Fundraise for Headway
Are you planning on taking part in a sponsored activity or holding an event on our benefit? We'd love to hear from you. We will provide you with advice and support. We can also provide you with Headway t-shirts, collection boxes, leaflets, posters, pens and sponsor cards to get you started.
Choosing a Fundraiser
You probably organise events on a regular basis without even noticing - dinner or drinks with friends, birthday parties and family occasions. With your friends, family and colleagues help, you can turn your pastimes into successful fundraisers helping Headway and still catching up with your loved ones while having lots of fun.
Pick one of the following:
- Get friends to sponsor you carrying out a particular activity e.g. a run, slimming down, a walk or climbing a mountain if you are more adventurous!
- You can organise a fundraising event. The event can be something small such as a disco or concert.
- Perhaps there is a regular event that takes place in your community. You could ask the organiser if you can add a fundraising element to the day e.g. holding a raffle with proceeds coming to Headway.
How to organise an event
- Get a team together and form a committee. You can share the responsibility and delegate tasks. Everyone can help to sell tickets and promote the event.
- Decide on your fundraiser: Have a brainstorm. People will have different ideas and different angles on the same idea. Make sure to start small. Don't be too ambitious with your first fundraiser. Host your first fundraiser and then build on its success.
- Set targets: Set goals for the event and also a financial target. Your goal might be to raise awareness of Headway while also helping to raise funds
- Communicate: let as many people know as possible about your event through word of mouth, emails, local papers, community radio, parish newsletter, community notice boards and through bebo and facebook. You can also setup your own fundraising page on www.mycharity.ie You can then email all your address book contacts and raise money securely online.
- Time: give yourself plenty of time. Work back from the day of the event. Look at each of the tasks that has to be undertaken e.g. gaining sponsorship, selling tickets, advertising. Look at how many people are available to help and allow time for each aspect. Allow more time than you think you will need just in case everything doesn't run to plan.
- Set your budget: List all expenses and all sources of income. Local businesses are often glad to sponsor a prize or some printing.
- Have a schedule for the day: this should include all tasks to be undertaken, with time allowed for each and who is responsible for each task. Ensure everyone knows what task they are responsible for. Enjoy yourself!
- After the event: Remember to thank everyone that was involved.
Things to Consider
- Money: please ensure it is collected and stored safely
- Safety: You may need insurance cover. Children should be supervised by an adult.
- Legal & practical requirements: For collections in public places you need a garda permit. If the collection is on private property e.g. a shopping centre, you will need the permission of the owner. Please provide details of your collection to Headway, it will help us keep track of what collections are happening around the country.
- Young people: you must be over the age of 14 to undertake a public collection and have the permission of your guardian
Sending your donation to Headway
If you have collected cash we would be grateful if you could make a cheque, postal order or bank draft payable to Headway Ireland Ltd and post:
Care of Development
1-3 Manor Street Business Park
Manor Street
Dublin 7
Alternatively you can lodge money directly into Headways bank account:
Allied Irish Bank
Dunlaoghaire
Account Number: 40534408
Sort Code: 93-34-06
Please let us know that you have raised funds on behalf of Headway and provide us with your contact details - we'd like to thank you! We would also like to receive any photos of your event and stories from those involved.
Contact fundraising on (01)8102066 for advice, support and tips.
Download the A-Z of Fundraising
Good Luck!