The Caboolture & Morayfield Chaplaincy Fundraising Dinner had an incredible year – raising more than $90,000. Anyone observing from a distance may be tempted to think that this result is purely an accident – a bumper year after a few years of average outcomes.
But it’s a shift in approach, from the entire district, that’s brought about this phenomenal transformation in results.
Speaking with Alan Grieve, Treasurer for Caboolture Special School & Minimbah State School LCC, it’s clear that something’s changed and these improvements were a part of an intentional new direction.
“There was a breakfast fundraising event in the area that had previously raised very significant amounts. Local council took on the breakfast fundraiser in conjunction with local businesses and the Ministers Network, and over time it dwindled down to securing only $11K in fundraising. At that stage, we were supporting approximately 22 schools, including some beyond our area. When you divide $11K among 22 schools, it doesn’t leave each school with a great deal of funds for the year,” explains Alan.
So the LCC’s in the area decided they needed to reclaim the fundraising event to grow and develop its full potential.
“The local Ministers Network decided to take full responsibility for the event, following consultation between them and the Council. They also narrowed it down to the schools that were directly within our Caboolture & Morayfield area. The businesses within our community have come together and really demonstrated their support again. Council is certainly still supportive too.”
Through fostering strong business relationships over the course of 20 years, this previously underachieving fundraising event has been reinvigorated into a significant income stream once again.
“One of the big advantages we have here in the Caboolture community is the support we receive from the business community, which has been fostered for decades. Jenni Dobbin – in the early days as a local school chaplain – and Janet Stebbins – our District Coordinator before our current Field Development Manager, Julie Hose – and now Julie, have all fostered a good relationship with the Business & Professional Women’s group in Caboolture. Some of these women are now really strong supporters with great enthusiasm. We have quite a few businesses supporting us now. And that’s where a significant chunk of the income comes from,” he says.
Alan’s advice for those looking to organise a fundraising dinner with the help of business supporters includes appointing a team to solely manage the event.
“The biggest thing – in my opinion – is to have a dedicated event organisation team who are prepared to work hard, because it is hard work. There are so many components to putting a dinner like this together… there’s the catering, venue, promotional material, and all the printing. And all the elements need to be good quality, and of a high standard.”
Tips:
- Try to connect with your local business community as much as possible.
- Many small businesses are looking for ways to sow back into their local community.
- These relationships may be something that you need to intentionally foster for some time before you see benefits in return, because the relationship’s strength grows with its longevity.
- A fantastic way to engage the business community is to get them involved in key projects from the beginning – show them a vision for their community.
- Making contact with local ‘Chamber of Commerce’ meetings can be a great place to start.
- Assign event organisation tasks to a dedicated team who can manage all the necessary components, if you have the resources.
- A dedicated ‘fundraising event organisation’ team can prioritise crucial tasks, and commit the time necessary for this event to be of a high standard.
- You can outsource the event management if there are trustworthy individuals who are willing to help, in order to reduce the workload of your current committee members.
- Don’t be afraid of necessary change, but don’t make changes for change’s sake.
- As Alan’s team demonstrates, constructive change has positively benefited their fundraising output.
- However, this constructive change was made following much consideration and was based on positive past experience.