There is nothing quite like charity events to bring people together, which is why so many charities turn their efforts to organizing local fundraisers. However, did you know that these types of events can benefit local communities just as much as they can charitable organizations? 

If you are interested in participating in a charitable event and want to know more about how these can bring communities together, the blog below will tell you everything you need to know. Plus, find out exactly what you need to do to organize a successful charity fundraiser in your community. 

What are the benefits of charity events for local communities? 

When an individual or an organization organizes a charity event, there are so many benefits to the local community. Some of the most notable are as follows:

Raise the profile of the area

One of the most obvious benefits of local charity events for communities is that it can help to raise the profile of the area. Depending on the scale of the event and the charity it involves, these types of events nearly always make the local news and, in some cases, even the national news. 

Once this happens, several further benefits can occur such as investors coming forward and showing an interest in the area and an increase in tourists visiting. 

Help local people 

Charity events help local people in multiple ways, both in the short and the long term. First and foremost, it helps bring people together, which can help combat loneliness and improve mental health in people struggling with these issues. 

It can also give people a reason to get out there and get involved in their local community, especially if the charity in question is close to their heart. Lastly, it encourages people from all walks of life to come together for the greater good which is great for promoting inclusivity and diversity. 

Support local businesses

As mentioned briefly above, when you raise the profile of an area, it helps to attract more people from other towns and cities. This is good news for local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, pubs, local cafes, and campsites. 

It also offers the ideal opportunity for businesses to get involved in the event, either through donations, fundraising, or even full sponsorship. 

Promote social responsibility 

Social responsibility and charitable work often go hand in hand and this can only be a good thing for local communities. The practice of prioritizing positive social impacts in the community, predominantly putting the local people first, social responsibility is important for both businesses and people. 

Charity event organizers can offer activities that reflect and respond to social responsibilities. For example, a local bakery could donate cakes to be sold at a bake sale, or a local gym could lend equipment for a charity bike ride. 

Get young people involved 

Sometimes, it can be a challenge to get young people involved in the local community, but charitable events are often the key to getting through to this demographic. Charity sports events tend to be popular with the younger generation, especially if you can get a local sportsperson on board to sponsor or attend the event. 

How to organize a charity fundraiser in your community 

Decide on an event 

The first thing you need to do is decide what type of charity fundraiser you want to do. For example, a charity sporting event such as a fun run, bike race, golfing tournament, or a community fair complete with stalls and rides for children. 

Make sure that you think carefully about the logistics of the event you choose, as you need to feel confident that you will actually be able to follow through with your ideas. If you are struggling to decide on an event, Macmillan has some fundraising great ideas for you to explore, with options to suit all ages and abilities. 

Seek out volunteers

Even if you are only organizing a small event, you will still need help to bring everything together and ensure it all runs smoothly on the day. When it comes to finding volunteers, it helps if you are already well-known in the community, but if not, it can be useful to seek out help on community social media pages.

Do not be fooled into thinking you can take on everything on your own and, instead, embrace the art of delegation and accept any offers of help that come your way. 

Promote your event 

The next step is to promote your event, as you want as many people as possible to get involved, whether that be as a participant or a spectator. There are lots of ways that you can advertise your charity event, such as by posting flyers around your local area, posting on social media, and securing a spot on local radio. 

Try to make any promotional materials as memorable and eye-catching as you can, as this will help to attract more people to your event and help to create a buzz around it. 

Ask for donations from local businesses

You may be surprised at just how forthcoming local businesses will be if you ask them to support your charitable event. You can ask them for donations or contributions, see if they have any employees who are willing to volunteer, or even ask if they are willing to be the main sponsor for your event.

If you are nervous about approaching local businesses, why not pop them a quick email telling them briefly about your event and what you are trying to achieve and then take it from there? 

Final thoughts

Remember the saying “charity begins at home?” –  well, maybe that should be changed to charity begins with the community. Providing a whole host of benefits both for the charitable organization itself and the community it is hosting an event in, once you organize one local charitable event, you will not be able to stop yourself from getting started on another! 

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