Category Archives: Motivating Participants

Embarrassing Your Fundraising Group Leader

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Maybe you already have the best unique fundraising ideas, but you need a way to motivate your sellers. One of the best incentives for a fundraiser is some sort of culminating activity where the fundraising group leader is embarrassed in some way. Goals can be set that need to reached in order to have something happen that will embarrass the fundraising leader of the organization, principal of the school, pastor of the church etc. Here are five great ideas for embarrassing incentives for fundraising achievements:

  1. Kiss a pig! Who wouldn’t want to see an administrator, CEO, or leader kiss a pig in front of the group? It’s a cheap and easy (and relatively painless) way to motivate your group to sell. Call a local farmer to see about bringing a pig in if the goal is met. More than likely you will find a local community member with a pig who will be happy to oblige.
  2. Duct tape to the wall: If you have never seen this done, it is quite humorous. Have the leader stand on a chair with their back against a wall (preferably cement) and those who have met a benchmark can use a long piece (about the height of the person, used horizontally across their abdomen) of duct tape to help attach the leader to the wall. It will take a fair amount of duct tape, but the result will be that when you remove the chair the leader will hang on the wall.
  3. Dunk tank! A dunk tank is always a fun activity. Participants who have reached a particular benchmark will be given balls to throw at the target to try and dunk the leader. If the fundraiser is happening in a school, an incentive could be that students who reach a benchmark can choose which teacher they would like to target in the dunk tank.
  4. Old fashioned pie in the face! This is one of the oldest incentives in the book for embarrassing the leader of your group. Much like the dunk tank, those who have sold the most (or reached specific benchmarks) get to do the throwing. Also, allowing a choice of who they are throwing at is an extra incentive!
  5. Clown for a day: how much fun would it be to see your leader have to walk around dressed as a clown for a day in your place of business? This can easily be adapted to whatever you can imagine (chicken for a day, pirate, Dorothy etc.).

Fundraising Can Be Fun! How To Get Your Participants Motivated!

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With the right motivation, fundraising can be both successful and fun! There are all sorts of ways to increase motivation, and they don’t all cost money either. Here are some helpful tips to motivate those who are doing the fundraising ideas for your school, organization or benefit:

  1. The most important part of motivating your fundraisers is to educate and excite them about the cause. There is always a reason for fundraising, and the best form of motivation is intrinsic. If the participants can rally behind the reason for the fundraising half the battle is won. Once participants understand the value, the selling will follow.
  2. Use incentives as secondary motivation. As stated above, the best way to motivate is to have people believe in the case. In addition you can use incentives, but don’t make that the primary motivation. Decide on an incentive program that fits your budget and interests your participants. Then it’s important to follow through on keeping the prize in the for-front of their minds. Post pictures or posters around reminded the participants of what they are setting their sights on. It’s easy to get excited about the prizes in the beginning, but in order for participants to remain motivated they need to have a visual reminder prodding them on.
  3. Show that you appreciate the support of your participants. Have some sort of party or celebration to say ‘thank you’ once you have reached your goal. This will produce a greater moral for the next time you begin a fundraising event. The more appreciation you show, the more help you will get in the future.
  4. Make it easy and well-organized. The more complicated the fundraiser, the less people will be inclined to engage. It is important for the steps to be simple, clear and well planned.
  5. Always lead by example! Don’t just stand by and expect everyone else to do the actual fundraising part, get involved in a way that others can see so that they will be inclined to buy in as well. Engage in friendly competition to motivate those around you.
  6. Finally, get as many people involved as possible and make it social if at all possible. People love to feel that they are a part of something big. Get creative in your fundraising ideas in a way that will bring people together.

Hopefully you found these tips helpful. If you know of some other ways to get participants involved please contact us!