Keeping the "Fun" in Chapter Fundraising.(Brief Article)

Usually out of the limelight, those involved in a local Right to Life chapter soldier on even when there is no immediate payoff to the cause to which they've devoted their lives. Projects come and go, and sometimes we just don't see the fruit of our work.

Then, unexpectedly, one day you hear about a child whose life was saved because your chapter was there with needed pro-life information and assistance. Suddenly everything you've done is worth it -- all the hours of work, the many, many fair booths, the numerous meetings.

Yes, even the fundraising.

I know, for most of us, it must seem like some kind of cruel joke that the word "fun" is found within "fundraising." Raising the dollars to make pro-life work possible can appear to be anything but fun.

But what you may not know is it doesn't have to be that way. Trust us, there are certain things a chapter can do to make fundraising not only enjoyable but successful, rewarding, and an important part of your lifesaving work. Here are a few simple tips:

1. A chapter's fundraising work should incorporate other important chapter functions. For example, any project that combines fundraising with pro-life education, or with chapter membership recruitment, will not only accomplish two important functions at once, but also will not waste one of the most precious commodities your chapter has: labor.

For example, many chapters host a banquet, dinner, or luncheon that raises money and also gets many in the community out to hear a pro-life speaker or see a pro-life video. Often the most successful chapter banquets bring in a speaker from the state Right to Life office who gives locals an update on pro-life legislation or other items of keen interest. The chapter gets its needed funds, and local citizens are the beneficiaries of needed pro-life education!