Last month I was asked by our executive director to take a lead in a student led fundraiser on my campus. We had the assistance of our American Humanics Student Association (nonprofit management/leadership student organization) at the university. I was excited for the idea of a dance that would serve as a joint fundraiser for AHSA and our chapter, but also serve as an awareness project to let to the university know our chapter exists and hopefully gain new volunteers and maybe spark interest in starting a Red Cross Club on campus.
Unfortunately we have hit every road block possible. The rooms large enough to host a dance on campus are either used until 10pm or are booked at least a year in advance. I also could not get the dj company I wanted to use to call me back. It was quite frustrating. Since we could not get a room reserved by the end of the semester, we decided to postpone this idea. I plan on meeting with our executive director and the advisor for AHSA before Thanksgiving to discuss where to go from here. The AHSA advisor has suggested waiting and hosting a Valentine’s Day event or a host a square dance class/hoedown. I am trying to think of things other than a dance to do on campus to build awareness for the chapter.
It frustrates me that the major fundraisers our chapter has tried to hold this fall have failed. I know this is all part of the nonprofit realm but I want something successful to happen! This recent failure has also tied into my role as youth liaison. If I cannot help my chapter recruit more youth volunteers, how can I help other chapters? The more I think about that, if I had all these people willing to help with the dance, it’s not really my fault that the plans fell through. I will just have to try again next semester. In a sense I have recruited volunteers already, I just need an event to put them to use!
If any of you have had successful awareness or fundraising events on your campus, please share your ideas with me, and the rest of our readers.
Jessica Mueller, South Dakota
Filed under: Chapter, College, Fundraiser
