Raising money for Body & Soul can be great fun and the many ways of doing this are only limited by your imagination. Body & Soul supporters have run marathons, jumped out of planes, celebrated weddings and anniversaries and held inspiring events of music and poetry. Not only do these fantastic activities generate much needed funds, they also improve awareness of how Body & Soul meets the needs of the increasing numbers of children, teenagers and families living with or affected by HIV in the UK.
If you are interested in fundraising, the Body & Soul team will give you all the support you need. From brainstorming ideas to guidance on how to publicise your activity; event logistics to providing tips on how to maximise your donation – we’re just a phone call away. See the following guide to help you get started…
Thank you for thinking of us.
1. Plan – Time spent in planning is good. It helps to keep you focused and hopefully achieve the fundraising goal. A good start is to write a one-page plan that outlines your idea, breaks down the steps that you need to take to make it happen, identifies who’s going to help and lists what help you’re going to need. This is the right time to get in touch with Body & Soul!
2. Get noticed – the more attention you can attract the better your chances of raising cash. The best place to start is by using your existing networks to get the ball rolling. An article in your local paper, a radio shout out, or even regional TV can make a difference in highlighting your activity. It can also help in approaching people for sponsorship or other ‘in kind’ help.
3. Get Online – it plays a big part in 21st Century fundraising! By setting up online fundraising pages you can be sure that the donations and gift aid will come directly to Body & Soul, without you having to chase sponsors. It also makes it easy for friends, family and supporters to get behind you. Make Facebook, twitter and Just Giving your best friends (and don’t forget to find us on there too!)
4. Use Gift Aid – encourage people to tick the Gift Aid box when they sponsor you and the value of their gift can be increased at no cost to them.
5. Communicate – keep Body & Soul up to date on how your plan is progressing. Let us know how you’re doing and send us pictures and any write ups. We would love to share your activities on the website.
6. Be ‘Professional’ – it always looks better if you can use the charity’s official logo and branding. If you would like the use of our logo, please contact us and we can send you a logo and our brand guidelines.
7. Be thorough – there are many things to think about when fundraising and we want you to keep safe and make the most of what you’re doing. There can sometimes be hidden regulations that you wouldn’t normally be aware of and we don’t want you to get in trouble! You may need to consider Local Council permissions, licensing, trading, health & safety, Police notification…to name a few. Don’t let this deter you though, it’s just about being informed.
8. Stay on top of the money! – be clear on the financials! Good fundraising is all about good project management. Be clear about costs from the outset and be realistic about your targets.
9. Finally, whatever you’re doing, look after yourself and those involved. As thankful as we are to you, make sure you don’t forget to do the same with your supporters!
Good luck, we’re right behind you!
If you’d like to find out more, or if you need any help or advice with your event, you can contact katherine@bodyandsoulcharity.org.
