Fundraising Thermometer - How To Make Your Fundraiser A Success

Setting a goal and achieving it can seem like a daunting task. When the goal is to raise funds for a project or cause it can be even more intimidating. It doesn't have to be if you think it through and plan it out.

Start by asking yourself the following question: What steps do you need to take to achieve your goal? Project and time management experts agree that doing just a few simple things can make a world of difference for you.

Try these three easy steps to make your next fundraising effort a success:

• Write your goals down - Just the act of them down will help you understand more clearly what you want to accomplish. Also, setting clear goals gives the others in your group or organization a clear picture of what they need to accomplish. It can also help motivate them to take action.

• Break the project down into bite sized pieces - Okay, you've written down you goal - what's next? Well, if your goal is to raise a million dollars, or a thousand, or just a hundred, that number can be overwhelming sitting there all by itself. One way to take the sting out of it is to break it down into achievable steps.

  Let's say you want to raise a thousand dollars in thirty days. Well you could start by dividing a thousand by thirty to see how much you need to raise a day to stay on track. Thirty four dollars a day is certainly an easier number to deal with.

  Now that you know what you need each day, your group can start thinking about what you need to do to make it happen. How many tubs of cookie dough do you have to sell? How many cars do you need to wash? The smaller steps become easier to achieve and plan for. And, if it's easier it is more likely to get done.

  It may take a little time and effort but making a plan that includes smaller goals and steps is one of the best ways to help you achieve your goal.

• Track your progress - Perhaps the most important of these three, ideas is to track your progress. Knowing where you are on the journey to achieving your goal will help you and your team to avoid surprises. It can also let you know if you need to increase your effort, and it can motivate you when you're on track. Knowing just where you are also lets your group clearly see the results of their efforts - good or bad.

  One of the most popular ways of tracking a fundraising campaign is by using a thermometer. The thermometer can take many forms, but typically your goal amount is placed at the top, and the thermometer is colored in as funds are raised. It's a very simple and straightforward way to provide a visual indicator of your progress, and a motivation for the group raising the money.

While you're taking care of the first two tips we've given you, we can help you with the third one. We've put together a collection of fundraising thermometers for your website that can help to keep your group up to date on the progress.

Plus, read on for some more great ideas on communicating your progress and inspiring your group.

Getting Creative With Your Fundraising Thermometer

Besides our great collection of fundraising thermometers for your website you should also think about creating something for your group's building or offices.

Think outside the box - be creative! While the tried and true image of a thermometer will certainly get the job done, there's no need limit yourself to just that old standby.

Get noticed. It helps when you're raising funds to also raise awareness. Make a fundraising progress chart that has meaning or is just plain fun.

Once my church group was raising money for a new piano put up a poster of a piano with a dollar amount printed on each of the 88 keys. You can do things like making a chart that uses cars to measure progress for your carwash fundraiser.

You could put up a new puzzle piece of a large picture or poster related to your program whenever donations are received. Add an ornament to a Christmas tree with the names of everyone who donates.

There are lots of ways to get the message across so have fun, maybe even hold a contest for the best idea. This helps get your team excited and ready to go but also raises awareness about the program.

Getting results With Your Fundraising Project

The bottom line is that you're doing a fundraiser for an important purpose and anything you can do to make the process more fun and more successful is a good thing. Don't let the task overwhelm you. Instead, keep these tips and ideas in mind and put them to use on your next project. You'll be glad you did.