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Do you belong to an organization that needs to raise money?
Take a look at this idea. It's easy, it doesn't cost your group money or time to set up and organize, it builds a sense of community, and it's FUN!
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Helping Organizations Raise Money Through Travel
There is really nothing new about connecting travel and fund raising. It's been done for years. The standard model is that the group (usually the group leaders) decides on a destination. Plans are made and then the idea is sold to the group. Very often the group leaders themselves are encouraged to use the “free” spaces that often come with group travel. After the trip happens, some money flows back to the organization through some arrangement with the tour operator, cruise line, or the agent who arranged the event.
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Key elements for a successful fund raiser
1. First we need a group of people that has some affinity for each other. The best is a group that is together often where everyone knows everyone else (a softball team or a dance group). If they don't all know one another, you could make a good group from people with common interest (cancer survivors or a group committed to helping the homeless).
2. Publicizing a trip at meetings when everyone is together is the most efficient. Second best would be an e-mail list and the third choice would be a mailing list of the group members.
3. It is especially helpful if there is a core group of leaders that support the idea by agreeing that they are going and will take some time to encourage others.
4. Another consideration is to make the trip special by including activities of interest to the group. This could include at themed trip (visiting the flower show with the garden club). Or you might have a series of activities on a cruise (a photographer to hold photo workshops for the photography club or an instructor to teach the dance group some new steps).
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How would we begin?
1. We would meet with group leaders to decide on the kind of trip that would be most attractive to their group.
2. Once we have the trip arranged, the task is to publicize it to the group. The first and best method is for people who are committed to going to speak to (invite) other members to go. Next best is to talk about the trip at a group meeting - if possible, the talk should be a video presentation with brochures for everyone to review. Finally, we will contact everyone by mail or e-mail.
3. The rest of the process is mainly administrative - making sure that reservations and payments are made with the trip provider.
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How do we make money and how much can be made?
There are four opportunities to make money for the group.
1. On most group trips, the trip provider offers a menu of special amenities to the group. They might be a cocktail party or a bottle of champaign in each stateroom on arrival. For fund raising groups, an optional amenity is a donation to the organization. On cruises it is common for this to be $50 per cabin.
2. We can ask each participant to pay a little more than actual cost for their trip. It is not uncommon for a group price to be a little less than the same trip arranged individually. In this case, the individual is paying extra but it is still less than they would pay on their own. The extra money goes to the group.
3. Most group programs include a free space for a certain number of paying passengers. Most common is one free for every 16 paid. Some trips offer one free for as few as 6 paid. Free trips can be used to reward someone in the group, they can be raffled off to earn money, or, most common when you are trying to raise money, they can be taken in cash that goes to the group. If you have a large group and earn significant free spaces, the money for the group can be considerable.
4. Finally, you can conduct group activities while on the trip that can raise more money. They might be as simple as a 50-50 during a meeting or you may put together some contest where everyone pays to participate and the winner gets a prize and the rest of the money goes to the group.
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If you would like to explore the possibilities for your group, just give us a call (352-751-0621) or send an e-mail.
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