4-H Fundraising Ideas: Encouraging Positive Youth Development Through Leadership and Organization

Children in every corner of America are stepping into leadership roles in their communities. Here at Fundraisingzone.com, we applaud it! There’s nothing that gives us more hope for the future than to see the youth share life changing ideas with others.  Groups like 4-H cultivate those very characteristics in their members. And with famous alumni like Julia Roberts, Orville Redenbacher, Jackie Kennedy, and Trisha Yearwood,  your students are in great company. 4-H takes every opportunity to reinforce lessons of teamwork and organization. So why should a fundraiser be any exception? It’s not! You will enjoy our 4-H fundraising ideas below.

To succeed in business you need to master risk as well as project and organizational management. Each have a set of specific steps to manage these tasks with efficiency and ease. So, teach your children these concepts by guiding them through the process of managing one of the Fundraisingzone.com easy brochure fundraisers.

Mentor, Then Fall Back

You have 2 weeks to execute a good fundraising campaign.  So, don’t waste any time! You also need to gather your top troops together. Get your leaders and motivators involved and give them the rundown. This includes all the information they’ll need to rally their peers and excite them into action. Here’s a rough sketch of what that might look like for your group:

The Fundraising Rundown for 4-H Groups

• What are your group fundraising goals?
  • Leadership and Organizational Training. This aligns with the 4-H mission and purpose. Of course, students will need to make sure all their ducks are in a row for a smooth fundraiser.
  • Monetary Reward for Specific Aim and Purpose. How much money do you need to raise to support your planned activities? This information will help you break down how much of each member needs to sell.
• How will you set up a system of organization?
  • If your group is large (200 members and up), it would be in your best interest to break into smaller, more manageable groups.  Possibly 10 or 20 if you have the mentors to sustain that.
  • Appoint team captains or have the students elect them. The team captain can select their “cabinet” to help collect the raised funds and keep the group motivated.
• What is your timeline?
  • You only have two weeks to execute a successful fundraiser. So, what activities will you fit in that frame? How many days will you seek donations as a group? Furthermore, what days are reserved for individual sponsorship-seeking? Finally, it’s important to decide which neighborhoods and businesses you will work in. This helps remove any guesswork from the process.

Give 4-H Sponsors Something to Connect To

When people donate to your cause, don’t assume they’re just in it for the candy popcorn. People want to remember the importance of what you’re doing. Why? It’s because it makes them feel like they were a part of something big. Here are some ways to stay connected with donors after their product has been delivered:

• Coordinate non-ask events. Put on some free short mix and mingle events for your existing and prospective sponsors. It allows you to bring them closer to your organization. You essentially communicate your core message to them to encourage future donations.
• Get firsthand input from your supporters. Additionally, your sponsors will stay engaged when their minds are stimulated. Generate long-term interest by asking them to serve the organization in some way that includes their ideas being used as  well.
• Focus-group your sponsors. Finally, if you’re not sure which initiatives would work for your local community, what could you do? Invite your existing and potential sponsors over for a focus group or community brainstorming session.

In conclusion, Fundraisingzone.com has been at the forefront of mentoring groups both large and small  into successful fundraising endeavors. So, please feel free to reach out to us to book during your first mentoring session.  Additionally, top find out about our free fundraising brochures, and ask general fundraising questions, give us a call at 800.645.6550