28. Fundraising - Press Releases
Press Releases For Your
Fundraisers
Press releases are basically just announcements to the media
about an important even that is taking place. Good press releases are an inexpensive way
to advertise your non-profit group's fundraising events. You can write a press release
to announce the start of your group, another press release to mark the opening of your facilities , and other
to announce fundraising events such as drives or bazaars.
There is a specific way of writing press releases. Sometimes,
the media will use actual quotes from the press release in their articles or news items, so you need to make
sure that your press release is well-written. Consider the following press release:
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Media
Release
Contact:
Jane Smith, Director
Classroom Support
123 Anywhere Drive
Any City
Any Country
Phone: 333/ 333-333
FAX: 333/333_3334
Email: janesmith@classroomsupport
3rd March, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New Non-Profit Group Supports Childhood
Reading
(Any City, Any Country) - Classroom Support, a new
non-profit organization established in Any City, has announced a fundraising effort to
bring books into the classrooms of Any City. According to Jane Smith, director of
Classroom Support, "This is a very exciting time for us. Our city does not support many
libraries that our children are able to access easily, and children's literacy skills
seem to be at a lower level as a result." Recent reports on the state of education in
the inner city have suggested that literacy among children is quite low and test scores
in reading and writing are well below average.
Jane Smith blames the recent fires, which have claimed
two of the city's libraries, which had to be demolished as a result. Susie Jacobs, a
volunteer with Classroom Support, notes that the newly developed organisation "has
received many calls from worried teachers and parents who feel that the children of our
city are not reading enough. A library is badly needed, as many of the children in
these areas come from families who simply cannot afford to buy books." According to
Jacobs, all suitable books donated to Classroom Support will be placed in the
classrooms, the remainder of the books will be sold with the proceeds going to buy
children's books In the future, Classroom Support hopes to raise enough money to bring
books to each classroom with enough for every child and more.
Classroom Support was founded by Smith three months ago
after the director of the current non-profit group read about the falling rates of book
reading in our city. As Smith notes, "I used to just about live in our city's
libraries. I can't believe two of them have gone, and I can't believe no one seems
concerned that our children are not able to read books in their classrooms" Incensed,
Smith founded Classroom Support to encourage literacy among school-aged children.
Already, this non- profit organization has found some support in ABC Publishing, a
publisher of both chiden's and adult books. Classroom Support will be holding a book
sale on Saturday, April 2nd at our facilites at 123 Anywhere Drive, Any City, and
refreshments will also be served. For more information contact Jane Smith at 333/
333-333. All donations of books are very welcome.
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This press release does
several things :
- provides full contact information for the
non-profit so that the media can contact Jane Smith with any questions.
- provides a title that can be used "as
is" for a newspaper or article headline.
- gives a date for the press release and
notes that the release can be used at once by the media.
- tells the reader what the press release
is about.
- provides quotes that media outlets can
use in their reporting.
- is short enough to be readable but
provides enough information for a short article or news report.
- lists the major fundraising efforts
(including dates and locations) so that readers can take part in these.
Marketing and Public Relations
Marketing and public relations are more subtle ways of advertising,
and we all know what ads look like. But marketing, and public relations are less obvious ways of
getting the mesage across about the good work your non-profit organization does.le. Consider the
following ways of letting people know about your non-profit or a fundraising event:
- have the local media interview the
spokesperson for your non-profit group and publish it in the local papers
- use t-shirts, caps and water bottles with
your group's logo displayed on them
- hold a competition in the local schools
for the best logo for your group if you don't already have one
Consider the following ideas, which are possible even for a
small non-profit organization:
- Appear on a local radio or even college
radio show for an interview. This may take some setting up, but some stations will agree. During
the interview, mention your group's name and your upcoming events.
- If any member of your non-profit group
has a DJ friend, have them mention your non-profit organization and the good work that your group does at a
club, or on air.
- Offer to write an article for the local
paper, a local online site, or a local magazine. Refer briefly to your non-profit organization
and your upcoming fundraising events.
- Have caps or t-shirts with your
non-profit's name and logo on them and distribute these to people who will wear them, or water bottles
with your logo on could be donated to your local sports teams.
Brainstorm to see what other ways yiu can inform the public about your
non-profit organization.
Next page:29. Fundraising - With
Computers
Practical Fundraising Ebook - Table Of Contents
- Fundraising - The Basics
- Fundraising - Terminology
- Fundraising - Money
- Fundraising - Where to Find Donors and How to Reach
Them
- Fundraising - Targeting Your Donors
- Fundraising - Research
- Fundraising - Your Donors' Needs
- Fundraising - Ideas
- Fundraising - Donated Products
- Fundraising - Bought Products
- Fundraising - Marathons
- Fundraising - Lotteries, raffles and
more
- Fundraising - Fairs, Auctions and
Bazaars
- Fundraising - Fun Events
- Fundraising - Drives
- Fundraising - Services
- Fundraising - Tips for Choosing a Fundraising
Idea
- Fundraising - Your Plan
- Fundraising - Your Team
- Fundraising - Staying Organized
- Fundraising - Communicating With Your
Donors
- Fundraising - Advertising
- Fundraising - Letters
- Fundraising - Emails and more
- Fundraising - Person to Person
- Fundraising - Thank You Notes
- Fundraising - Grant Proposals
- Fundraising - Press Releases
- Fundraising - With Computers
- Fundraising - Secrets to Success
- Fundraising - Problems
- Fundraising - Conclusions
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