Kick Butt Business Idea #4

Get everything ready to set up your event

You will need to get several things ready for your event. You will need a Table (such as a folding card table) and chairs for people manning the event. From the front of the table you need a big sign that advertises the event. For example, if you are doing an Easter fund raiser the sign would read:

Personalized Letter from the Easter Bunny for
Your Child! 100% of Profits Go To
(Charity Name). Only $5.00

It is best if you have the sign professionally made -- like the vinyl signs you see hanging from the outside of restaurants and retail stores. You may be able to get the sign donated by a sign shop. If not - and you don't want to spend the money to get the sign made - you can make one yourself with white poster board and a black marker. Make sure the sign is legible from several yards away.

You'll also need to have several hundred order forms available and plenty of pens. Once again, you may be able to get this donated. (check with an office supply store for photocopying and pens)

Have a copy of a sample letter filled out to show your prospects. Indicate on the sample in bold print where the personalization will be. For example the sample would have the name of the child, their street, age, etc. all in bold print. You could even have the letter enlarged to poster size and position it so it stands up on the table for easy viewing.

Another thing you can do that will really get people's attention is to give away something to the children who pass by. A bookmark, stickers or some other small, inexpensive giveaway would be great. It would also add to the atmosphere if the people working the booth dressed up as holiday characters. At the very least you can holiday specific hats from a costume shop or party supply store.

Notify the local media about your event.

The media will almost always publicize worthy charity events. In order to notify the media you can use a Press Release.

A Press Release is a page or small packet of information that is mailed or faxed to the media to encourage them to give some attention to a particular event.

You will find a sample press release at the end of this section that you can modify for your event.

The press release should be on the non-profit organizations letterhead if possible. If they do not have a letterhead, type a basic one using MS Word or any good word processing software. The letterhead should include the name of the organization, address, and phone number. This information should be at the very top of the page.

On the next line include the date of the Press Release. Date your press release the day you expect it to be received. This is done so that an editor or reporter does not confuse your press release with an older press release or older material.

The press release should also include your name, phone number and address at the top of the page where it can be seen easily by an editor or reporter.

Address the release to the editor in charge. Make a phone call to the newspaper or station and ask who the appropriate person would be and address your press release accordingly.

Send the press release to local newspapers, regional magazines, radio stations, television stations, and weekly newspapers. Send it out at least 10 days before the event and then again three days before the event.

On the next page is a sample press release that you can modify for your event: