Community Fundraising

COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING

Fundraising Ideas and Information

The thought of raising money can be a daunting prospect but don’t forget the fundraising team at the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoria (EFV) are there to help you every step of the way. 

Here are a number of suggestions to keep in mind as you start your fundraising activities.

Consider the immediate area and community you live in;

Consider your own ideas, concerns & needs;

Identify the high traffic areas in your immediate area in which you could place EFV collection tins and posters for small events you may hold or for sponsorship and raffle donations;

• Pokies Venues
• Supermarkets
• Video outlets
• Newsagents
• Tourist outlets
• Service Stations
• Tattersall's outlets (at certain times of the year)
• Local Shops

Consider your workplace and the different types of activities you could hold;

• Bad Shirt/ Tie/ Hat/ Casual Dress Day
• Morning Tea or Luncheon
• Slave Auction
• Organise workmates to volunteer to sell raffle tickets
• Gold Coin Collection

Think about something where you have a particular skill you can utilise;

• Making and selling cards, furniture, clothes, crafts
• Giving dancing/ music/ singing lessons
• Take in your busy neighbours ironing once a week
• Run a personal training class (get yourself fit for the challenge at the same time)
• Cook a banquet and charge your friends
• Start baking and have a cake/ biscuit stall

Hold a raffle (Raffles where prizes equal $500 or less do not need to be registered);

• Get businesses in your local community to donate smaller items -
• A lot of smaller items quickly add up to a great prize
• A raffle will also allow you to gather names and address of supporters for other events you may hold
• A raffle is a good way to talk to people about why you are raising the money

 Write a generic sponsorship letter aimed at local businesses/ clients/ supporters (EFV will assist you with such a letter);

• Develop a media release aimed at your local community paper/ TV station/ Community radio (again EFV will assist you in preparing a media release).
• Fundraising Plan
• Develop a fundraising plan for yourself keeping in mind when you have to pay funds raised to EFV (see sample Fundraising Plan & Schedule of Payments)
• Set smaller, achievable targets you don’t have to raise a large amount all at once.

Fundraising Event

• Fundraising events can mean a lot of hard work on your behalf, often for a small return.  Don’t base all of you fundraising activities on running events you will burn yourself out very quickly!
• Consider a smaller event, and keep it focused around your local community, sporting club, drama club etc where you already have a supporter base and in an area that interest you. For example: a dance night at your local club or a theatre night where the actors volunteer their time and proceeds go to the EFV. link to pdf event application form

Develop an event checklist
When planning your event (if you plan to have one) brainstorm every thing you can think of related to that event and use these ideas to create a checklist.  As you have completed each task check it off the list.

Fundraising Activities - Things to remember

• You must provide EFV with a clear description of the nature, extent and duration of each activity and obtain written permission from EFV to carry out fundraising activities (contact EFV for the easy to follow forms to do this)
• You will need to prepare a budget for each activity (contact EFV for sample budget)
• You will need to provide information to EFV about the groups or individuals assisting you with your fundraising.
• You can use the name and logo of the Epilepsy Foundation for your fundraising activities once approved by the EFV.
• You must clearly state that all funds raised will be forwarded to the Epilepsy Foundation of Victoira.
• You must issue an official receipt for all donations and record full details of the names and addresses of the donors. (EFV will supply an official receipt book). This information will then need to be supplied to the EFV who will then send follow up letters confirming the donation directly to the donor.

Nyah was born with Sturge Weber syndrome, it usually presents with a port wine birthmark and neurological complications. Seizures, often unpredictable and prolonged usually begin early in life.