5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Planning Your Next Fundraising Event

Planning a fundraising event can be both exciting and challenging. Whether you’re organizing a charity gala, fun run, or bake sale, the success of your event depends on careful consideration and strategic planning.

Take a moment to look at these five essential questions that will guide you in creating an event that not only meets your fundraising goals but also leaves a lasting impact on your cause and school community.

Question #1: What is the primary goal of the event?

This question serves as the cornerstone of your planning process and will guide every decision you make. Clearly identifying your goal sets the direction for your event and ensures that every aspect aligns with your overarching purpose.

What is the primary goal of the event?

• Is it to raise a specific amount of money?
• To raise awareness about a cause, sports group, or specific school club?
• To engage with donors, parents, and the community on a deeper level?

Question #2: Who is your target audience?

Understanding your target audience is paramount to the success of your fundraising event. Tailoring your event to resonate with your target audience not only increases attendance but also enhances engagement and encourages meaningful connections with your cause.

Who is your target audience?

• Consider the demographics, interests, and ages of your audiences.
• Is this a members-only type of event or is it an event catered to drawing in new members?

Tip: Utilize FutureFund’s membership management tools to connect or increase engagement.

Question #3: What resources do you have available?

Consider factors such as budget, venue options, volunteer availability, and marketing channels. Understanding your resources allows you to allocate them effectively, ensuring that your event is well-executed within your means.

What resources do you have available?

• How much of a budget are you working with to fund the event itself?
• Who are your volunteers? How many do you have to work with?

Tip: FutureFund has so many tools to utilize here including:

• Volunteer sign-up lists
• Membership organization
• Online stores

Question #4: How will you measure the event’s success?

Will success be measured by the amount of funds raised, the level of community engagement, or the number of new donors acquired? Establishing specific metrics ensures accountability and provides valuable insights for future events.

How will you measure your event’s success?

• What are your financial targets? Consider the initial goal you have set.
• What are your specific engagement metrics?
• How will you receive feedback from the attendees, volunteers, and participants?

Tip: FutureFund has many powerful funds reporting tools you can use to measure your fundraiser’s success.

Question #5: What unique or creative elements can you incorporate?

Think about using innovative themes, interactive activities, or collaborations with local artists or businesses to create a memorable experience. Think outside the box and leverage creativity to not only attract attendees but also inspire greater support for your cause.

What unique or creative elements can you incorporate?

• Is there a seasonal or club-related activity you can center your fundraiser around?
• Could you add a theme to make the event even more engaging?
• What type of entertainment might you be able to obtain to draw more attendees in?

Prepare and Plan Your Next Fundraising With Ease

Successful fundraising events hinge on thoughtful and strategic planning. By asking yourself the five aforementioned essential questions—defining your event’s goal, identifying your target audience, assessing available resources, determining how to measure success, and incorporating unique or creative elements—you pave the way for a memorable and impactful event.

Utilize FutureFund to make every step of the planning process a bit more organized and easier to manage. Get started here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once I have determined what my fundraising event will be, how can I use FutureFund’s messaging system to help me fundraise?

FutureFund’s messaging system lets you:

• Send messages to every parent in your school community or filter your audience to reach specific groups.
• Create unique sender profiles to make sure the message is always coming from the appropriate party.
• Use customizable message templates to save time when broadcasting updates or announcements.

What type of campaign should my school fundraiser be?

Use Purchase campaigns to sell event tickets or physical items (like baked goods, merchandise, or arts and crafts).

Use Donation campaigns to collect money from community members in support of a specific goal or cause (like a food drive).

Use Pledge campaigns to collect donations from friends and family in support of a student’s achievement like reaching a Read-A-Thon or Swim-A-Thon goal.

How can I use FutureFund to track my fundraiser’s success?

FutureFund gives you the ability to generate financial reports for fundraising campaigns in just a few clicks. To do this, navigate to Store and click the Reports tab near the top of your screen. Then choose Campaign Summary from the drop-down menu and click Generate Report.