Your group can always do with some extra money coming in … here are a few ways to raise that cash without breaking the bank!
• Use the people and equipment you have got to work for you … you will be surprised the amount of useful people your members will know and haven't thought about telling you … ask them!
• Be cheeky … "what you don't ask for you won't get". Go to local shops or big companies and ask for sponsorship, donations, raffle prizes … the worst they can do is say "no" … although you'll find that a lot say "yes". Big companies have proper budgets that they are allowed to give to the community!
• Attend local fairs/markets/theme events and get involved in the community … but have stalls and sell bric-a-brac, homemade goods, second hand stuff, donated gifts, old props, costumes etc … if you have 20 members in your group and everyone brings 5 items then you will have 100 things to sell … making a good little profit! Games are also great to play - shave the balloon, pull the pin, treasure hunt, guess the name, steady hand game (buzzer) etc …
• Do a Programme and sell advertising space … you can raise unbelievable amounts of extra cash by doing this! Just ensure that your Programme is of good quality.
• Do a "bonus ball lotto" each week members pay £1 to choose a number and if that number is the bonus ball on the Saturday night "lotto" draw then they win half the total takings … the other half goes into the group funds!
• Use your equipment … if you own a sound system then hire it out to people or do private functions, karaoke's, disco's etc for birthdays and weddings for a donation to the group.
Other articles from Matt:
Advertising
Branding
Gimmicks
Image
Posters
Press Releases
Starting a New Group