Fund Raising - Using your Big Wigs

coachwoodall
Executive Member

Posts: 6,106

Fund Raising - Using your Big Wigs May 28, 2014 12:40:05 GMT -6

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Post by coachwoodall on May 28, 2014 12:40:05 GMT -6

For the most part all of the fund raising I have ever done has been the run of the mill type of stuff most anybody can do
- cards
- cookie dough
- raffles
- banners
- food plates

What I am looking for are ideas of how to tap into those Big Wigs/Wheeler & Dealers that can lay down some serious cabbage. I have been part of golf tournaments before, but they were the kinds that made a couple 1000. We've toyed with the idea of a fishing tournament, but have never pulled the trigger.

We have a unique dynamic in that our kids run the gambit for socio-economics; housing projects to multi-million homes. The school community has decent involvement from all levels and has a good history to draw from to pull off a major fund raising campaign.

If the wisdom of the board has any suggestion, I gladly offer my thanks.

There are no more John Waynes
--Clay Wiles

holmesbend
Full Member

Posts: 641

Fund Raising - Using your Big Wigs May 28, 2014 21:34:28 GMT -6

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Post by holmesbend on May 28, 2014 21:34:28 GMT -6

I think most people would just as soon donate as to buy some BS product where the program only gets half or so if lucky. I'd love to get a copy of a donation letter if anybody has it.

Ad signs on our fences have been huge.

Ad signs, gold cards, gear sales...our biggest things. Looking for the grand slam.

biggus3
Sophomore Member

Posts: 178

Fund Raising - Using your Big Wigs May 29, 2014 9:02:58 GMT -6 Wingtman likes this

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Post by biggus3 on May 29, 2014 9:02:58 GMT -6

You want to spend some serious cash to make your golf tourney as best as it can be. Decorate the course, feed them well, get them drunk, have some interesting hole sponsors , have some nice giveaways for stupid events like a punt, pass and kick competition. Get an awesome keynote speaker even if you have to pay for him. You gotta remember these guys get invited to a crappy fundraising scrambles every weekend in the summer. Make yours the one they don't miss. The tourney may be even close to a wash but that is ok. The real value is getting these guys excited about your program and feel like they are valued. You need to become the linch pin in their network that connects everyone to everyone else. If you know that one guy offers a service that another could use, you need to set that up. Create that brotherhood that you try establish on your team, and make sure it extends to your benefactors. After you get a nice relationship going with these people, you can start to hit them up for large pieces of equipment. Pick a project, call them up and say that we need this, it will make us a better program and here is why. Often times they will lead the charge and handle it for you.

The hard part is taking the time out of your schedule to maintain relationships with all of these people. Sending them cards, calling to catch up, and popping in for 15 minutes every once and awhile goes a long way. Do not become the guy that only calls the old boys network when you need money. You chop yourself off at the legs and will find your program broke.