How to Create an Effective Grassroots Fundraising Plan
Grassroots fundraising serves as a powerful reminder that meaningful change can start small. However, raising money for a worthy cause requires planning – no matter the size of the fundraiser. So, who will help and what steps should you take?
The good news is that when you take the right actions, people will want to support you. This is particularly true with grassroots fundraising, which empowers people from all walks of life to play an active role in supporting causes they care about.
In this article, we’ll explore how to create an awesome grassroots fundraising campaign, sharing ideas and examples that will help you produce and implement a successful strategy.
What is grassroots fundraising?
Grassroots fundraising is a strategy for collecting small donations from neighbours, community members, and other individuals. It’s a community-driven way to get the support you need for your cause, whether it’s raising money for a local organisation or helping someone in need.
While traditional fundraising may rely heavily on large donations from wealthy individuals or corporations, grassroots fundraising focuses on the collective power of people to pool their resources to make a significant impact.
This fundraising method is also different from grants and scholarships, which rely on one central funding source. However, you’ll still have deliverables with grassroots fundraising, and you should keep your supporters engaged every step of the way.
Why is grassroots fundraising important?
Grassroots fundraising is about more than raising money, bringing a network of supporters who are personally invested in the success of the cause together. This can be in the form of personal appeals, community-driven events, or digital fundraising campaigns that inspire widespread participation.
It thrives on authenticity and transparency, connecting members of the commuting who wish to help fund and support meaningful projects with innovative ideas. A grassroots approach is often preferred as it better serves communities, putting them at the heart of the campaign – focusing on goals, not donors.
4-step guide to successful grassroots fundraising
If you want to ensure your grassroots fundraising campaign is a success, then you’ll need to put together an effective plan. Here, we explore how to maximise the impact of your fundraiser in four simple steps.
1. Mindset when fundraising
Some people are natural fundraisers, brimming with confidence – they’re unfazed by the idea of being declined a donation. However, many people are anxious about the idea of fundraising, often for reasons like:
- Not wanting to talk about money
- They’re nervous or shy
- Embarrassed by the thought of rejection
- They think it feels like begging
To be a confident grassroots fundraiser, it’s important to address these anxieties and fears. Here are some responses to common anxieties about fundraising, so you can achieve a positive mindset:
- Keep some perspective: Attitudes about money can be taboo in Australia, but ask yourself this; is what you believe in bigger than your anxieties? If so, your commitment to your cause can help you push past them.
- Some people will say no: During your grassroots fundraising campaign, potential donors will tell you no. When this happens, it’s not a personal attack. You just need to ask more people.
- Confidence: Start with potential donors who you feel most comfortable with and ask them for help. A few early wins can build your confidence and momentum.
2. Setting goals
Once you’ve looked at your grassroots fundraising mindset, it’s time to set some goals. You will need to consider:
- What your purpose is and who you’re fundraising for
- How much your will fundraiser cost (and any other expenses)
- How much money you need to raise
- What the timeframe for raising funds is
- Who your potential supporters are
- What resources do you need to execute the campaign
- How to deal with any challenges that may arise
When setting goals, you’ll need to balance ambition with realism. Goals should challenge your team and inspire supporters while remaining achievable based on the considerations listed above.
It’s also important to remember why grassroots fundraising is so valuable, incorporating community engagement goals that help to build relationships.
Breaking larger goals into smaller milestones to track progress and celebrate wins along the way is a great way of keeping momentum strong and supporters motivated. You can do this by creating a spreadsheet or table to track your progress and also schedule the steps you need to take.
This way, you won’t leave any important steps in the fundraising process until the last minute.
3: Choosing your grassroots fundraising idea
You’ve fixed your mindset. You’ve chosen your goals. It’s now time to pick your idea.
Depending on your timeframe and your level of resources, you may decide to run multiple events.
From hosting art galas to organising talent shows, this list of fundraising ideas is a treasure trove. Here are a few of our favourite grassroots fundraising ideas to get you started.
Auction
Creating an engaging and exciting atmosphere, auctions encourage supporters to bid generously for items. Auctions are an excellent grassroots fundraising idea because they get the entire community involved and can even be held online. Not only do they showcase the generosity of donors, but supporters also leave with something tangible.
Example: Host a silent auction including handmade crafts, gifts, and unique experiences donated by members of the community.
Fun run
Fun runs (or walks) are a good way of actively engaging a community, creating a fun and memorable experience for participants and spectators. Make sure it’s suitable for all ages and fitness levels, so you can encourage as many supporters as possible. It’s also a fundraising event that’s likely to attract local businesses as sponsors.
Example: Organise a themed 5K run with registration fees, sponsorships, and opportunities to donate on-site.
Community dinner
A community dinner creates a warm, inviting environment for members of the community to come together and raise money. You could charge for admission or incorporate a raffle to boost the amount of donations you receive on the day. By collaborating with local chefs and entertainers, you’ll also be able to attract more supporters and enhance the overall experience.
Example: Host a “farm-to-table” dinner that features local produce, where guests enjoy a tasty dinner and hear from beneficiaries of the fundraiser.
4. Donations and other details
So, you’ve run a successful event (or multiple events), and now the donations are flowing in!
There are a couple of points to make here:
- In Australia, donors can claim donations on their tax returns as a tax deduction. This is a great way for them to lower their taxable income while contributing to your grassroots fundraising campaign.
- If possible, you’ll want to create a separate bank account or pot in which to deposit your donations. This will help with transparency and organisation. GoFundMe makes setting up a grassroots fundraising plan easy.
You may also want to send short thank-you letters to donors. A good way of doing this is to send your thank you notes before depositing your donations. This way, expressing gratitude doesn’t slip your mind.
Grassroots fundraising examples
With over $30 billion raised, our global GoFundMe community has changed the lives of millions of people.
Below are a few GoFundMe success stories to help inspire you to start a fundraiser of your own.
A Meditation Marathon, 20 Minutes on the 20th
One young boy’s 20-minute meditation goal helped raise money for the coalition for the homeless Holiday Toy Drive. His target was to raise $2,000 so that other kids could have toys at Christmas.
The campaign ended up smashing this target, eventually raising over $30,000 USD.
Rebuilding Animal Homes, Feed and Water Stations
This fund was created by animal lovers and volunteers. They wanted to rebuild animal habitats that were destroyed by devastating wildfires.
After raising over $11,900 AUD, donors were thanked and updated on where their money was going.
Use GoFundMe for your grassroots fundraising campaign
Grassroots fundraising is an excellent way of engaging a whole community, bringing people together to make a collective long-lasting impact on a worthwhile cause.
It’s becoming an increasingly popular method of fundraising in Australia – a nation known for being community-driven and generous donors.
Fortunately, starting a grassroots fundraising campaign and implementing the advice and ideas we’ve covered in this article is incredibly easy with GoFundMe. Our extensive online tools allow you to share your fundraiser on social media and reach out to your community with ease.
It’s completely free to start fundraising on Australia’s #1 crowdfunding platform and each donation is protected thanks to our giving guarantee.