Bake sales and car washes are a couple of classic American fundraising tactics. But philanthropist First Executive Director of Friends of China Camp Martin Lowenstein explains that charities can benefit from implementing new fundraising tactics. An exciting, different, and modern fundraising tactic can help charities earn far more money than they would from events that grow tiresome or outdated.
Lowenstein recently discussed five unique fundraising tactics to shake up charity events in the remainder of 2022 and 2023.
Hold an Online Auction
The internet is an invaluable resource for charities. Online fundraisers allow charities to reach larger audiences in varying time zones and locations. Online auction platforms like Capterra and G2 make holding successful online auctions a breeze.
Martin Lowenstein explained that one of the most important aspects of holding an online charity event is to advertise it long ahead of time and inform the audience exactly why you’re raising funds. They’ll feel more connected to the cause and are more likely to bid on auction items.
Charities don’t just need to auction off items they already have. They can ask local businesses for merchandise or gift cards to add to the cause.
Hold a Community Yard Sale
The pandemic caused many Americans to shop online and pile items in their garages and sheds. Many even remodeled to create more comfortable home living spaces. This means a lot of people have a lot of unused items they may be willing to donate.
Lowenstein suggested holding a community yard sale where anyone can bring their unused items to sell for a good cause. A community yard sale is also an environmentally-friendly way for people to get rid of old things and pick up new items.
Hold a Charity Cook-Off
Who doesn’t love to eat? A charity cook-off is a proven-effective way to raise money for an important cause. Hold a cook-off with a theme, such as a chili cook-off in winter or a “battle of the sides” during the Thanksgiving season, or have every chef bring their specialty and let the guests decide what’s best.
No matter what food the cook-off features, a cook-off requires little investment and can result in big profits due to ticket and drink sales.
Martin Lowenstein and the Friends of China Camp
Martin Lowenstein is a lifelong philanthropist working on his biggest project yet. As the First Executive Director, he leads the Friends of China Camp nonprofit organization toward success. The organization aims to keep California’s China Camp State Park open and operating while offering a variety of educational and cultural activities and helping park programs thrive.
Lowenstein created numerous fundraising events to benefit the park and its visitors and has become an expert in raising funds while keeping the community engaged. He encourages anyone passionate about their local charities to step up and get involved.