Thank you so much for your willingness and efforts to help raise money for the American Red Cross San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter.  The information below should provide you with general guidelines about holding a third party fundraiser and donating proceeds of your event to benefit the American Red Cross San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter.

Decide on your fundraiser:

• Set a monetary goal.  By setting a goal, you’ll have a better idea as to what type of fundraiser you can do.
  o    How much money you want to raise?
• Looking for a unique way to support the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter? Click here for fundraising activity ideas!

Get approval:

• Download the appropriate guidelines and forms to send in to the San Diego/Imperial Counties Red
  Cross:
  o    Third Party Agreement Form 

• What is a Third-Party Event?

Many organizations and groups are touched by the work of the Red Cross.  These organizations sponsor and host events that in whole or in part raise money for our organization. These events can range from company outings and school fundraisers to pre-planned gala events.

Third-party events are events sponsored or hosted by individuals, organizations or groups not affiliated with the San Diego/Imperial Counties American Red Cross.  As such, the San Diego/Imperial Counties American Red Cross should not be listed as partners, sponsors, or supporters of the third-party events or their organizers. 

Plan your fundraiser:

• Set a timeline for yourself so you hit all major deadlines.
• Decide on the WHO, WHAT, WHEN and WHERE:

WHO:

• Who will help with the fundraiser?  How many volunteers are needed?  Assign responsibilities to each person and give them deadlines to get the job done.
• Think about how you can involve other groups or members of the community.
• Make sure you have enough volunteers.  Plan a volunteer schedule and make sure all volunteers know what is expected.

WHERE and WHEN:

• Where will you hold the fundraiser?  How will you get approval to use this space?
• When is it?  Can you piggyback with another event?

WHAT:

• What tasks and activities do you need to plan? 
• How do you get the supplies? 
• How will you publicize? 
• How much will you charge, etc.? 
• Discuss WHAT IF situations; think ahead of what else could happen to better prepare and handle surprise during your event.

Make a list of materials and supplies:

• Don’t leave anything off the list, even if it seems unimportant.
• Obtain donations to help with your costs and expenses.  For example, if you need to make flyers you can ask a local print shop if they will donate printing in exchange for adding their logo to the bottom of your flyer.  Check with restaurants, grocery stores and other local businesses, depending on what products you need to complete your fundraiser.

Advertise/Publicize your event:

• Check with the San Diego/Imperial Counties Red Cross to see if there are materials that can be provided for your fundraiser (such as donation cans, banners, Red Cross brochures, etc.)

Do a practice run of your event:

• A day or two prior to your event have a meeting to make sure you have everything you need.  Do a dry run or ‘walk-through’ so that everyone understands their roles.

Hold your event:

• Make sure everyone understands their tasks and responsibilities.  Make sure there’s a contact person in case of questions.
• Even the best plans can have glitches.  If you discussed some of your ‘What If’ scenarios before hand you will be able to handle surprises.

After the event:

• Document - keep notes so that the event can be easily repeated in years to come.  Keep materials that helped you plan the event (such as letters to restaurants that donated food, notes and suggestions on how the fundraiser could be improved for the future, etc.)
• Assess how the fundraiser went.  Did you reach your goal?  Could you have had more attendance, could you have reached more people?

Send your thank you notes::

• Thank the people who helped and donated to your fundraiser.  Include information on how well the fundraiser went.

Things to remember:

• Exhibit professionalism in advertising, execution of your fundraiser and in all contact that your group has with other community members.  Remember that you represent the San Diego/Imperial Counties Red
  Cross.
• Have fun with your event and take pride that you are helping others!
   

If you have questions about hosting your own fundraiser, please contact Donor Relations by calling (858) 309-1270 or email laura.rice@sdarc.org.

Plan a strategy for advertising your event.  Get the word out in any way you can.
IMPORTANT: Contact the San Diego/Imperial Counties Red Cross Chapter to discuss your idea and seek the official approval of a Red Cross representative before launching your event. Define what type of fundraiser you want to do.