Okay, we admit it. Fundraising is no easy task. But the potential of fundraising to help you grow your work is unlimited, so it is a skill that must be learned. At some point, you will need funds to help market your work, to grow your project, to establish new initiatives, or to plan events.

There are many sources from which you can obtain funding:

Donations

Asking for donations is a tried and tested way for getting funding when you are first starting out. Knock on your neighbors’ doors, send out letters requesting donations to everyone in your networking list, simply call up and ask your extended family and friends. If you ask for small donations from many different people, the money is sure to add up.

Grants and Awards

There are dozens of grants and awards available to youth-run organizations and projects seeking to make a difference. If your project meets certain eligibility criteria, you can apply for any one of these opportunities offered by businesses, foundations, and other organizations. To learn more about how to write a rocking grant and for a list of some grants available to you, visit our Finding Support pages.

Selling Products

Sometimes, the nature of your project will allow you to sell certain services or items for money, which can later be channeled toward your project’s programs and events. For example, if your organization provides free music lessons to disadvantaged youth, a side program might be selling the CDs of youth-created music to help raise funds.

Campaigns and Events

Events can be a fun way for you to raise both funds and awareness for your project, while inspiring the public to get involved in a meaningful way. For example, you can hold a Charity Ball at your school and use the proceeds from the event to fund your organization’s programs. Here are some ideas for you to ponder:

• hold a bake sale at your school
• hold a Pennies for Change campaign, asking youth to bring in pennies to classrooms and community centers to donate to your organization
• organize a benefit concert, perhaps featuring local artists and bands; use the proceeds from the ticket sales to fund your project
• throw a birthday party, but instead of collecting gifts, ask your guests to bring donations for your organization
• hold a movie night at the local cinema or community center; try to show a film that is somehow related to your cause or project

These are only a few of the myriad possibilities available to you to fundraise! Be sure to check out our Inspire pages to participate in discussions and exchange more ideas about getting funding.