the talents and size of your group. Take into consideration the timing of
your event; what time of year the event will happen, how long it will last and availability of teammates
and participants. Also, think about how much money, if any, you will have to put forth to conduct the
fundraising event. Your venue will also be a factor in determining what type of a fundraiser is going to work best
for you.
S
econd, contact Habitat’s volunteer department to inform them of your event and schedule for the
fundraiser. Some ideas may not be acceptable to link with Habitat’s name, so it is important to pass all
information regarding the planned fundraiser through Habitat’s volunteer department. You can contact
them at 712-255-6244. Make sure to keep Siouxland Habitat for Humanity involved throughout the planning.
T
hird, focus your energies in getting your message out to your potential audience of supporters. These
fundraiser events will do the rest. Make sure to keep your fundraiser centered around Siouxland Habitat for
Humanity so that supporters will feel compelled to participate in your fundraiser. Also, don’t forget to tap
into Habitat’s resources. Many homeowner candidates who are currently going through Habitat’s program and
those who have already moved into their homes are willing to participate in fundraisers by sharing their story
with a group. If you feel this would help enhance your fundraiser, please call and we’ll put you in touch with a
homeowner or homeowner candidate willing to help. Siouxland Habitat for Humanity also has several photos and
displays that can also be used by your group to help get the message across.
L
astly, remember to have fun with your fundraising event! Look to create a positive experience for everyone.
You can do this by including food and entertainment with your fundraiser. Or work with local merchants
to expand into offering silent auction items of donated goods and services. Hold a follow-up meeting with
Habitat’s volunteer department after the event to give a summary of your fundraiser.
Siouxland Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing in
Playhouses
Auctions
Joy is Found in Giving
the community. Since 1992, the affiliate has provided nearly 30 families with a safe and affordable place to live.
“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” — Jesus, in Acts 20:35
Through the use of volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds simple, decent housing Home Runs
for families who otherwise could not afford it. Homes are sold to the homeowners at no profit on an interest-free Concerts “Think of giving not as a duty but as a privilege.” — John D. Rockefeller, Jr.,
American industrialist and philanthropist
mortgage, making homeownership an affordable reality.
1150 Tri View Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106 P: 712-255-6244 F: 712-255-7203 www.siouxlandhabitatorg
2. Fundraising Ideas Art Auction Flower Power
• Deliver “flower grams” for a holiday
Barbeque & Bicycles • Check with floral companies for a discount on
flowers
• Ride for Humanity
• A “Carnation Celebration” could be hosted by a
• Bikers could register to bike for Habitat in teams or school business class
as individuals
• Leading up to the event, teams could post fliers
• Routes/trails would be outlined throughout the and handmade posters advertising the sale “Spread
community The Love”
• Riders would also collect donations or sponsorship • Throughout the week of the event, teams could
• Feature artwork from local artists
money for each mile they rode have a table in school or church halls, where buyers
• An artist reception could be offered an hour before
• A barbeque could be waiting for participants at the could purchase flowers for $1 each and write
auction as a meet and greet
end of the ride personal notes to their friends, faculty or family
• Live entertainment by local bands/individuals with
• Live music and drawings could enhance the • College students could visit dorm rooms for
door prizes
barbeque celebration door-to-door sales, others could walk their
• Include a wine/dessert tasting/hors d’oeurves neighborhoods
Decorate Birdhouses Contest • Tickets for the auction could be purchased at $25 • The team is then responsible for delivering the
• Charge for birdhouse entries, with entry fees going • Ticket sales and proceeds go to Habitat flower grams the morning of the holiday
to Habitat
• Allow for birdhouses to be on display in a high Habitrot
traffic area for at least one month
• Host a 5k, 8k or 10k
• People could win birdhouses by bidding with bid run/walk
money going to Habitat
• Sanction event
• Donate decorated birdhouses to local resorts and through the Missouri
Mothers Day Tea & Treasures inns River Runners Club to
• Unique bags, purses • Competitors vie for prizes in categories: Adult, Teen get additional help with
and containers filled with (13-17) and Youth (12 & under) registration
gift certificates to hotels, • Companies could
• The entries are judged on four criteria: Overall
restaurants, local theaters and sponsor run and in
other items related to theme of Appearance, Originality, Creativity and Precision Doors to Homeownership
return get their logo on
bag are auctioned off • The entries must have size limits: not be larger than • Art students could hand-paint doors that would
t-shirt for athletes on
• Tea and refreshments offered
30 inches high, 24 inches wide and 24 inches deep be sold in a silent auction at the Home and Garden
race day
including the base Show
• Light brunch available • Restaurants could
• Entries should be constructed of non-perishable • Visitors to the show could place bids throughout
• Door prizes for attendees provide meal for after
materials the event, the winners would be announced on the
race
• People buy tickets for event • Within each category, prizes could be awarded last day when the Home and Garden Show closes.
• Live entertainment at
to a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner based upon the • Proceeds would benefit Habitat’s ReStore, which
finish line
overall highest scores from the judging categories. In sells new and like-new building materials with
Battle of the Bands the event of a tie, the Competition Call Judge would • Registration fees would go to benefit Habitat proceeds benefiting families in need of housing
make the final decision
• Bands play for free and battle against other bands
for donated prizes • Example prizes can be awarded as follows: Adult Dinner Dance
Category: 1st Place Winner receives $1,000 and a two- • It could be a formal affair
• Cover charge goes directly to Habitat
night stay at a local Hotel & Spa; 2nd Place Winner - Utilize a school’s prom or
• Winners of the contest could be determined by receives $750 and a one-night stay at local hotel; 3rd homecoming decorations the
audience vote in the form of cash donations Place Winner receives $500 and dinner for two at a day after an event to host your
• A Guitar Hero contest sponsored by a retailer local restaurant own dance and dinner
• Local celebrities • Teen Category: 1st Place Winner receives $250; 2nd • Bring in catered food or have a
could be present to Place Winner receives $150; 3rd Place Winner receives team cook for the crowd
emcee the event $100 • Use a one price covers all
• Local businesses can • Youth Category: 1st Place Winner receives $150; 2nd approach, then add games or
donate door prizes, Place Winner receives $75; 3rd Place Winner receives raffles to raise extra funds
food and drink for $50 • Use a school/church band to
event perform live music for dance or DJ the event yourself
1150 Tri View Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106 P: 712-255-6244 F: 712-255-7203 www.siouxlandhabitatorg 1150 Tri View Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106 P: 712-255-6244 F: 712-255-7203 www.siouxlandhabitatorg
3. Playhouses Mini Golf Tournament Mystery Murder Dinner
• Shop students could build playhouses to raffle • Arrange a • Book a reserved dining room at an inn or a large
• Compete against other schools/students in place to play restaurant that closes during season or ask a theater
catagories Best • Offer to donate an evening
Looking, Most Original attractive • Negotiate a flat group rate that includes dinner
Design, Earth Friendly price and dessert
• Collect donations to variations • Set the ticket prices at double the cost.
build designs like a flat-
rate family • If you include other
• Set parameters for ticket or fundraising activities,
playhouse size discounts then you can reduce
• Voters could donate Car Wash for advance your ticket markup and
dollars for each vote • Line up a location with good main road frontage purchases keep prices lower
cast • Ensure it has suitable water access • Get local businesses to sponsor a hole. Keep the • Work with a local
prices reasonable, such as $25 to $75 per hole. theater group to get
• Assemble supplies list – hoses, buckets, wash performance at a low
Sponsors would get signs acknowledging their
Yard Sale towels, dry towels, squeegees contribution beside each putting tee cost or create your
• Choose a high-visibility location like a school or • Assign each volunteer an item from the supplies own murder mystery
• Encourage sponsors to offer a two-for-one coupon
church parking lot. Put up signs around area list script (you can also find
to all players that will bring business mystery dinner theater
• Group your items together by category - kids’ • Make 8-10 poster board signs in high-contrast
• A business could offer a prize to everyone who scripts online at a
clothes, tools, toys, books, pictures, music, etc. Place colors beats a certain score or gets a hole in one on the reasonable price) and have your group perform
general price signs around items instead of pricing • Arrange your volunteers in 2-hour shifts 18th hole
everything individually; this will save time and work • Get silent auction items and services donated by
• Organize your group into teams - Promotion, Sales, • Ask businesses to donate items or services to use local businesses and place them on tables for bids
• Recruit outgoing types
Wash, Dry as prizes for lowest score, best bank shot, etc. • Offer a wine tasting along with dinner by working
who can be enthusiastic
about these odds • Promotion team attracts new clients with signs • Sell raffle tickets for a donated prize or conduct a with a local wine merchant. Charge extra for the
and ends. Make it a • Sales team explains offer (use flyer for quick info) 50/50 cash raffle wine tasting and seat those people in one area
fun time with some and up-sells clients with extra features or secondary • Offer food and drink sales, with course owner • Sell sponsor ad spaces on your event menu/
helium balloons for offer permission, you could even run your own program or look for corporate contributions to help
small children and have concession stand offering grilled hot dogs, offset costs
coffee and doughnuts • Wash team soaps, scrubs, and rinses each car - Dry
team gets water residue off, vacuums, does tires, etc. hamburgers, sodas, etc.
available for adults
• Use at least two lines and wash two or more cars at • Offer silent auctions of donated goods and
once services
Online Yard Sale • Ask for donations from players Bake Sale
• Wash cars for six to eight hours (Saturday 9:00 to
• A variation on the yard sale fundraiser is to sell the 3:00 preferred) • A holiday sale (ie: Christmas cookie day, a Mother’s
items online. The best place to sell Day pie event)
• Remember to put together a quick flyer that
large quantities of lower-priced • A seasonal sale (ie: harvest/citrus theme)
items is on eBay or Craigslist includes the reason why you’re raising funds and Bingo Night
clearly states the price. You can even offer some • Have local bakers or cooks donate goods to bake
• You’ll get more for books, music, extra services for an additional charge such as • Family Bingo Night, Young sale
and consumer electronics that providing high-gloss tire treatment or vacuuming Adults Bingo Night, Youth
way, plus it’s easier to do for very interiors Group Bingo Night
small groups • Find bingo game forms
• Sell car wash fundraiser tickets in advance
• You’ll need to spend some time online or buy them from party
• List all prices concisely in large, bold type supply stores
creating the listings. Having online pictures posted
seems to help with higher-priced items • Partner with another group to get more workers • Charge a small admission fee
• Increase revenue with an extra offering such plus a dollar or two per game
Pancake Breakfast as a 2-for-1 pizza savings card or selling boxes of • Keep things moving by using
doughnuts an experienced caller and a PA
• Charge for all-you-can-eat tickets
• Play upbeat music. Provide soft drinks and snacks system so they can be easily
• Offer raffle tickets and sell ad to keep the energy level up heard above the crowd noise
space or sponsorships on your
place mats • Keep safety in mind when trying to attract • Make extra money through food and beverage
customers. Be sure to get volunteers to hold sales, silent auction items, or raffle tickets
• Hold on a Saturday morning and and wave signs toward passing traffic, not just
schedule sponsors to say a few • You may need a license for this event, so be sure to
volunteers to wash cars check local regulations
words during breakfast hours
1150 Tri View Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106 P: 712-255-6244 F: 712-255-7203 www.siouxlandhabitatorg 1150 Tri View Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106 P: 712-255-6244 F: 712-255-7203 www.siouxlandhabitatorg
4. Chair Affair Chair-ity Event Fashion Show Walk-a-thon
• Supporters put together a unique chair for your • Charge • Walk throughout a local mall to raise awareness
group to auction off. Donations can be rocking admission and and money
chairs, kitchen chairs, children’s chairs, computer show off a • Walkers are sponsored to participate
chairs, recliners, car seats, bar stools, etc. retailer’s new
line • Walkers could take shifts in walking throughout
• Each chair should have a theme and be decorated the day
and accessorized accordingly; its chairs with flair • Get a few
• A computer chair could people within
have a new monitor, your group to
printer software or other make articles
accessories with it. A of clothing or
kitchen chair could have reach out to a
a cookbook, a grocery local seamstress
store gift certificate, a new • Add silent auctions for clothing and other donated
blender, or Tupperware items or services such as spa treatments or private Lego Blitz Build
collection, a child’s chair lunches with top designers.
would have a teddy bear, • Set up at a mall or shopping center
a rocking chair could have • Ask a toy store like Toys-R-Us to donate the Legos
an afghan, family photo Raise Money to Reuse
for this fundraiser
album, case of lemonade, • Raise awareness about Habitat’s ReStore and
or new slippers. A car seat educate the community on the advantages of • Have people build their own Lego dream homes
could have baby food, reusing items during a weekend when there are many people in
diapers, play toys, or baby the shopping center
• Teams will pick items from Habitat’s ReStore and
store gift certificate. The make them unique • This could also give kids something to do while
bar stool could have drink recipes, a box of assorted Talent Show
parents shop
liquor, drink glasses, bartending lessons, or similar • Set the items up in a place with lots of traffic, could • Sign up groups from local
be at a fair, in a shopping center or parking lot; pass • Each builder would pay an entry fee, such as $5, to
items. The recliner could be accompanied by a case schools
of soda, pretzels, deluxe remote control, or big out fliers through shopping center or fair to bring build a house with Legos and enter the creation in a
• Include raffles with one big contest
screen TV people to items
item (ie: a trip worth $1,000.00)
• Bystanders can enter a raffle for one of the items • Shoppers can pay $1 to vote on their favorite Lego
• Arrange your chairs around the perimeter of • Book a local or national
your room in an attractive display and place silent by paying a certain amount or pay to vote on the home
most unique item they would like to take home celebrity to perform or host the
auction bid sheets next to each one. Note the retail event
value of each package on the bid sheet • Include music and food and other raffle prizes Create Your Own Shantytown
• Have dinner available, face
• Give award ribbons to top award-winning chair centered around the thrift store creations to draw • Raise awareness of homelessness while also
people in painting and a silent auction to
packages to increase bids. Give the creator of each encourage more participants raising money for Habitat by living on the streets in
category’s winning chair a gift certificate donated who may come just to watch cardboard houses, best done on a weekend
by a sponsor the performers • Participants create cardboard/paper homes using
• Consider doing a live auction of the most • Consider creating an ‘American Idol’ type show materials they find on the streets
desirable chairs or auction off donated items • Get people to pledge donations for number of
unrelated to the theme. Have a central focus of the hours participants stay in their houses or get a
event that keeps people at the event and bidding donation for the entire weekend, rain or shine
right up to the deadline (ie: live entertainment)
Read-a-thon • Or teams of people could compete in a ‘creative
shack’ contest using just cardboard and duct tape
• Get friends and family to pledge donations for
Cookoff • Hold the
every book read or every
• Could be chili cookoff or a page read during event contest in
general dish a shopping
• Have school staff work center parking
• Cost of a ticket could be curriculum into the
a free-will donation or a lot to draw
challenge crowds
standard $5 for all you can eat
• Get a local restaurant • People could
• Tasters could give tips for to provide lunch for the
favorite foods or favorite chefs pay to vote
participating students on the most
• Prizes could be awarded for • Get the staff involved by attractive,
Most Original, Hottest, Tastiest, having them pledge to most durable
Meatiest color their hair blue for the or saddest
day looking shack
1150 Tri View Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106 P: 712-255-6244 F: 712-255-7203 www.siouxlandhabitatorg 1150 Tri View Ave. Sioux City, IA 51106 P: 712-255-6244 F: 712-255-7203 www.siouxlandhabitatorg