Fundraising ideas please.

[Bettywiththefringe]

We are trying to raise money for a defibrillator at our local church ( very much used by community). I have sort of taken the lead but would appreciate any fund raising ideas. Everyone feeling the pinch and events like fetes, teas and jumble sales never really take off. I am collecting little jars so people can put loose change in - I am going to walk round local shops businesses to see if I can get any raffle type prizes. Done a sweepstake for the football and a lot of the crafty ladies are making things.
It tends to be the same few people giving and donating.
I really want this to do well - it means a lot to me (If there had been a defibrillator at my husband’s work - I might not be a widow ).

How much do you need to raise?
Have you looked into whether there are any grants available for medical equipment etc?

Have you tried the co-op community fund? Feel free to message if you want- I wrote a successful bid which raised 7k. Could have been more if I'd been better at promotion. It takes a year but it's a huge chunk of money

Also factor in that the pads and batteries need to be changed periodically (I think).

I work in a school and we do lots of different events but nothing raises as much money as bake sales.

Yes I agree re bake sales. Invest in a card machine too. People will buy more.

Have a look at www.easy fundraising.org.uk. It's small amounts but it adds up and doesn't cost anything in time, money or effort.

They also have a lot of local fundraising ideas on the website.

Sorry www.easyfundraising.org.uk

A charity that I give to have £1 Mondays which also raise quite a bit.
They send out a reminder and lots of people transfer £1. It soon adds up.

You've said your Church is 'very much used by the Community', so talk to all the groups that use it. Say you are hoping to raise £X to buy a defib, and can they support a big fundraiser on {set date}. Get one group to do a simple lunch - hot dogs / jacket potatoes. Get all groups to provide cakes. Set time slots when each group makes the tea coffee. Have it as an all day drop in. One group runs a tombola. One group runs a bric a brac . One group sells books and / or jigsaws. One runs a raffle. Encourage everyone to invite people. Get something on local social media to advertise the day and say how it is for a defib for the whole community. If you have children's groups, ask them if they can sing a song or do a display or something, then that will encourage their families to all come up for that hour, and donate / buy cakes / a cuppa / lunch for the family.
All sorted in one day without any one individual having to do all the work.

I don't know if either of these associations provide them at a reduced rate if they are placed on the outside of the church and could be used by the general public- not just those inside the church?

https://www.heartsafe.org.uk/product-category/defibrillator-packages/

https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators/national-defibrillator-network-the-circuit

What about organising a series of concerts at the church, especially if you can get local choirs or groups of musicians to give their talent free for a good cause?
As well as making the gate money on the night, it's a chance to publicise and promote your fund raising project to a new audience. You could probably get reviews in the local press, and also do a raffle with the audience, maybe sell refreshments too.
It would also be of general benefit to the wider community.

In any successful fundraising operation the 90:10 pyramid rule applies. 90% of the money will come from 10% of the sources and vice versa.

So say you want to raise £5,000. You will get £4,500 from 4-5 individuals or organisations who can each give £1,000+ to get 90% of the money, and the remaining £500 would come from circa 40-50 individuals who give their £10s in the fayres and raffles and community events.

(Obviously not quite that simple. There will be half-way points too but I am simplifying to fit a text-book into a mn post)

Anyway, These latter events generate the big noise and unsuccessful fundraising efforts focus too much effort on getting in those £10 people but that's not where the money is. The point of the fayre or whatever isn't to get in those £10 gifts and if you only get £300 rather than £500 it's no big deal. You focus on identifying the big cheeses who can give the £1000 gifts and then think about how to use the community events to facilitate that. Some will want the kudos of being the local dignitary that opens the fayre/presents the prize etc. Some will be community funds, larger charitable bodies who have their own objectives that you need to demonstrate how your cause meets, and you can channel the efforts of your low-level donors to link your community efforts into those wider goals.

Thanks everyone - some good ideas that I will look into .

Any event that you can charge admission to like a concert / kids disco is always a winner if the overheads are kept low, local school choirs etc. Sell refreshments on top and a raffle.
Keep prices affordable and people will have fun and be happy to come again, you don't want people to feel ripped off.

Im a PTA Chair & by far our most successful fundraiser is our Christmas Raffle - overheads are approximately £30 for printed raffle tickets & all the prizes are donated.
I spend several months contacting various local businesses, & national companies & then we sell to the school community & wider community. We make £500+ profit each year.

We did a charity 'help out'. We are a group of 30 and sent flyers with a list of services we offer, such as car cleaning, grass mowing, power washing etc for various prices. We made absolutely loads, and improved our relationship with the community in the meantime.

Cakes and tombola

OP, I am so sorry to hear about your DH. It is the most compelling reason for your campaign

1. e mail your local ward councillors and ask if there are any council community funds you can bid for
2. If you have a local co-op shop find out about becoming their charity, and what community funds might be available
3. Are there any sizeable local businesses? Ask if they would be prepared to sponsor the defibrillator. Make a case for the value, offer a plaque naming the sponsor, and a Reception for the installation for the local Press
4. Any chance of support from your DH’s workplace? Their charity for the year? A sponsored walk / bike ride /whatever by his colleagues? Sponsorship by the company?

I wish you swift success.