Sample Fundraising Plan

Amount to be raised - £3000

Week 1-2
Sponsor yourself £50 (£2950)
Send out at least 25 letters to friends and family asking for £25 = £625 (£2325)

Week 2-3
Follow up on sponsorship letters
Ask four family members to sponsor you £25 = £100 (£2225)
Ask four neighbours to sponsor you £25 = £100 (£2125)
Ask eight work colleagues to sponsor you £25 = £200 (£1925)
Check with your company's human resource department to see if they would be prepared to 'match-fund'.

Week 3
Plan a fundraising party with at least 40 people at local pub, host a quiz night with a raffle, and charge £10 per head £400 (£1525)
Get three of your company's suppliers to sponsor you £50 = £150 (£1375)

Week 4
Organise a barbeque/ cheese and wine evening and charge £25 per head for 30 people taking out £5 per head costs = £600 (£775)

Week 5
Organise another pub quiz based on the destination you are travelling to and charge £10 per person for 40 people = £400 (£375)

Week 6
Car boot sale = £100 (£275)

Week 7
Sponsored silence = £50 (£225)

Week 8
Final follow up on letters written earlier and sponsorship from work place £200 (£25)
Finish fundraising efforts by putting in final £25 yourself (£0000)


Face to face

Ask for a specific amount rather than letting the donor decide- remember that it is easier to trade down than up;
"will you sponsor me £100 for this challenge" "no, sorry I can not afford that", "how about £50" "lovely, thank you"

rather than

"will you sponsor me £50?" "OK", "what about £100" "no!"

Ask your employer if they 'match-fund', for example, if you are able to raise £1,000 your employer may match this and sponsor you for £1,000. Some employers will turn you down flat but you will be surprised how many companies will support you in this way.


By letter

Companies get lots of requests; make yours different. Be short and concise - be clear about the challenge that you have set yourself, who the beneficiaries are and any potential benefits to the person you are writing to. Keep it short and simple (KISS).
Tailor your approach to your donor. Try and address each letter individually either to the Managing Director or the Community Affairs Director if the company has one. Do not expect a high rate of return from such a blanket mailing unless you have personal contact or they are based locally. However it is always worth asking and by following some of the advice here you might well improve your chances of success.
If you are writing to friends or colleagues then you might like to think along the following lines;

I'll forgive that loan if you sponsor me for my charity challenge…
Will you please sponsor me…
Remember the time that I … will you return the favour and sponsor my charity challenge?


Suggested letter layout

• Your personal goal
• Why you are supporting the particular challenge
• If you have a personal connection, discusshow the condition affected your life or those around you.
• Let people know what the money they are giving away will go towards.
• Include a website address or a copy of the challenge brochure
• How and where they can send their donations- or when you will call them

Mail it to friends, family, companies, work contacts and local schools.
As you get closer to your deadline, send a reminder to everyone who hasn't sponsored you yet and let them know if you are short of your fundraising target and that you still need 'x' amount. Ask if they will sponsor you in order to take you to the target.

Fundraising Information kindly provided by Across the Divide