Fundraising in a pre-COVID world leaned heavily on live events and other experience-based activities. Since gathering together is not in the cards for the foreseeable future, let’s explore some of the creative ways organizations are fundraising through our favorite medium – print!
Create A Cookbook
The pandemic led many to discover or rather rediscover their love of cooking. Cookbooks were among the top sellers last year, with a major focus on comfort food and desserts. Pick a theme, compile a list of recipes and designate a selection committee to prepare each. Take photos of your finished product to see which show best photographically and select 4-5 to use in your final version of the cookbook. Work with a graphic designer or your print provider on layout, cover, paper selection, and binding options. This expertise will help determine final costs per piece, possible sales price, and how much you’ll make in profit from each copy sold.
Wear it out
Branded apparel should be the staple of any brand. Use great branding plus a clever message splashed across a trendy tie-dye hoodie or t-shirt, and you have something people will covet. There are some dos and don’ts to investing in an apparel fundraising campaign.
- Do ask your constituents what they want. A simple question on your social or a survey out to donors should suffice.
- Don’t just slap your logo on a t-shirt and call it a day.
- Do change up your offerings for the season – short sleeve shirts in the summer, beanies in the winter.
- Don’t go for the cheapest fabric options—people like soft and cozy.
- Do pay for design services.
- Don’t be afraid to be funny or clever.
Host Virtual Walks and Races
Not many people are interested in lining up for a 5 or 10K with a few thousand other people. With the popularity of fitness watches and trackers, the technology exists to host virtual race events instead. Decide on a destination and set milestones. The racer will pay at sign-up and receive their race packet with instructions in the mail just like they would normally. Contract with a print service provider to produce and fill these requests as needed. Once they begin their challenge, their trackers will report on progress, and at each milestone they will receive accolades until they finish to earn prizes. Some popular races in recent months have been the Run Across America event for Feeding America.
Basic Tips and Tricks
Regardless of what idea your organization comes up with, there are a few essential tips to fundraising that you’ll want to incorporate.
- Select your branding and stick to it. Consistency is critical for audience recognition.
- Speaking of audience, figure out who you are targeting and hone-in on who they are and what channels they use.
- It’s always best to use multiple marketing channels to get your best results. Consider how your print, mail, email, social media, and other marketing platforms together.
- Be creative in your marketing approach. Think about all the ads you see on a given day. What made them unique and stand out to you? Roll that energy into your brainstorming.
- Work with good local partners. You don’t want to sacrifice by saving, choosing the cheapest options available online. Reliability, community, and quality go a long way.
If you need help with your next fundraising campaign, give the experts at B&B Print Source a shout. We’ve been at this a long time and have oodles of great ideas to share!