Fundraising guide NATIONAL PARTNERS WWW.OXFAM.ORG.AU/TRAILWALKER
Welcome CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR DECISION TO TAKE PART IN OXFAM TRAILWALKER. THIS IS GOING TO BE A LIFE-CHANGING ADVENTURE FOR YOU, AND FOR ALL THE COMMUNITIES OXFAM WORKS WITH. BY MAKING THE COMMITMENT TO FUNDRAISE FOR OXFAM AUSTRALIA, YOU ARE SUPPORTING OUR IMPORTANT WORK TACKLING POVERTY AND INJUSTICE AROUND THE WORLD. To get you started with your fundraising efforts, we have created this comprehensive Fundraising Guide, which includes tips and advice on how to create a fun and successful fundraising plan. Take your first step by reading through this guide and developing a fundraising plan that will work for you and your team. The key to success is to get started early, so don t delay! In addition to this guide, we have staff available to support you every step of your fundraising journey. They can provide you with further tools, resources and ideas to drive your fundraising campaign, and ensure you reach your goal. Call or email your state office to reach us at any point along your Oxfam Trailwalker journey. Thank you for joining Oxfam Trailwalker and making the commitment to fundraise for Oxfam Australia. The Oxfam Trailwalker Team CONTENTS OXFAM IN ACTION 3 THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE 4 FUNDRAISING CHECKLIST 5 EFFECTIVE ONLINE FUNDRAISING 6 SPREAD THE WORD 7 FUNDRAISING REWARDS 8 VIPS AND CELEBRATION NIGHT 9 EASY FUNDRAISING IDEAS 10 MAKING A BIGGER IMPACT 11 CONTACT TRAILWALKER: trailwalkermelbourne@oxfam.org.au trailwalkerbrisbane@oxfam.org.au trailwalkersydney@oxfam.org.au trailwalkerperth@oxfam.org.au 2 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this document may contain images or names of people who have since passed away. This handbook is printed with vegetable-based inks, on an unbleached, coated paper made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste. Cover Photo: Eleanor Farmer / Oxfam. All photos supplied, except where credited otherwise.
OXFAM IN ACTIOn BY TAKING PART IN OXFAM TRAILWALKER, YOU RE MAKING A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE TO THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING IN POVERTY AROUND THE WORLD. With the funds you raise, we are able to continue our vital, long-term development work, promoting education, ensuring access to clean water, teaching skills to grow food and fighting for the basic rights of the people we help. With the right support, the world s poorest people can take control and help themselves through sustainable living. That s where you come in! Running taps, working toilets, clean, safe drinking water, and soap they re things that many of us can take for granted. But the reality is that almost 900 million people around the world do not have access to clean, safe drinking water. Sadly, more than 6,000 people die each day from diseases caused by dirty water two-thirds are children. In fact, dirty water has claimed more lives over the past century than any other cause. Oxfam works to provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education in some of the world s poorest countries. These are (some of) the things we do best our solutions are saving lives and it is your fundraising that makes this possible. Know that you are making a difference. You are saving lives. YOUR SUPPORT IN ACTION: Kids can really surprise you. Like when they do something you thought was impossible. When visiting our projects in South Africa recently, we found a little girl named Yolanda (pictured below) who saved her entire family from disease using just four sticks and a plastic container. Together these simple items make a tippy tap, a life-saving hand-washing device that Yolanda is using to stop deadly diseases from killing her and her family. In Mpofini Village, not far from Yolanda s home, 12 families share one polluted spring. They have almost constant diarrhoea. Hand-washing with soap has been proven to reduce disease in a community by up to 50%. The tippy tap is a key tool in our fight against waterborne diseases and the devastating effect it has on people living in poverty. Globally, diarrhoea and other diseases caused by dirty water take the life of a child every twenty seconds. Even worse, children aged five and under are most vulnerable. Thanks to the support of people like you, Yolanda, at six-yearsold, has outlived this deadly statistic. Yolanda s grandfather, Reginald (pictured above), told us about his grandaughter s new-found enthusiasm for hand-washing: We see her doing things and we follow because we realise that she is a very clever child, and she knows how to do beautiful things. What I have noticed that is important is that she washes THAT IS WHERE OXFAM, AND YOU, MAKE A DIFFERENCE. $2,800 could provide 100 families with a tippy tap and soap, ensuring that they can wash their hands and reduce the spread of deadly disease. Photos this page: Max Bastard/OxfamAUS $4,800 could provide three schools with a 10,000 litre water tank so children in South Africa have access to clean water. $9,508 will fund our entire water, sanitation and health programme in South Africa for a month. With your support and fundraising you can make a real, significant impact to the everyday lives of people in some of the world s most vulnerable communities. 3
THE MORE YOU RAISE, THE BIGGER THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE $15 $50 $100 $200 $1,000 can purchase three collapsible 10-litre water bladders, enabling families to transport and store clean drinking water in the aftermath of an emergency. can teach people in vulnerable areas how to swim, so they are able to get to safety in the event of flash flooding. can pay for enough locally produced, high-yielding maize seeds to provide four farmers in Timor-Leste with corn and a source of income well into the future. can provide two women and four children with shelter, food and water for one week in an Oxfam-supported safe house in Papua New Guinea, keeping them safe and free from violence. can establish 10 self-help groups in Zimbabwe to help 200 women improve their household income and create better livelihoods. Photos left to right: Neil Crossley/OxfamAUS, Lara McKinley/OxfamAUS, Howard Davies/Oxfam GB, Cinzia Pedrotti /OxfamAUS, Abbie Trayler-Smith/OxfamAUS. 4
FUNDRAISING CHECKLIST Photo: Rodney Dekker/OxfamAUS KICKSTART YOUR FUNDRAISING USING THE CHECKLIST BELOW. ONCE YOU GET THE BALL ROLLING, YOU LL BE SURPRISED AT HOW QUICKLY YOU WILL REACH, AND EVEN SURPASS, YOUR GOAL! SET YOUR GOALS HIGH $1,400 is only the minimum. On average, teams raise more than $3,500. Set yourself an ambitious target and you ll be surprised how quickly you exceed it! CUSTOMISE YOUR TEAMSPACE Our most successful teams follow these three simple Teamspace tips: 1. Upload a team photo and individual walker photos 2. Write a personal bio about why you are taking on the challenge 3. Share your Teamspace page on social media throughout your journey DONATE TO YOUR TEAM Kickstart your fundraising by ensuring each team member makes a personal donation to your team. Set the bar high for future donations as most people will match or exceed your first donation. Make a plan Organise a team meeting to put together a fundraising plan and get creative! Brainstorm ideas to help you smash your fundraising goals. Remember, you can get in contact with your local Fundraising Coordinator for tips, tricks and resources to support your efforts. SPREAD THE WORD Send an email to friends and colleagues with a link to your Teamspace fundraising page Share your Teamspace link via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn Update your email signature with a customised Oxfam Trailwalker signature Contact your local newspaper and ask them to share your story Remind, Repeat, Reward Even people with the best intentions can be forgetful. Remind your friends to donate! Update your Teamspace with stories from your training and fundraising progress Say a big thank you to your donors! SELL OXFAM FUNDRAISING CHOCOLATE Selling Oxfam chocolate is a simple and effective way to fundraise because it tastes delicious and everyone loves chocolate. Order yours today http://bit.ly/trailwalkerfundraising ASK FOR HELP The Oxfam Trailwalker team is here to help. Contact your local Fundraising Coordinator via phone or email for tips and advice. 5
EFFECTIVE ONLINE FUNDRAISING YOUR TEAMSPACE IS THE HUB OF YOUR OXFAM TRAILWALKER EXPERIENCE. USE IT TO REACH OUT TO YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKS, PROMOTE YOUR TEAM FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES, SHARE YOUR OXFAM TRAILWALKER JOURNEY AND CHECK OUT YOUR FELLOW TEAMS. 10 STEPS TO MAXIMISE YOUR ONLINE DONATIONS: 1. LOGIN Go to trailwalker.oxfam.org.au and click on login. Use your email address and the password you were emailed after registering your details. 2. UPLOAD A PHOTO Take and upload team and walker photos. It s been proven that walkers with a photo receive more donations, so get snapping! 3. WRITE A TEAM BIO Tell your story of why you are taking on the challenge of Oxfam Trailwalker. Your personal commitment will encourage support. 4. DONATE Make a personal donation to your team to kickstart your fundraising. 5. BLOG Keep a blog to update your supporters on your training and fundraising progress. Remember to share your link each time you update the page. 6. LINK TO STRAVA Download strava and link your training and KM walked to your fundraising page. Your supporters will be impressed with all your training! 7. SEND NEWSLETTERS Send your contacts an email blast from your fundraising page with news from the team and reminders to donate. 8. SHARE Share your Teamspace link via email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Add the link to your email signature and ask colleagues to do the same. 9. UPDATE YOUR TARGET Set your target high to inspire support and maximise your fundraising. On average, teams raise more than $3,500. 10. SAY THANK YOU Use your fundraising page to write blogs and newsletters to thank your donors. 6
SPREAD THE WORD USING YOUR NETWORKS AND SOCIAL MEDIA IS THE BEST WAY TO SHARE YOUR NEWS AND GROW YOUR FUNDRAISING. FOLLOW THESE TIPS TO QUICKLY REACH YOUR FUNDRAISING GOALS. WHO SHOULD I ASK? Compile a list of everyone you know and start asking for support. The more people you ask, the more donations you are likely to receive. Remember you are doing something extraordinary so give as many people as possible the opportunity to support your journey. On average, an Oxfam Trailwalker fundraiser tells 105 people about their fundraising; can you beat that? HOW DO I ASK? Email: We have several email templates for you to use or adapt that can be found online. The most important thing is to let your personality shine through. Face-to-face: Asking for support in person allows you to talk passionately about your dedication to your Oxfam Trailwalker experience. Expand your circle: You can increase your support by asking your donors to forward your email, Facebook post or tweet, or even include a link to your Teamspace in their email signature. You ll be pleased at how many people join your team in the fight against poverty. DON T STOP THERE! You ve taken on an incredible challenge; now it s time to use your social network and tell everyone how amazing you are! Facebook: Announce that you are officially participating in Oxfam Trailwalker on Facebook and include a link to your Teamspace. You can also use facebook to direct message your friends to ask for donations, and consider creating an event to invite them to. Facebook Events are a great way to build anticipation for your epic challenge by sharing updates about your fundraising and training achievements. Twitter: Tweet about your Oxfam Trailwalker commitment and add the link to your Teamspace. Don t forget to follow @OAusTrailwalker and it never hurts to ask for retweets from your followers. Instagram: Follow @oaustrailwalker and post pictures from your training, preparation and fundraising events. Including relevant hashtags in your image comments is a great way to make your content discoverable by other users so be sure to put those in as well. We use #OxfamTrailwalker nationally. KEEP IT GOING Now that you have reached out to everyone you know, they have become part of your Oxfam Trailwalker journey. Use your Teamspace blogs to keep your supporters informed about how you re going with your training and fundraising in the lead up to the event. Your Teamspace blog is the perfect tool to quickly update everyone in one go, so remember to share your posts across social media to quickly spread the word. Also try to include an image or video of your training each time you post to make your content stand out. Most importantly, let your supporters know how much you appreciate them. Send a thank you email or text, or even make a social media post to personally thank every individual who donates. Don t forget to let them all know when you hit a fundraising milestone. Join us online here: twitter.com/oaustrailwalker facebook.com/oxfamtrailwalkeraustralia instagram.com/oaustrailwalker MEET AN OXFAM TRAILWALKER FUNDRAISER NAME: Annette Milne FIRST EVENT: Perth 2013 AMOUNT RAISED: $65,000 and counting! WHAT INSPIRES YOUR TEAM TO SUPPORT OXFAM? We love the work that Oxfam does and feel that as a collective we can all do our little bit; however small. FUNDRAISING TIPS: 1. Tell everyone about what you are doing, people think it s amazing. 2. Sell Oxfam chocolate; one year we sold $2,800 worth of chocolate! 3. People love to give if they get something in return so raffles or hosted fundraising dinners or even yoga classes where staff teach for free and clients donate to attend work really well. Photo: Richard Wainwright/OxfamAUS 7
FUNDRAISING REWARDS REACHING YOUR FUNDRAISING TARGET IS A FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT. YOUR TEAM CAN MAKE AN EVEN GREATER IMPACT TO THE LIVES OF THOSE LIVING IN POVERTY BY AIMING HIGH AND RAISING YOUR TARGET. V We have a few rewards up for grabs to thank you for going the extra mile with an ambitious fundraising target. Raise your target to the appropriate level to claim your reward, and then follow our fundraising tips to achieve your goal! It s easy to increase your fundraising target, and it s nonbinding. Log into Teamspace and click Update Target or contact your Fundraising Coordinator. This is the minimum fundraising commitment all teams must raise before hitting the start line. That s just $350 for each member of your team. Commit to raising $2,500 and each team member will receive a personalised team bib printed with your chosen team name. You ll stand out from the crowd and everyone will know your team s name on the trail! Commit to raising $5,000 and each team member will receive a personalised team bib printed with your chosen team name AND your first name. Your supporters on the trail will be able to cheer you on personally with your very own named souvenir bib. Commit to raising $10,000 and your team will receive a personalised team bib with your Team Name and First Name PLUS a commerative VIP $10,000 silver buff to recognise and reward your fundraising commitment to Oxfam Australia. $1,400 $2,500 $5,000 $10,000 can provide four women in Bangladesh with a cow and capital to start high-quality milk business, so they can earn an income to pay for food, healthcare and school for their families. can provide 80 families in Timor-Leste with gardening tools, such as a hoe, spade and watering can, to grow their own food and support themselves with nutrition and income. will rebuild or repair seven communal water stands in a Bangladesh slum to provide up to 600 families with access to clean water to prevent disease and stay healthy. can design, drill and construct a new borehole in Zimbabwe that will provide clean water to families and schoolchildren and help prevent lifethreatening disease. 8 Photos left to right: Rachel Corner/Oxfam, Rodney Dekker/OxfamAUS, Abir Abdullah/OxfamAUS, Abbie Trayler-Smith/OxfamAUS.
VIPs AND Celebration night V MAKE YOUR OXFAM TRAILWALKER EXPERIENCE EXTRA SPECIAL. JOIN OUR EXCLUSIVE GROUP OF VIP FUNDRAISERS IF YOUR TEAM RAISES MORE THAN $15,000. YOU LL GET EXTRA SPECIAL TREATMENT ALONG THE WAY. Once your team raises $15,000 you will receive... VIP $15,000 gold buff for each team member. Four Oxfam Trailwalker team shirts. Four Oxfam Trailwalker event keep cups. Your team s choice of start time. VIP entry into Celebration Night. Dedicated Events Fundraising Coordinator to support you on your fundraising journey. GET YOUR HANDS ON BIB NUMBER 001: How would your team like to get their hands on bib number 001? On the Monday before the event, the top ten fundraising teams participating in the 100km event will be rewarded with bib numbers 001-010 according to their place on the leaderboard - so go on, strive to be a top ten team! PHOTO: Richard Wainwright/OxfamAUS PHOTO: Richard Wainwright/OxfamAUS CELEBRATION NIGHT To celebrate and reward your acheivement of taking part in Oxfam Trailwalker and reaching your fundraising goal, we will host a Celebration Night a few weeks after every event. We ll recognise teams who have gone above and beyond in their fundraising, with additional prizes for performance and nominated categories. Join us for the fun! 9
EASY FUNDRAISING IDEAS LUNCH CAKE SALE SWEEPSTAKES WINE TASTING AUCTION YOUR TEAM NAME MONEY BOX FUNDRAISING CHOCOLATE MOVIE NIGHT CLOTHES SWAP SAUSAGE SIZZLE TRIVIA NIGHT DINNER PARTY RAFFLE MEET AN OXFAM TRAILWALKER FUNDRAISER NAME: Matt Parker FIRST EVENT: Melbourne 2016 AMOUNT RAISED: $10,166 WHAT INSPIRES YOUR TEAM TO SUPPORT OXFAM? Born with Cerebral Palsy, Matt s mum was told he would never be able to walk. Matt says, Nearly 18 months ago Matthew Bowker asked me if I would like to do Oxfam Trailwalker with his team in 2016. Picking myself up off the ground having said Yes to this insurmountable request, my mental preparation began that night FUNDRAISING TIPS: The team was interviewed on radio [and] even secured some donations along the way ; team-mate Andre explains, 4kms into it, a cyclist who was riding past us stopped to ask what we were doing. We told him about the event, our team and our fundraising, and he said that sounds great, here s $20, put it in for me. It was at that point that early on that I knew the event was going to be something special. In true Oxfam Trailwalker spirit, and as a testament to the camaraderie on the trail and within the Oxfam Trailwalker community as a whole, fellow participants have been donating to the team to help them reach their fundraising goal and acknowledge their tremendous efforts. 10
MAKING A BIGGER IMPACT FUNDRAISING EVENTS ARE FANTASTIC, REWARDING ACTIVITIES AND THEY ARE A GREAT WAY TO REACH AND SURPASS YOUR FUNDRAISING GOAL PICK SOMETHING FUN TO DO Choose from one of our fundraising ideas or choose something you love to do and turn it into a fundraising event. Visit the resources page of our website or contact your local Fundraising Coordinator to discuss ideas. SAVE THE DATE AND VENUE Pick a date, choose a venue and think about what other resources you ll need for the event. USE OUR RESOURCES Visit the fundraising page of our website to download the following handy resources: An Introduction to Oxfam Presentation Oxfam Media Guide to help you raise awareness about your team s fundraising Email signature banners just add your personal Teamspace link Promotional videos Fundraising posters Challenge Poverty booklet outlining the difference that your support makes Proudly Supporting Oxfam logos. You can also request these fundraising tools through your Teamspace Hub or local Fundraising Coordinator: Money boxes Fundraising Banners Oxfam information leaflets Letter of Authority to Fundraise (to verify you are fundraising on behalf of Oxfam. External parties may request this document) Public Liability Insurance (contact your Fundraising Coordinator for information regarding how we can cover your fundraising activity). SELL CHOCOLATE Order our Oxfam Fundraising Chocolate to sell at your event. Visit our website to put in your order - http://bit.ly/trailwalkerfundraising SHOUT ABOUT IT Tell everyone you know about your event and promote it on social media, at work and in the local community. ASK FOR HELP Use your network to ask for help. Ask friends for donations of time, their talents and even raffle prizes. STAY SAFE & LEGAL Ask your local Fundraising Coordinator for advice when planning your event. We can provide Public Liability Insurance if required. YOU RE SAVING LIVES Remember you re helping Oxfam tackle poverty, so let your supporters know how their donations are making a difference. FUNDRAISING AT WORK Try these ideas for successful workplace fundraising: ORGANISE a workplace lunch/morning tea or dress down day and ask for donations to your team. GET YOUR BOSS INVOLVED If you re planning a fundraising event get your boss on board too so they can help rally your colleagues. UPDATE YOUR WORK EMAIL SIGNATURE Adding a link to your Teamspace page is a great way to let your contacts know about your challenge and support your team. You can download the Oxfam email signature from our website. PITCH IT TO YOUR CLIENTS Expand your network and ask your clients for support too. You could even wear the logo of your highest donor on your event T-shirt. ASK FOR MATCHed giving Many employers have a Matched Giving program, where they ll match dollar for dollar the amount raised by you or your team. 11
Photo: Jason Malouin/OxfamAUS MELBOURNE BRISBANE SYDNEY PERTH Oxfam Trailwalker Melbourne Oxfam Trailwalker Brisbane Oxfam Trailwalker Sydney Oxfam Trailwalker Perth 132 Leicester Street, Carlton VIC 3053 PO Box 1429 Fortitude Valley QLD 4006 Level 3, 25 Cooper Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010 5 King William Street, Bayswater WA 6053 Call: 1800 088 110 trailwalkermelbourne@ oxfam.org.au Call: (07) 3637 4647 trailwalkerbrisbane@ oxfam.org.au PO Box 1711, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012 Call: (02) 8204 3919 PO Box 138 Bayswater WA 6053 Call: (08) 9262 8210 trailwalkersydney@ oxfam.org.au trailwalkerperth@ oxfam.org.au JOIN US ON SOCIAL MEDIA twitter.com/oaustrailwalker facebook.com/oxfamtrailwalkeraustralia instagram.com/oaustrailwalker ABN: 18 055 208 636 WWW.OXFAM.ORG.AU/TRAILWALKER