WORKPLACE FUNDRAISING TOOLKIT

Transcription

1 WORKPLACE FUNDRAISING TOOLKIT Children s Aid Foundation helps vulnerable kids overcome the obstacles in life that hold them back. We are committed to giving ongoing support to those kids who need it most. Dollars raised from your workplace fundraising event will have a direct impact on the lives of the children and youth we serve!

2 CONTENTS Why support CAF What is a Workplace Fundraising Event Steps for a Great Fundraiser Fundraising Ideas Promoting your event at work How CAF can support your event Fundraising Guidelines

3 HOST AN EVENT TO HELP A CHILD BELIEVE IN THEIR FUTURE The Foundation encouraged me to believe in my own potential through the Stay in School award. Thanks to a Foundation scholarship, I was able to complete university and am now on track to becoming a social worker! The Children s Aid Foundation funds programs that help young people in Canada s child welfare system build self-esteem and brighter futures. From post-secondary scholarships to enriching activities like sports and music lessons, the Foundation bridges the gap between what the government is able to provide and what these vulnerable kids need to transition into happy and healthy adults. By hosting a workplace fundraising event, you can help the Children s Aid Foundation continue to transform the lives of Canada s most vulnerable kids. From jeans days to lunch & learns or a hockey/football pool, you can bring the people in your office together to have some fun while supporting a great cause that will give kids the chance to reach their full potential.

4 WHAT IS A WORKPLACE FUNDRAISING EVENT? A workplace fundraising event is an activity or ongoing initiative organized by a committee or a group of staff members to raise funds. Jeans days, running groups, and golf tournaments are only a few examples! Dollars raised through workplace fundraising events help the Children s Aid Foundation fund a broad range of programs that address the needs of vulnerable children and young people across Canada. Funds raised are directed to the Foundation s highest priority needs. Workplace fundraising events are vital because they help raise awareness in the community and share our story on a global scale.

5 STEPS FOR PLANNING A GREAT FUNDRAISER FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES TO HELP MAKE YOUR WORKPLACE FUNDRAISING EVENT A SUCCESS. o Decide what type of fundraising event you will hold Obtain approval to hold a workplace fundraiser AFTER YOUR EVENT o Be sure to thank all of your event participants and donors and let everyone know how much was raised! o Collect all the funds raised and send a cheque (made payable to Children s Aid Foundation) to the following address along with full contact information of any eligible donors who require a tax receipt. Gather a team & form a committee to plan the event Decide what type of fundraising event you will hold Create a plan and set a timeline for action items Set your fundraising goal Children s Aid Foundation Attn: Community Giving 25 Spadina Rd Toronto, ON M5R 2S9 Create a realistic budget Set a date and time or choose a launch date if the fundraiser is ongoing Promote the event to your colleagues and build up excitement. Be sure to announce your fundraising goal! Secure donated gift-in-kind items to use as prizing If your event requires participants to fundraise in advance, be sure to develop a communication plan to remind participants and incorporate a fun incentive that will encourage your colleagues to fundraise! Double your fundraising success! Find out if your workplace has a gift matching program

6 FUNDRAISING IDEAS FUNDRAISERS CAN BE LARGE OR SMALL, INSIDE OR OUTDOORS, ACTIVITY-BASED OR THEMED WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE! BELOW ARE SOME SUGGESTED EVENT IDEAS BUT REMEMBER: WHEN IT COMES TO FUNDRAISING, THE SKY S THE LIMIT. WORKPLACE FUNDRAISING u Keep it casual with a jeans day u Invite a speaker for a lunch & learn or speaker series u Offer exclusive items through a silent auction (wine, sports tickets, concert tickets, premium parking spot, lunch with a Senior Executive or CEO) u Challenge your office to a unique activity such as a scavenger hunt u Keep sporty with a golf or hockey tournament u Huge football fan? Crazy for hockey? Organize a sports pool. u Whip-up your family s secret recipes for a bake sale or find a good page-turner through a book sale u Get your melted cheese and toppings fix with a pizza lunch day u Nobody likes carrying change in their pocket host a change drive to collect those cumbersome coins u Your idea! Icon by Juan Pablo Bravo

7 FEATURED FUNDRAISING IDEA CANADIAN TUXEDO Turn your next jeans day into a celebration of national pride by showing-off your Canadian Tuxedo! Wear your favourite jeanon-jean combination and support kids in need through the Children s Aid Foundation. Canadians are renowned for our laid-back attitudes, and what could be a more fitting tribute to the Great White North than a day dedicated to our very own Canadian Tuxedo? THE IN SUPPORT OF THE CHILDREN S AID FOUNDATION Turn dress down Fridays into a fashion forward fundraiser by setting a fundraising goal and organizing a fun activity such as giving out awards for best tuxedo or best denim impersonations. Decide how long you would like the fundraiser to run (1 Friday/month, 4 Fridays/month or one-time event) and collect donations from each participant. Suggested event day activities could include: u Fashion show u Vote on best dressed u Canadian-themed staff lunch to celebrate u Canadian-themed trivia (music, history, sports) Here are just a few ways you can style your Canadian Tuxedo: The Purist jeans + matching blue shirt or jacket The Canadian Executive jeans + jacket with cuff links and front pocket kerchief The Canadian Traveler jeans + jacket with Canadian Flag patch Retro Preppie jeans + jean jacket with popped collar The Hipster jeans + jean or chambray shirt The Socialite jeans + jean jacket with faux fur collar/scarf

8 FUNDRAISING IDEAS ENGAGING YOUR COLLEAGUES Engaging your colleagues in your workplace fundraiser will ensure the event is a success! Here are a few ways to build some hype and promote your fundraiser: u Use CAF s event poster template (or create your own) to post information about your event in communal areas (kitchen, water cooler, notice board, elevator, washrooms) u Add a posting to your organization s intranet or staff e-newsletter u Ask a senior executive to send an to all staff encouraging them to take part in the event u Leave a fun promotional piece or personal event invite on each desk after work so your colleagues will be greeted with a nice surprise the following morning u Mention the event in a staff meeting u If staff connect on social media at your workplace, use those channels to promote your event u Send an reminder the day before your event or take a walk through the office to personally remind your colleagues

9 HOW CAN CAF HELP? Please be sure to contact the Children s Aid Foundation well in advance to ensure that we can help support your event! As long as your fundraiser supports the mission, values and priorities of the Children s Aid Foundation, we would be glad to provide the following: u Fundraising ideas and support, tips and feedback u CAF s community event logo to use on event collateral u Letter of Acknowledgement to help in soliciting sponsorship and/or gift-in-kind donations for silent auction items and prizing u An online fundraising page to collect donations for your event u Post your event on our online events calendar u A poster template u A fundraising thermometer to track progress to your goal u CAF handouts and signage for event (whenever possible) u CAF representative and/or qualified speaker to attend your event (subject to availability and event size) u Tax receipts for eligible donations CAF is not able to: u Assume any financial or legal liability for your event, including covering any costs, providing insurance coverage, signing any contracts or applying for any permits and/or licenses on your behalf u Promote your event or sell tickets to your event u Solicit sponsorship or gift-in-kind donations for your event u Provide access to CAF s mailing lists, including contact information of CAF sponsors, donors, partners and staff

10 FUNDRAISING GUIDELINES CHILDREN S AID FOUNDATION BRAND INTEGRITY u Preserving CAF s brand integrity is very important to us. We can provide community event organizers with CAF s Community Event logo for use on event collateral but we ask that you have all materials developed with CAF s name or logo approved by CAF TAX RECEIPTING u CAF can issue tax receipts according to Canada Revenue Agency s guidelines. Please confirm with CAF which donations (cash and/or gift in kind) are eligible for a tax receipt before promising any tax receipts to event donors, participants and supporters EVENT EXPENSES u Event expenses cannot be covered by tax-receiptable donations made to the Children s Aid Foundation. Ticket sales and/or sponsorship can be used to cover event expenses PERMITS, LICENSES AND INSURANCE u Be sure to verify any permit/licensing/insurance requirements of your venue and the applicable levels of government. The Children s Aid Foundation will not assume any legal or financial liability for your event