Whether you’re running for office or supporting a ballot initiative, you need money to pay staff and promote your candidacy or cause.
A fundraising event for your political campaign may be the solution. 90% of Australians believe it’s essential for people to come together in person to promote positive change — and 1 in 4 Australians attended an event supporting a particular cause within the last year.
To take advantage of this sentiment, consider one of the following political campaign fundraiser event ideas — then stick around for six steps for success.
Political campaign fundraiser event ideas
While old-fashioned fundraising events are still profitable, they may not draw in as many donations as something new and exciting. Here are some ideas to start with.
Fundraiser Event Idea #1: Silent auction
You don’t have to auction off gift baskets. Get creative with the auction items. Think about experiences instead of things. Just make sure they align with your campaign platform or cause. For instance, an environmental charity would want to give donors a chance to connect with nature.
Fundraiser Event Idea #2: Theatre performance
Consider partnering with a local theatre company willing to provide the venue, equipment, props, and costumes. Or, arrange to have profits from one of their normal performances go to your cause.
Fundraiser Event Idea #3: Mentorship auction
Set up bidding for one-on-one chat sessions with thought leaders or participating celebrities. The conversations can happen remotely, thanks to the plethora of video chat tech.
Fundraising Event Idea #4: Neighbourhood street party
This is a great way to make money for a local government office or cause. Have neighbours donate food, drinks and lawn chairs. This type of event brings constituents together and fosters a sense of community.
Fundraising Event Idea #5: Pamper-yourself festival
Curate a selection of stalls offering things like luxury beauty treatments, chair massage, makeovers, wellness items, and clothing from local boutiques.
Political campaign fundraiser planning steps
Since your campaign’s future depends on successfully raising enough funds, you need an event strategy to maximise resources. Here are six steps to help you successfully plan your events — and exceed your fundraising goals and expectations.
Fundraiser Planning Step #1: Set a fundraising goal
How much money are you hoping to raise? Consider avenues like ticket sales, donations, live auctions, silent auctions, and crowdfunding.
Fundraiser Planning Step #2: Create your event’s budget
Your event budget should include every detail — from the venue to the catering to the parking valets. And leave a little room for the unpredictables. With your costs in perspective, you’ll be able to get the most out of donations.
Fundraiser Planning Step #3: Find a venue
When looking for a venue, shop around. Some venues might be willing to discount or even donate the space to be associated with a good cause. Be flexible with your date to help secure a venue at a lower cost. And be sure to ask the right questions — you need to know exactly what’s included in the price to manage your bottom line.
Fundraiser Planning Step #4: Think outside of the box
Plug into recent trends (like livestreaming or social media contests) to create an irresistible fundraising event. Come up with a creative event that aligns with your cause, and you’ll draw the attention of both supporters and potential donors.
Fundraiser Planning Step #5: Lean on your greater community
Millennials love to express themselves online. Nearly half of them admit to attending live events to have something to share on social. So give them something to share by providing rich online content. And incentivise them to share your cause online with a ticket giveaway.
Fundraiser Planning Step #6: Use the right ticketing partner
When you don’t have an enormous budget, any way you can make your marketing more efficient will lower your costs. With Eventbrite, selling and tracking tickets for your event is easy.
Ready to get started? Set up your political campaign fundraiser here.