Fundraise

Fundraising for your Landcare group

Getting support from your local community, whether in cash or kind, is an important resource for your local Landcare group. Your members are part of that community and may have connections to business, service groups and sporting organisations that can assist with group support. However some basic rules apply when seeking local support:

  • Seek money to meet your needs – don’t change plans radically to suit the requirements of a funding source – and always identify what the funding will be used for
  • Spend the money as agreed. If the situation changes, talk to the donors. Keeping a good relationship and keeping them informed will assist the chance of a favorable outcome
  • Keep accurate records of your spending and provide that information when it is requested

Basic Ingredients of the Fundraising Process

  • Common sense
  • Willingness to approach people or organizations
  • A clear view of what you want

Basic fundraising steps

Step 1: Background

  • Group brainstorm session, identifying potential funding sources
  • Identify potential benefits that would appeal to funding sources
  • Build relationships with prospective donors and find out what they are looking for in return for project investment
  • Ensure your communication tools such as fliers and membership information are professional in appearance and up to date
  • Document your projects through clear, consistent records. Not only will it be useful to future fundraising proposals, but demonstrates success, and why your group might prove a good investment

Step 2: Seeking donations of services and resources

  • Let people know what you need in the way of money, materials, equipment, etc
  • Keep the community informed and publish your ‘wishlist’ in local newspapers, newsletters, community notice boards, and website
  • Make sure your members are aware of the Group needs, so they can take advantage of any opportunities that arise

Step 3: Reporting back

  • Acknowledge supporters through letters of thanks or certificates
  • Keep your members up to date
  • Celebrate project completion or success
  • Keep the communication channels open

Step 4:  Alternative Fundraising Ideas

  • Advertising – promotion of local business and services in your group newsletter in exchange for other services you need, such as photocopying or postage costs.
  • Sell goods and services – including excess plants not required by a project, or items produced by members. Attendance fees for people attending group organized workshops, or other sessions based on member expertise.
  • Membership fees – generally collected to cover basic group administrative costs, often at the AGM.

(source: VFF Farm Tree & Landcare Association)

Fundraising as an individual for Landcare Australia or your local group

There are many platforms available to fundraise as an individual for Landcare Australia or your local group. You can fundraise by participating in an event and encouraging your friends and family to support your chosen charity by ‘sponsoring’ you.

Alternatively, Landcare Australia recommends that you use the fundraising platforms Everyday Hero or Go Fund Raise. If you use these platforms to fundraise for your local group, Landcare Australia will forward the donation to the nominated group. Landcare Australia will NOT take a percentage of this donation in administration fees.