Honoring Veterans: Fundraiser Ideas And Tips

Veterans served our country and deserve respect and gratitude. As a thank you for this service, their physical, emotional, and financial needs should be met. However, veteran organizations often lack the funds to help these individuals and must fundraise while bringing attention to their challenges and needs. Fundraising isn’t easy in today’s economy, so organizations must develop unique ways to generate funds. The following are a few fundraiser ideas and tips to help them get started.

Engraved Bricks

One fundraiser to honor veterans involves purchasing engraved bricks. These bricks may be used as memorials for those who lost their lives while serving the country, which is an excellent way to remember family and friends who are no longer with us. When designing a brick, a person might put the person’s name, birthdate, and date of their passing. They might choose a quote that reminds them of this individual and share it in their memory, or they could choose a different way to memorialize this person. Each brick is unique, just as the veteran was.

Walk-A-Thon

What better way to bring attention to the plight of veterans than to schedule a walk-a-thon? These events unite the community to raise awareness and funds for a cause. Participants collect pledges and generate excitement about the event. Donors pledge per lap, mile, or steps completed, or they may choose to make a flat donation. Organizations find these events an excellent way to connect with the community and bring more awareness to their efforts.

Sell T-Shirts

Selling apparel with the organization’s name and message is another excellent way to raise awareness of the organization’s efforts and the needs of veterans. Every time a person wears the shirt, the organization gets free advertising. The organization might also design a shirt to support a particular veteran and their needs, directing all profits from the sales to this individual. People like having a name and a face to go with their donation and are likelier to give when this information is shared.

Give-It-Up Challenge

Every donation to an organization means the donor gave up something else they could have used the funds for. Expand on this idea by hosting a give-it-up challenge. Ask donors to give up one thing and reserve the funds they would have spent on that item for the organization. One person might give up their Uber ride to work and walk instead, which benefits the organization and their health. Another person might give up their morning coffee and give the money they would have spent on this coffee to the veteran organization. Every person must choose which item they will sacrifice to recognize the sacrifice of the veterans their donation is helping.

Write Letters

Before the digital age, veterans would remain in communication with loved ones back home by writing letters. They might get occasional phone calls, but letter writing was the primary form of communication. Today, soldiers have video calls, texts, and smartphones to remain in contact with their family and friends. Why not request funds for veterans by starting a letter-writing campaign? As digital marketing has taken over many aspects of modern life, a handwritten letter will capture someone’s attention, making them think of the hardships many veterans faced when serving.

These are just a few of the countless ways a person can raise funds for a veterans’ organization. People need to think outside the box when raising funds, as people are bombarded with daily requests. They take note of unusual ideas. Try one of the suggestions outlined above and see how successful it is. Most organizations are impressed with the response they see when trying something new.