Step by Step Guide

1. Formulate your idea

The first step to any successful fundraising activity is knowing exactly what activity you are going to carry out. Original and unique ideas can work well but existing events can also be adapted to raise funds. The section on the website called A-Z of Fundraising Ideas will help you to decide which type of activity is right for you. The next thing you need to do is decide on the date, time and size of your activity.

2. Get people involved

Depending on the size and nature of your activity, you may decide to involve a number of friends, family or colleagues. They can help you to organise the activity or act as a support network. You may need to assign specific roles to individuals, such as media contact, treasurer etc., if it is a group activity.

3. Develop a plan

Whether there are many people involved in your activity or only yourself, it is nonetheless important to plan your activity or event. Decide on your goals, your timeline, people to approach, venue, ways to market or advertise, target audience etc. For activities involving more than one person, make sure to distribute your plan to all those involved, well in advance of the activity.

4. Set a financial target

It is a good idea to decide at the beginning of your preparations what the minimum amount you hope to raise from your event or activity is and always try to exceed this amount. Having this goal in mind will motivate both you and your participants to succeed.

5.Make a budget

Draw up a budget for your event or activity, with all income – both cash and in-kind – and expenditure. Always allow for a contingency within your budget, as you will often overspend or underestimate in certain areas. Costs may include printing, postage, technical equipment, advertising, venue hire or catering.

6.Be safe and secure

Remember to always consider the safety or your team and participants. Taking part in high-risk activities is not advisable and it is important to ensure the safety of your venue for events. It may be necessary to take out insurance for certain activities.

7.Know your legal requirements

There are a number of laws and regulations relating to how people can fundraise for charity.It is essential that you comply with these rules when collecting for the Irish Red Cross, as you are representing the organisation. Permission to use the Red Cross emblem must be sought before it is put on any printed or digital material. Also, you must state that the Irish Red Cross is a registered charity, number CHY 3950, on all printed materials related to your event. To comply with legal requirements, many fundraising activities need special Permits from the Gardaí. These are available from your local Garda station. If collecting money on private property, you may also need to seek permission from the proprietor.

8. Advertise and spread the word

After all your hard work and effort, it is important not to forget to spread the word about your activity. You may be able to advertise your event on public or prominent notice boards, on local radio stations and in local newspapers, in shops, gyms, pubs etc. The type of advertising you need to carry out will vary depending on your type of activity - for example, if you are holding small event within your office, you may only need to send an email to colleagues. Don't forget to use sites like Bebo, Facebook and Twitter to get your ideas out there and gain more support.

9. Write a running-order for your activity

It is often useful to write a running order of proceedings for the day of your activity, either for distribution to your participants on the day or just for yourself. This allows team members to know in advance what their roles are or simply helps you to be more organised and less stressed during the activity. The running order should contain a timeline of all proceedings, as well as important contact numbers, such as venue contact person, emergency phone numbers etc.

10. Enjoy yourself

Don’t forget to have fun with your fundraising activity and to help others enjoy it too!

11. Thank all participants

It is very important to thank all of your participants and supporters after the event or activity. It takes a lot of time and energy to take part in a fundraiser and it is important that everyone involved is made to feel appreciated for their efforts. This can be done by making a phone call or sending a letter or email, depending on the nature and scale of the event.

12. Send your donation

After you have successfully raised funds from your activity, you will probably want to send the money to the Irish Red Cross as soon as possible. You can do this by sending a cheque or postal order for the amount to:

Fundraising Department,
Irish Red Cross,
16 Merrion Square,
Dublin 2.

Alternatively, you can deposit the amount directly into an Irish Red Cross bank account. Please call 01 6424600 or email for more details. The Irish Red Cross would urge you to be cautious about carrying large sums of money.

PLEASE REMEMBER that the Irish Red Cross fundraising team are there to help you during every stage of your event or activity. We can offer you advice on all aspects of your event including sponsorship, budgeting, ideas, themes, safety and legal issues. Please let us know if you are running a fundraising activity to raise money for the Irish Red Cross, so that we can offer support, encouragement and congratulations for your efforts.