How Small Scale Fundraising Helps Large Scale Causes

By Dominic Donaldson

The world's wealth is not distributed evenly; whilst bonus-banking bosses are sitting aboard luxury yachts in the med, hungry children are walking five miles to get a cup of rice for the family to share. While the public masses invest in the latest Xbox offering, there are families around the world that attempt to keep warm around a single fire in a derelict apartment block. Although these situations are wildly different, rather than focus on those differences, we need to find a way to narrow the margin, and bring these groups closer through fundraising.

Charitable and philanthropic organisations are bursting at the seams with people who care, want to make a difference and are willing to go to the ends of the earth to do so. But the rock solid truth is that the world does not spin on love alone, and it is hard money that is needed to change the lives of those less privileged. The task of fundraising for an organisation is not an easy one, especially when it comes to major gift campaigns.

Building up a rapport and relationship between a fundraising body and a corporate sponsor takes time and dedication, not just devotion to a cause. As much as big companies are willing to sponsor and spread a bit of their wealth, they are at the end of the day, from a hard hitting business world. To seal the deal the professional fundraiser needs to present a proposal as if it were a business deal, and not approach the company in what could be classed as a stereotypical manner.

On a smaller scale, fundraising can be a much more relaxed affair, and although large charities need big bucks, every penny counts. For small organisations or individuals contributing towards a large charity, even raising twenty five pounds through a cake sale can make a difference. A wonderful example of individuals making a difference is in the annual televised charity event Children in Need. Each year, the charity breaks its previous fundraising record by the efforts made by everyday people.
A gunk the teacher that raises five pounds adds to a sponsored run that raised five grand to produce totals in one evening that have the potential to exceed fifteen million pounds. And all this in one evening. What many people forget about events like this, such as Comic Relief and Live Aid is that the fundraising does not stop at the end of the night. These charities are raising money for good causes all year round. Although the hype and the buzz of the publicity generates an increase in generosity within the public at large, events to raise yet more money can take place at any time of the year.

This is where those that are better off than most can decide to make a difference. The publicity surrounding large scale events, and the altruism that it inspires within people is an ideal platform for large-scale donations from those that have a lot of money. In a burst of generosity, people will be compelled to make a sizeable donation compared to their income. For some, that will be twenty pounds out of their minimum wage wage-packet, for others it could be a million pounds out of their billion pound bank account.

Regardless of the amount being donated, it should be emphasised that it is the desire to help and acting upon it that counts. The key to successful fundraising is to use whatever skills are necessary to get companies and individuals to act upon their empathy. By realising that sacrificing just a small amount can make a huge difference, the gap can be lessened between rich and poor, and not just in monetary terms.