Top Tips from our Challenge Fundraisers
To all our amazing fundraisers, we have a very useful blog for you! We know that around deadline time it can be a bit nerve wracking and some of you may be feeling nervous or even a bit disenchanted about fundraising. This is normal, and it is definitely possible to reach your target! You may be sick of hearing that from us by now, so we asked some other students who are fundraising just like you this year about what they think has worked for them in their fundraising challenge to climb Kilimanjaro/Kenya this summer.
Have a read and a think about how you can incorporate these ideas into your own fundraising! Remember you are not alone in your fundraising. You can always ask on the I'm Doing a Dig Deep Challenge Group to see what fundraisers all over the country are up to!
Some top advice from:
Joe Roberts- Coventry University
“Always have something going on. If you're busy during a short period of time ask friends to complete a challenge or to take donation forms around their workplaces. Use social media to sell raffle tickets once you can't sell any more in person.” Steph Wilson - Newcastle University
"I started fundraising really early and planned what I was going to do which was key for me! My Christmas raffle was a huge success and I got many donations for prizes.. If you don't ask then you don't get. I raised £675 from this and everyone was so generous. All my ideas involved people getting something back from donations such as a girls afternoon and a clay pigeon shoot. Make sure you ask people as they will be more than happy to help!"
Samantha Hope - Keele University
“Tell everyone you know about what you're doing and just ask for donations. Even if you feel like you're begging, you just have to put your pride behind you!”
Leonie Deveney – Bath Spa University
“Showing that you're making an effort. So if you have people helping you, get them a Dig Deep top to wear! I had 8 tops made and designed, so when I had family and friends helping me bag pack they were wearing Dig Deep Charity tops. This makes people ask about the charity even more!
I think the best thing about doing fundraising events is getting people to come together. When people come together, and everyone's there for the same reason an atmosphere is created and it's amazing!
Don’t give up! Keep emailing, phoning. Keep reminding people you’ve contacted that you’re still really excited about your event. Everyone comes together and it ends being totally worth all the effort!”
Anna Draper – York University
“I shared my page on Facebook all the time! Being really positive about the challenge and the charity. A few friends shared it for me too and I got a few donations from that!”
Boo Fairall - Goldmiths University
“I know when I started I got knocked quite easily by people saying no or not responding to requests/emails etc - I've learnt that the worst that can happen is someone says no. Something that’s worked really well for me is church collections - I'm not a big church goes anymore but my Gran goes religiously. I used to sing in the choir so I've sang with them lately and they've all donated. I've also made a little A5 laminated sheet for Gran and if anyone asks about the climb or the charity then all the information is on there!”
Some Other Winning Ideas:
Gemma Cullen - Bath Spa University “Contact large businesses or family members who work for large companies. There is absolutely no harm in asking!”
Sophie Magee – Kingston University
“My mum and dad have done bake sales at work and have raised in the region of ￡500-600 between them. I had the raffle for the world champion boxing gloves which raised I think about £450. I had a pizza night with my friends at Easter and raised over ￡100 there. I had an alien princess night that raised ￡200 and I had a bake sale with grant raising almost ￡80.”
Josephine Guy – Newcastle University
“Live below the line was so bland but also worth it because I raised £110!”
Billy Mai Brooks – Kingston University
“Quizzes are easy to organise and can be for specific societies or general knowledge. They can be done through University or at local pubs so there's loads to work with! Car boot sales are beneficially for everyone if you've got a car, and I’m trying to sell more expensive/unused stuff on eBay. Also we are organising a lip sync battle which has been SO fun. You’ve just got to throw yourself out there and just start doing whatever you can!”
Robyn Armfield – Kingston University
“A weekly incoming/small side line job is good keeps the pot topping up nicely bit by bit, always giving the blue pot out to friends and family to put at their work for a couple of weeks.”
Netra Takwale - LSE
“My most successful fundraising has been cake selling in a variety of places - applying to Hummingbird Bakery/Lola's cupcakes/Krispy Kremes and having people donate money via selling those. That and Christmas carolling too!”
Harriet Brass – York St John’s University
“I think food is always a good way to encourage people to donate, so our Big Breakfast, Cake Stall and Ploughmans at the Bingo night were all massive hits! In addition, selling bags of sweets were cheap to make and made massive profits for the fundraising. I would say that when fundraising, often bigger events are good ways to attract an audience.”
We hope this has given you some fundraising inspiration! Thanks to all our fundraisers who have so far this year raised an incredible: £224,876!