Creative Fundraising Ideas!

Like to get hands on? Well, this is the place for you!!

If you want to do something, getting creative is often the best way to go about it. Demelza supporters are constantly coming up with more innovative ways to raise money for this fantastic cause.

If you have an interesting fundraising story or some tips you would like to share with others, then we would LOVE for you to tell us about it!!

Want to help, but stuck for ideas? Don't panic!! We have compiled a list of interesting fundraising ideas for you to try out. Find something you like, and GO FOR IT!! If it appeals to you, then it will probably appeal to others.

Don't sit on the sidelines- life is not a spectator sport!! Get involved today!!

Fundraising Tips:

• Get the message across!
  Raising money is fantastic, but it is also important to make sure you let people know about Demelza House. Fundraising efforts are often a once off, but if you can make people aware of Demelza House and the work it does, they will be more likely to continue contributing in the future!! Go for donations and awareness. An interesting and informative presentation can help raise funds for years to come!!



• Simple is best.
  When people start thinking about fundraising, it is easy to let yourself get carried away with ideas. Remember that just because something sounds really good in theory does not mean it will raise the most money. Don't try to undertake projects that are too difficult- they will take up a lot of time and effort, and are often expensive (this means you have to make quite a lot of money just to cover your costs!!). Try to keep your projects simple. They will cost less to organise, and will appeal to the largest number of people!



• Where did the money go? Get organised before you start!
  When you have put a lot of time and effort into the planning of a fundraiser, the last thing you want to happen is to lose track of the money you raise!! Depending on what you are doing, money may be coming in quickly or slowly. Whichever is the case, it is important that you have someone who is in change of donations! Bring something secure for the money (but also don't make it too obvious what you have in there- bags with big black dollar signs on them are not the best idea!). Also have someone keep a record of what money you raise, if possible. This allows you to keep track of exactly what you have been given, so you can check to make sure all the money is there at the end!



• Learn from experience
  If you are fundraising for the first time, then don't be afraid to ask for help. Asking a friend or family member with fundraising experience can give you some great tips!! If you don't know anyone with fundraising experience, then feel free to email us for help. We are happy to give you advice, or just go through your ideas!



• Many hands make light work
  If you want to get things done, and done well, then you are probably going to need help. Doing things on your own is possible, but in most cases it is much easier to get others to help out. Get your friends and others that you know and trust involved, and your fundraiser will probably be all the better for it. A new brain can not only offer great new ideas, but will help to change the way you are thinking as well!!

Fundraising Ideas:

School Fundraising:


• Out of Uniform/Dress Up Day:
  If your school has a compulsory uniform, then this is a really easy way to excite your schoolmates. Organising a day for 'free' or 'fancy' dress will be a welcome change for all your friends, and involves little effort to organise. A simple $1-2 (or equivalent) donation per student will raise you a lot of money, especially if you have a large school!! Keep in mind that you will need permission to run something like this. If you have a student council, then try taking the idea to them. Otherwise, talk to your teachers yourself- once you explain it is for charity, you should be able to organise something!! For the collection of money, try to get this done by the teachers. Provide lists of students in every class, and have their name crossed off when they have paid. It should only take 5 minutes at the start of your morning class!!



• Lunchtime Barbeque:
  If your school has a barbeque, then why not try putting on a great lunch to raise money for Demelza!! You will need to get permission to use any school equipment (again, talk to your student council representatives, or to your teachers directly), but the rest is fairly simple! Bread, sausages, onions, cheese, etc. can all be purchased cheaply at your local supermarket. If possible, see if you can get the food donated (if it is a local butcher/shop, they may well be willing to do this!). Cook the food at lunchtime, with friends to help you out. Sell sausages for $2-3 (you can't make them too expensive), and wait for your hungry classmates to come running!! You can also do this for breakfast before school, with bacon and egg rolls. Selling other items, such as drinks or sweets, can also help to increase the amount of money you raise. Just make sure you don't spend too much money on food- the less you spend here, the more money you will have to donate to Demelza!



• Bake Sale:
  There is one thing that always does well at school - a bake sale. Cookies, cupcakes, candies, etc. they are perfect for Valentines Day, Fourth of July, Christmas, Thanksgiving, etc. It's easy to bake and bundle up sweets. Five cookies, wrapped and tied in coloured selefan, or decorated plastic bag

Halloween Fund-raising:

• Haunted House:
  Deck out your garage, foyer, driveway - anything - and make it spooky and scary. Charge a dollar for admission, give visitors a good show, and donate your earnings to Demelza!

• Trick or Treat:
  Dress up, bring your treat bag, and ask for a dollar instead of a candy bar. If they want to give more that is great! Let them know what you are collecting for - tell them all about Demelza!

Christmas Fund-raising:

• Christmas Carols:
  This idea was used during Christmas 2006 by one of our DR.com contributors. Get a group of friends together, learn some carols (if you don't know them already...), and away you go!! You don't have to be the world's greatest singer to do this- group singing will work well, and people will respond to your enthusiasm. It is a fun activity, so get into the spirit. Use all the bells and whistles- Christmas hats and outfits are a great idea!!



• Christmas Cakes:
  One of the best things about Christmas is the food!! Why not provide something yummy for those eager taste buds, and raise some money while you do it!! Christmas cakes are simple and cheap to make at home, and can be sold as a fundraiser. Take any recipe for Christmas cake, and use a muffin tin to make mini cakes (remember your cooking time will be dramatically reduced if you do this!! You will have to check the cakes regularly to make sure they don't burn). Cakes can be sold at work, school, amongst your friends, as part of a carols or other fundraiser- wherever and whenever you like!!


Office Fundraising:


• Morning Tea Fundraising:
  This takes some organising, but can be incredibly successful when done well. Many offices have a weekly or monthly morning tea, for all the staff. All you need to do is organise one of these around a theme!! Ask everyone to bring a plate of food, organise tea, coffee, etc., and away you go! Fundraising can be done at the morning tea itself. Try having an entry fee ($2-5, depending on the number of staff- adjust it to what you feel is right), and give everyone a raffle ticket upon payment. Then give away a small door prize as part of the morning tea!! There will be a lot to do in setting up and cleaning up the moring tea, as well as collecting money during the event. Get a group of friends involved, and things will be made A LOT easier!!



• Office Raffle:
  A really simple one! Purchase a prize (or get one donated if possible!!), and sell raffle tickets in your office. A prize offers and incentive to those who are unwilling to donate, so chose carefully (something simple, that most people will like). There is little organising in this one, so it is great for those people with little time to spare!


Advertising Demelza Online:


• Display Pictures for AIM/MSN Messenger/Yahoo IM:
  Use an instant messenger program to chat to your friends? A LOT of people do, and it is a great way to show your support for Demelza!! If your instant messenger program allows you to have a display picture, then why not add a pic advertising Demelza! It will alert people to the charity, and allows you to raise awareness about what Demelza does when people ask you about your picture. If you are a creative person, then you can even make your own!!



• Avatars for forums, etc.:
  Like IM services, a great number of people use internet forums. Advertising Demelza through an avatar or banner on these sites is a simple yet effective way to spread the word about Demelza House.



• Advertise on your site:
  If you have your own internet site, and are interested in supporting Demelza House by placing a donations banner on your site, then please contact us for more information!!

© 2007 All Rights Reserved, DanRadcliffe.com