Feedback from CVS-Arunwide’s Community Lunch
Tuesday 22nd March 2011
Today’s event was well attended with 20 organisations represented. This community lunch was around direct fundraising eg. through events, raffles etc . A chance to share experiences and expertise with other groups, ideas that work & some that don’t.
Hilary Spencer welcomed Dawn Ingram from Stonepillow who gave us a brief presentation on how Stonepillow use Social Media.
Social media is a free way of generating exposure, leads & entering into new target groups
FACEBOOK – is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. Cascading information out through lots of peoples network.
TWITTER – is the best way to share & discuss what is happening right now. It is easy with instant updates and access to the information that interests you most.
Twitter is another good tool to bring information to your supporters & local businesses. You have 140 figures to write an update, add a link or include any partnerships you have with other Twitter businesses or followers. @mentions is a really good to get into using. www.goo.gl.
These social media sites help to get the word out and promote your organisation.
Q. Initial targets. Who & how do you target?
Best tool – any status, select Chichester, this will bring up any business in Chichester.
Follow key businesses, eg, Chichester District Council, Shelter, targeting key words. Dawn suggests you try and find businesses that have a link with your charity. Some businesses have a particular interest in certain disabilities/illnesses/children.
Dawn advertises her events from facebook and twitter.
As a fundraiser Dawn has successfully used social media to target younger groups and create a new fundraising event that is separately branded, however, emphasizes its direct link to Stonepillow. With her facebook page and a celebrating local page (event page), events are advertised from both pages & incentives are created to link friends to both of these pages.
For more information contact Dawn on DIngram@stonepillow.org.uk
Q.Have you tried fundraising on facebook?
There are fundraising options;
Direct fundraising from facebook – couple examples proved successful, popular
Direct giving – people
Just giving – set up your own fundraising page (include details of event, who you are fundraising for). It is secure and people can donate direct. It must be a tool to link to your facebook. Good for people who use sponsored events. Paypal – debit/credit card, easy. Visit http://justgiving.com for more information.
Motor Neuron
The group were left money for the benefit of the group. They worked with the PCT funding a post for 3 years but would not provide equipment which was what was needed.
They have found there is no clear pathway with Health. Public health will become part of the county council. With GP commissioning less money will go to acute services in hospitals, hopefully GPs will be able to do more.
The group have a dilemma, do they raise money for a machine to give people a better quality of life.
Fundraising
One off capital is easier to get, revenue is more difficult. Fundraising events will do this more.
PR & marketing – do regularly. Website and flyers have to be up to date, keep key skills polished and keep focused.
With the quality of your publicity – keep consistent and deliver on a regular basis.
Fundraising is not always popular. Use people’s personal ideas and use CVS and ADC to help you make this happen.
Q.How do people attract those fundraisers?
Attract within and make it manageable.
Make it seem straightforward and manageable.
People do not want to volunteer as fundraisers.
Arun Sunshine Group – start from scratch, back to shops, obtain licence from Town Council for street collection.
Have buckets at Fontwell Racecourse, although you have to apply a year in advance to do this. Biggest challenge is manpower, you have to rely on family and friends.
Leonard Cheshire – With Tescos and Sainsburys you have to apply to Head Office to stand with collection buckets, but Christmas you can contact the local stores. Regular street collections have taken 10 years.
Collective way among charities, get everyone together. Plan a golf day, raceday at Fontwell, something that could be of a personal interest or a friend. Once you have an idea you can move forward and advertise.
Spirit FM and Splash advertise free for charities.
VCACD – Voluntary Community Action Chichester District
They are working with Chichester University who are putting on an accredited course for volunteer fundraisers to be trained up. This will become a community fundraiser resource, building up skills and confidence.
Carers Support
Donations in kind rather than cash, pantomime tickets, argos vouchers
CVSA
They are looking at venues and meeting rooms, exploring across the county. If businesses have a meeting room they could offer this in kind.
We can become creative how we cut our costs.
We will be more successful in working with businesses by having things in kind rather than money.
Include upcoming businesses, this is a way to raise their profile.
Homestart
They are putting together local illustrations with a local business doing the artwork in kind, no money paying out. This is a good way to make /generate money.
Pub Quiz – ask them to donate one for you, again personal interest, contact.
Tangmere
They provide facilities for local authority to use. You can be more creative in local community & recreational facilities if local authorities take notice.
Arun Ideas Workshop
Situated in Beach Road and free to any organisation. Contact www.arun.gov.uk
Victoria Sturdy takes up her position as development advisor from the beginning of April. Please click on the link for further information.
