FUNDRAISING IDEAS FOR ANIMAL LOVERS

Every season of the year presents lots of reasons to hold parties and other events. Why not turn your gathering of friends and loved ones into a lifesaving effort for animals? Or, let your customers know that you support a wonderful cause? 

Please complete our Online Fundraising Form if you are interested in hosting an event to benefit the homeless pets in our care. If you have questions about the form, please call Gray Miller, manager of community development, at 804-521-1320 or send her an e-mail at gmiller@richmondspca.org.

Check out these ideas:

• Register to participate in a walk, marathon or other event to raise money on behalf of the animals in our care. You may easily manage your campaign through everydayhero and select the Richmond SPCA as your chosen charity!
• Celebrate your wedding, birthday or other special milestone by suggesting charitable donations as a gift option. You may easily manage your campaign through everydayhero and select the Richmond SPCA as your chosen charity!
• Business owners - hold a special shopping day or event where a portion of sales benefits the Richmond SPCA.
• Business owners - create an ongoing affinity or "shop to give" promotion. Learn about similar promotions.
• Hold a yard sale or car wash to benefit the pets in our care.
• Have a Jeans/Dress Down day at the office and request that employees make a donation to participate.
• Host a neighborhood or block party and accept donations.
• Work with local bands to organize a concert and donate the cover charge.
• Organize a bake or crafts sale, lemonade stand or other sale and contribute the proceeds.
• Host a golf or other sports tournament.
• Sell items on eBay and designate the Richmond SPCA to receive all or a portion of the proceeds. Learn more.

Why partner with the Richmond SPCA?

• Because orphaned animals need your support.
• Because we are the largest and oldest no-kill humane organization in Central Virginia and offer a progressive approach to animal welfare.
• Because we find homes for more than 3,500 orphaned dogs and cats a year.
• Because we receive no government funding and rely exclusively on private donations to fund our lifesaving programs.
• Because we have a wonderfully dedicated base of supporters and a fundraising program with a great reputation.

We can provide:

• Flyers about Richmond SPCA programs and services
• Digital Richmond SPCA logo for event flyers and other promotions (please email Abbey Howarth at ahowarth@richmondspca.org to request) 
• Help with promoting your event
  • Ongoing shopping promotions from retailers donating a percentage of sales will be posted to our Shop to Give page.
  • Benefit events open to the public will be listed on our community calendar under community events – benefits.
  • Events submitted and approved before the first of the month may be included in our enewsletter, which is sent once per month.
  • While we are grateful for offers from representatives of direct sales lines such as Mary Kay, Scentsy, 31 Gifts, Silpada and others to donate a portion of proceeds from social sales or home parties, the Richmond SPCA receive numerous requests and can only approve one fundraiser per direct sales line at a time. Promotion for these fundraisers is included on the Shop to Give page of our website. 

Some things to keep in mind:

• We request that corporate sponsorship solicitations to cover the cost of putting on your fundraiser not be made in our name or on our behalf. 
• We will need to review all materials that include the Richmond SPCA name or logo. Once your fundraiser is approved, you will be asked to email these items to Abbey Howarth at ahowarth@richmondspca.org for approval prior to distribution.
• When mentioning our name in print or on air, please only use – Richmond SPCA. (SPCA of Richmond and RSPCA should not be used, even on second reference)
• Cash donations are always welcome, and we also need these items.
• Checks should be made out to the Richmond SPCA.  
• Our tax ID number is 54-0506328
• Donations may be mailed or brought to the Richmond SPCA's Robins-Starr Humane Center at 2519 Hermitage Road, Richmond, VA 23220. If you let us know you're coming we'd love to say hello. Just email info@richmondspca.org. We do not recommend that you mail cash donations. 
• All donations to the Richmond SPCA support the lifesaving programs and services offered at our Robins-Starr Humane Center at 2519 Hermitage Road in Richmond.

Tips for a successful event (courtesy of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia):

• Choose a Good Planning Committee. Enlist enthusiastic people whose dedication and skills will make your event a success. Involve enough volunteers to share the workload.
• Brainstorm! Get everybody thinking, dreaming, and discussing ideas. Now is the time to let imaginations soar. The more they participate now, the more committed they’ll be later.
• Choose the Right Event. Decide on just the right event/promotion/fund-raiser that best utilizes the unique pool of talent, skill and interests of your particular group.  
• Identify Your Target Audience. Who do you want to participate in the event? Does it include public participation or is it geared to members of a specific organization?
• Schedule Your Event. Pick a date and time for your event carefully to encourage maximum participation. Unless your event is holiday-related, steer away from major holidays to ensure best response. Most of all, give yourself plenty of time to organize, publicize and guarantee greater success with less headaches. 
• Plan Your Budget. By identifying and planning for expenses and income sources in advance, you will maximize donations by keeping event costs down.  
• Promote and Publicize Your Event. Publicize early!  Get the word out every way you can. TV, radio, newspaper and magazines often provide free public service time and ad space. But don’t forget flyers, posters, community bulletin boards, e-mails, and good old word-of-mouth.   
• Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Recognize and acknowledge everyone who participates! Let them know how much they raised and heap on the praise. This can lead to the event becoming an annual undertaking, which generates donations for years to come.
• Have fun and take lots pictures, share them on social media and send them to us!

Thank you for your support!