Fundraising guide
Without fundraisers, the valuable work of our overseas volunteers wouldn’t be possible.
That’s why our volunteer fundraisers are an integral part of CUSO-VSO’s efforts to share skills and change lives. To help you in your efforts to raise money for us, here is a basic guide for organizing fundraising campaigns and events. You can also check out our fundraising ideas to help get you started.
Step 1 – Get to know CUSO-VSO
Browse this website for more information on our organization, our development approach, and our goal areas. This will help you speak with knowledge and confidence about our work.
To be able to explain what CUSO-VSO is to a potential donor – what their money will support, and why they should give – you need a good understanding of the organization.
In a nutshell, what is CUSO-VSO all about?
CUSO-VSO is an international development organization that works through volunteers.
We promote volunteering to fight global poverty and disadvantage, and bring people together to share skills, creativity and learning to build a fairer world.
Instead of sending money, food or clothes, we send people from a range of professions.
Our volunteers come from many professional backgrounds, and many ages. We recruit volunteers from Canada and the United States.
CUSO-VSO is one of the largest independent volunteer-sending agencies in North America. We are the North American member of the VSO Federation, the world’s largest volunteer-sending development agency.
CUSO-VSO volunteers work in over 40 countries throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Pacific and Eastern Europe.
We do long-term development rather than short-term emergency relief.
We respond to needs identified by our partnerships with local government agencies, non-governmental organizations and local community groups.
Step 2 – Build a network
Fundraising is all about asking people for support. Your contacts in your family, workplace, social circles and local community are key to making your fundraising easier and more successful. You’ll be amazed at how many contacts you have, who you could involve and all the possible ways they can help. You can also approach local businesses, community groups, unions, service clubs and church groups.
Use our life-changing stories to showcase CUSO-VSO’s work at the grassroots of change. Reminding your potential supporters about the difference their contribution will make could encourage them to give more.
And don’t forget to ask for money! After you have talked about CUSO-VSO and the work of our volunteers, ask people if they would like to contribute. It sounds simple, but it’s an often forgotten step in fundraising.
Step 3 – Communicate with the media
A story in your local media is often the best way to raise awareness and generate interest in your event or campaign.
Approaching the media may seem intimidating, but journalists are always on the lookout for good stories. Just pick up the phone and start a conversation:
Identify journalists who might be interested in your story. Find out the names of reporters who cover similar types of stories to yours and contact them directly.
Does your local daily newspaper have a human interest or travel section? Is there a reporter in your community with an interest in international development? What do you want to say?
Journalists from regional and local papers want to know what’s happening in their area. Let them know about your fundraising activities and when they are happening. Tell them why you are raising money, how much you hope to raise and that you need public support. Usually the journalist will ask for this information in a press release. Take a camera to fundraising events, as photos are a great way to get your message across in the media.
If the media approaches you for an interview don’t be afraid to ask what the main questions will be. If it’s a radio or television interview, find out whether it is live or recorded. Then, choose three or four key messages you want to convey and try to focus the conversation on your fundraising activities.
Avoid speculation and political comments and keep your answers short (particularly for broadcast interviews), avoiding unnecessary jargon.
Step 4 – Use the power of the internet
The internet offers tremendous opportunity to get a message and an appeal out to a lot of people – at the click of a button. Use your email contacts and social networks to build support for your cause (which is hopefully us!).
CUSO-VSO has an online donation system that people can use to offer their support.
Donating via the internet offers many advantages to both support and CUSO-VSO:
Online donations are safe and secure.
Everyone is more likely to donate if they can do it quickly and easily.
It is less expensive for CUSO-VSO and for the donor.
It takes CUSO-VSO less time to process donations.
