Calling all Garden for Wildlife fundraising champions! Spring has arrived, and what better way to celebrate new beginnings than by cultivating a love for native plants and raising crucial funds for your non-profit?
Ready to watch your fundraising efforts blossom? Let's get started!
Before you start inviting supporters to participate in your fundraiser, spend time thinking about your goals and how you want to communicate with your supporters. Use this checklist to help you frame your plan for meeting your fundraising needs.
Planning Your Fundraiser: Key Considerations
- Set a goal. Are you raising money? How much would you like to earn? Earning a garden? Why is that important for your group?
- Identify who can support your fundraiser. Who are your supporters? Do you have email or other contact information? What other stakeholders can you identify to ask for support, advice, or additional resources? Neighbors, garden clubs, local businesses, social clubs, etc.
- Communicate your goal to your supporters and make a plan to keep them updated on your progress.
- Identify several “sales” messages that you think will move your supporters to take action. Do they care about baby birds? Clean water? Saving time/money? Bees? Native plants help with all of these things - you can try different messages to see which ones work best for your community. Not sure? Do an informal poll with people you know to see what catches their attention.
- Identify how you will communicate with your supporters. Do you have access to email lists, social media accounts, newsletters? Think about how you will repeat the message in a fresh way each time.
- Create a schedule for communication. Be prepared to promote at least one time per week for many weeks in a row - keeping in mind seasonal gardening cycles and holidays.
- Take advantage of key holidays like Mother’s/Father’s Day and environmental awareness days/events like National Backyard Bird Count, World Bee Day etc. to promote your native plant fundraiser. Every day is a good day to save our pollinators!
- Identify community events where you can share information about your fundraiser. Do you belong to other organizations, clubs, or committees? Talk about your goals and how your colleagues can support your efforts.
- Use tangible results to generate interest. For example: for every $100 raised we can send 5 kids on a field trip; for every $100 raised we can save 25 orphaned baby squirrels, etc.
- Prepare your materials ahead of time and have them available for anyone to use. Send digital flyers to your supporters and have them share with their friends and family.
- Identify people who will help you spread the word - never underestimate the power of a small group of highly motivated people! Tap into special skills and connections. Have a great graphic designer on your team? Ask them to help create materials you can use to market your fundraiser. Have someone who is great with social media? Put them in charge of your online messaging.
- If you are trying to earn a garden through the Blossoms & Bucks program, really emphasize the cost savings of earning a huge garden instead of paying for it directly. Also, promote the benefits to those who get to experience it - social connection, improved cognitive development, and improved physical and mental health are key benefits. If you are working with a school or community center, use it as a way to involve kids or older adults in gardening.
📌 REMEMBER: The more supporters you engage, the more likely you are to be successful. Be shameless in your pursuit of contacts! Native plants are critically important to the survival of many native species and us humans!! More plants in the ground means we are more prepared to handle environmental challenges.
Next, let's dive into your 8-week plan.
Planting the Seeds: Actionable Tips for Each Week
Sowing the Seeds of Success
Eight weeks of focused effort can cultivate a thriving native plant fundraiser and significant support for your organization. Remember, every seed planted, every native bloom nurtured, contributes to a healthier planet and a more vibrant future for wildlife.
Use the tips and resources provided in this guide as your roadmap to success. Don't hesitate to reach out to the Garden for Wildlife team by emailing fundraiser@gardenforwildlife.com for additional support or questions. We're here to help every step of the way, ensuring your native plant fundraiser flourishes and leaves a lasting impact.
Get started now and watch your fundraising goals blossom alongside our beautiful native plants!