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Exploring the impact of community service – a comprehensive essay sample.

Community service plays a vital role in shaping individuals and communities. Engaging in service activities not only helps those in need but also has a profound impact on the volunteers themselves. By giving back to the community, individuals can develop empathy, leadership skills, and a sense of responsibility towards society.

In this essay sample, we will explore inspiring examples of community service projects and provide tips on how you can get involved in making a difference. From volunteering at local shelters to organizing charity events, there are countless ways to contribute to your community and create a positive impact on the world around you. Let’s delve into the world of community service and discover the power of giving back!

Community Service Essay Sample

Community service is a valuable activity that allows individuals to give back to their communities. It provides an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of others while also developing important skills and values. Here is a sample essay that highlights the benefits of community service and reflects on personal experiences.

Introduction: Community service is an essential part of being an active and engaged member of society. It not only benefits the community but also helps individuals grow and learn. Through my involvement in various community service projects, I have seen firsthand the power of giving back and the joy it brings to both the recipient and the volunteer.

Body: One example of the impact of community service is the work I did at a local soup kitchen. By volunteering at the soup kitchen, I was able to help provide meals to those in need and offer a listening ear to those who were struggling. This experience taught me the importance of empathy and compassion, and showed me how even small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone’s life.

Another example of the benefits of community service is the time I spent tutoring children at a local elementary school. Through this experience, I was able to help students improve their academic skills and build their confidence. I also gained a greater appreciation for the value of education and the impact it can have on a child’s future.

Conclusion: In conclusion, community service is a valuable and rewarding activity that allows individuals to make a positive impact on their communities. Through my experiences with community service, I have learned important lessons about empathy, compassion, and the power of giving back. I am grateful for the opportunities I have had to volunteer and look forward to continuing to serve my community in the future.

Inspiring Examples and Tips

When it comes to community service, there are countless inspiring examples that can motivate you to get involved. Whether it’s volunteering at a local shelter, organizing a charity event, or tutoring underprivileged children, these acts of service can make a real impact on the community.

Here are a few tips to help you get started on your community service journey:

1. Find a Cause You’re Passionate About: Choose a cause that resonates with you personally. When you care deeply about the issue you’re working on, your efforts will be more meaningful and impactful.

2. Start Small: You don’t have to take on huge projects right away. Start small by volunteering for a few hours a week or helping out at a local event. Every little bit helps.

3. Collaborate with Others: Community service is often more effective when done as a team. Reach out to friends, family, or colleagues to join you in your efforts.

4. Stay Consistent: Make a commitment to regularly engage in community service. Consistency is key to making a lasting impact.

5. Reflect on Your Impact: Take the time to reflect on how your service is making a difference. Celebrate your achievements and learn from your challenges.

By following these tips and drawing inspiration from others, you can make a meaningful contribution to your community through service. Get started today and see the positive impact you can have!

Why Community Service Matters

Community service is an essential component of a well-rounded individual. It provides an opportunity to give back to society, make a positive impact on the community, and develop valuable skills and experiences. Engaging in community service helps individuals cultivate empathy, compassion, and a sense of civic responsibility. By volunteering and helping others, individuals can learn to appreciate the needs of others and work towards creating a more inclusive and supportive society.

Furthermore, community service allows individuals to build connections with others and foster a sense of community. Through collaboration and teamwork, volunteers can develop important social and communication skills that are valuable in all aspects of life. Community service also provides a way to explore new interests, gain new perspectives, and expand one’s horizons.

Moreover, community service is a way to address pressing social issues and contribute to positive change. By participating in community service projects, individuals can make a tangible difference in the lives of others and work towards creating a more just and equitable world. Community service is a powerful tool for promoting social justice, equality, and human rights.

In conclusion, community service matters because it helps individuals grow personally, develop important skills, build meaningful relationships, and contribute to a better society. Engaging in community service is a fulfilling and impactful way to make a difference in the world and leave a lasting legacy of service and compassion.

Benefits of Engaging in Community Service

Engaging in community service offers a wide range of benefits both for the individual and the community as a whole.

1. Personal Growth: Community service allows individuals to step out of their comfort zones, develop new skills, and gain valuable life experiences. It helps enhance empathy, compassion, and understanding of diverse perspectives.

2. Social Connections: By participating in community service activities, individuals can build strong relationships with like-minded individuals and expand their social network. It provides opportunities to collaborate with others and work towards common goals.

3. Skill Development: Community service offers a platform for individuals to develop and hone various skills such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork. These skills are transferable to other aspects of life.

4. Civic Engagement: Engaging in community service promotes active citizenship and a sense of responsibility towards one’s community. It allows individuals to contribute to positive change and make a meaningful impact on society.

5. Personal Fulfillment: Giving back to the community and helping those in need can bring a sense of fulfillment and purpose to individuals. It provides a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction knowing that one has made a positive difference in the lives of others.

Overall, engaging in community service not only benefits the community by addressing various social issues but also contributes to personal growth, social connections, skill development, civic engagement, and personal fulfillment.

How to Choose the Right Community Service Project

When deciding on a community service project, it is important to consider your interests, skills, and the needs of your community. Here are some tips to help you choose the right project:

Identify your passion: Think about what causes or issues you feel strongly about. Whether it’s helping the environment, supporting education, or assisting the elderly, choosing a project that aligns with your passions will keep you motivated and engaged.
Evaluate your skills: Consider what skills you have to offer. Are you good at organizing events, teaching, or fundraising? Select a project that allows you to utilize your strengths and make a meaningful impact.
Assess the community’s needs: Research and assess the needs of your community. Talk to local organizations, schools, or community leaders to identify areas where help is most needed. By addressing pressing needs, your project will have a greater impact.
Consider the time commitment: Be realistic about the time you can dedicate to a community service project. Choose a project that fits into your schedule and allows you to make a consistent contribution over time.
Collaborate with others: Consider teaming up with friends, classmates, or colleagues to take on a community service project together. Working as a team can help divide tasks, share responsibilities, and create a stronger impact.

By following these tips and considering your interests, skills, and community needs, you can choose the right community service project that aligns with your values and makes a positive difference in your community.

Steps to Writing an Effective Community Service Essay

If you are tasked with writing a community service essay, follow these steps to ensure it is impactful and engaging:

Choose a meaningful community service experience: Select a service project that has had a significant impact on you or your community.
Reflect on your experience: Take time to think about the lessons learned, challenges faced, and personal growth from the service project.
Outline your essay: Create a clear outline that includes an introduction, body paragraphs detailing your experiences, and a conclusion that ties everything together.
Show, don’t tell: Use descriptive language and vivid examples to bring your community service experience to life for the reader.
Highlight your personal growth: Discuss how the community service experience has shaped your values, beliefs, and future goals.
Connect your experience to the broader community: Share how your service has impacted those around you and the community as a whole.
Revise and edit your essay: Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar errors. Make revisions as needed to strengthen your message.
Seek feedback: Ask someone you trust to read your essay and provide constructive feedback for improvement.
Finalize your essay: Make any final adjustments and ensure your essay is polished and reflects your authentic voice.

Community Service Essay Structure

When writing a community service essay, it is important to follow a structured approach to ensure that your message is clear and impactful. Here is a recommended structure to help you organize your thoughts and create a compelling essay:

Introduction: Start with a strong opening sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. Introduce the topic of community service and provide some context for your personal experience.
Background Information: Briefly explain what community service means to you and why you chose to engage in it. Provide background information on the organization or cause you volunteered for.
Personal Experience: Share specific examples of your community service activities. Describe the impact you made, challenges you faced, and lessons you learned. Highlight any skills or qualities that you developed through your volunteer work.
Reflection: Reflect on how your community service experience has influenced your personal growth and perspective on the world. Discuss any changes in your attitudes or values as a result of your volunteer work.
Impact: Describe the positive impact your community service has had on others. Share stories of individuals or communities that benefitted from your efforts.
Conclusion: Summarize the key points of your essay and reiterate the importance of community service. End with a powerful closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

By following this structure, you can effectively communicate the value of community service and inspire others to make a difference in their communities. Remember to be sincere, reflective, and passionate in your writing to convey the true essence of your volunteer experience.

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How to Organize a Charity Drive

Last Updated: January 15, 2021 References

This article was co-authored by Rob Wu . Rob Wu is the CEO of CauseVox, a digital fundraising platform designed for nonprofits. CauseVox works to help do-gooders raise more money with less effort. Rob has raised over $200,000 for his own nonprofit crowdfunding projects, and his work has been recognized by CNN, Christian Science Monitor, and the Wall Street Journal. This article has been viewed 23,333 times.

Did you just find out about a cause and want to make a difference? Planning a charity drive takes perseverance and effort, but the result is worth it. In this article, you will learn how to organize a charity drive in your community.

Prepare for Your Drive

Step 1 Pick a cause for your charity drive.

If it is only a small group or individual, you may want to just collect things from your house and notify only neighbors and friends. No cause is too small, but if you get so many people involved for a very small need, you may end up with too many donations.
Do your research into existing charity efforts to support the cause you have in mind. There may already be quite a few others out there hosting drives, to which you might want to donate to instead of hosting your own. Find out what the existing options are; you may want to focus your local drive on supporting a broader charity effort, if it already exists, rather than starting from scratch.

Step 2 Choose a specific item to ask for in your drive.

Try to get information on what is needed by the people affected by your cause; contact the people or groups involved first, to make sure you're driving people to donate the right items.
Decide what you're going to do if someone just wants to donate money. You may find some people want to support you but only have money to give, not the items you're requesting. Assuming you don't want to deal with taking cash or handling payment details, you might want to have a card or flyer ready that shows them how to donate money to a similar cause (or the parent organization you're doing the drive for).

Step 3 Set a date, time, and location for your drive.

Make sure the setting is large enough for the types of donations you're gathering. If you'll be taking the donations home with you, keep the location close to your home to make transporting the boxes easier. [2] X Research source

Taking Action Once Donations Start Coming

Step 1 Sort incoming donations as soon as they start coming.

If you are contributing to multiple charities, then make sure you sort which donations go to which charity.

Post the number on social media; this may motivate people to donate in future drives (if you hold more). Plus, you will be able to compare back to this event in future drives, if you're able to grow your impact down the line.

Try sending thank-you notes to everyone who participated or even donated, if possible.

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Essay on Charity

Students are often asked to write an essay on Charity in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Charity

What is charity.

Charity is when you give help to those in need. It can be giving money, food, clothes, or your time. This help is given freely and from the heart. It’s not just about giving things away; it’s about caring for others and wanting to make their lives better.

Types of Charity

There are many ways to give. Some people donate to big organizations that help lots of people. Others prefer to help directly, like giving food to a hungry person. Volunteering at places like schools and hospitals is also charity.

The Importance of Giving

Charity is important because it shows kindness. It can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Even a small act of giving can bring a lot of happiness. It’s a way to show that you think about others, not just yourself.

Charity Begins at Home

Charity starts with how we treat our family and friends. Being kind and sharing with them teaches us how to care for others. When we learn this at home, we can spread kindness to more people outside our homes.

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250 Words Essay on Charity

Charity is when you give help to others without wanting anything back. This help can be in the form of money, food, clothes, or even your time. When you do charity, you make someone’s life better. It’s like sharing a piece of your heart with others.

Why Charity Matters

Charity is important because it shows kindness. It can make a big difference in someone’s life. For example, when you give food to a person who is hungry, you help them not to be hungry anymore. It’s not just about giving things; it’s about caring for others and making the world a nicer place.

How to Do Charity

You can do charity in many ways. You don’t need a lot of money. Even small acts can be a big help. You could give away toys you don’t play with anymore or help an older person cross the street. Remember, it’s the thought and love behind what you do that counts.

Learning from Charity

When you do charity, you also learn good things. You learn to be thankful for what you have. You understand that some people don’t have as much as you do. This can make you want to help more and be a better person.

500 Words Essay on Charity

What is charity.

Charity is the act of giving help to those in need. It is a kind and loving gesture that can take many forms. For example, charity might mean giving money, food, or clothes to people who do not have enough. It can also mean spending time with someone who is lonely or helping out in your community. When you do something good for others without expecting anything in return, that’s charity.

Why Is Charity Important?

Charity is important because it makes the world a better place. When you help others, you make their lives easier and happier. It is not just the people you help who feel better; you feel good too. Giving to others can make you feel proud and joyful. Also, when one person starts helping, it often encourages others to do the same. This can create a chain of kindness that spreads far and wide.

How Can We Practice Charity?

Everyone can find their own way to be charitable. The key is to look around and see where help is needed.

Charity at Home and Around the World

Charity throughout the year, the impact of charity.

When you give to others, it has a big impact. The person who receives your help will have a better day because of you. They might then help someone else, and the goodness you started keeps moving forward. Even small acts of charity can change someone’s life. Imagine if every person did just one kind thing each day; the world would be full of happiness and care.

Charity is a powerful way to show love and support to those who need it. It does not matter how big or small your act of kindness is; what matters is that you do it with a full heart. Remember, when you give to others, you are not just helping them; you are making the whole world a little bit brighter. So, let’s all try to do our part and practice charity every day.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Why Charity is Important in Society

Categories: Charity Compassion

About this sample

Words: 694 |

Published: Aug 31, 2023

Words: 694 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Addressing basic human needs, promoting social equality and justice, building stronger communities, supporting education and skill development, addressing global challenges and crises, fostering empathy and compassion, encouraging corporate social responsibility, inspiring positive change and civic engagement, conclusion: celebrating the transformative power of charity.

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7 Benefits of Giving to Charity

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The act of charity has always been known to come from kindness, selflessness, and the good in us, as people. Yet, we often forget that giving, and donating, have many personal benefits too. While still being an act of selflessness, and coming from a place that drives change, the act of charity has many positive effects on those who want to do good.

The amazing benefits to donating to charity:

Kind words, positive actions and the act of donating your time, effort and money to charity can positively impact your mind and body. These unique benefits of donating will leave you with a feeling of happiness.

1. Positively Impacts Your Mood and Sense of Self

Many studies have been conducted over the years to understand how donating to charity affects a person. It boosts your mood and the mood of those you help. It even brings about a feeling of satisfaction and joy. It has been scientifically proven that giving even a small amount produces neurological activity in our brain that promotes a feeling of pleasure and joy. The knowledge that you voluntarily donated time and/or money in order to help others in need or create positive change in the world provides a positive feeling.

2. Impacts the Lives of Beneficiaries

Donating leads to a profound impact. By donating your time, money, and resources, you not only improve the lives of people, but you also inspire change. Your kindness brings about a sense of community along with inspiring those around you to do more for the betterment of our world. Eventually, you hold the power to inspire and encourage friends and family to join in your efforts.

3. Boosts Growth and Development

The help you provide, and the aid you give, not only change the lives of those you’re helping, but yours as well. When you see, firsthand, how your time, energy, and efforts can help people, it brings about a strong belief in the power to do good. It makes you grow as a person, and above all, gives you hope. Furthermore, it brings to light new perspectives and opinions on topics about which you were previously uninformed. This is important for a lot of reasons, such as gaining a greater understanding of the world and your community.

4. Gives Life a New Meaning

The direct involvement in the betterment of the world, one small step at a time, helps in many ways. You grow your skillset and pick up on new things, you meet new people, and learn new ways to help. That learning and experience will help you navigate the world better. When you work with those who are like-minded and share your beliefs, you find value and a sense of belonging. You are giving yourself the opportunity to fuel your passion and spend time doing things you love.

5. Highlights the Greater Good

When donating, you offer aid to those who are in need of it the most. From volunteering at an animal shelter to donating money to an education fund - through giving, you can ensure that the help you give reaches the right people, at the right time. People may go to school because of the scholarship you fund, children may feel supported by the shelter or food they receive, animals may be saved because of the organization you donate to, and society’s carbon footprint may decrease as a result of your research and efforts. Ultimately, giving back shows kindness and those around you see that.

6. Helps You Express Gratitude

Donating is a beautiful channel for you to express gratitude for all that you have received. There are countless charities and programs who do their bit to better the world. From research and vocational training to providing necessities to those who lack them - the act of charity can go a long way. Through charity, we are reminded of all that we have, and it gives us the opportunity to give back to society.

Bonus: Tax Benefit!

The most obvious benefit of charity, while donating money, is the tax benefit that comes along with giving surplus. Governments around the world recognize the good in giving and have set up a financially rewarding system for those who donate. It is important to stress how the act of charity is not limited to writing off large cheques to the biggest foundations around the world. You can give more than money to charity.

You can give your time by volunteering and working at a nonprofit organization, or by sharing resources. You can volunteer at animal shelters to ensure the animals are happy and are getting their daily walks or even foster animals in need. You can take out few hours each week to help organize large amounts of data, or file paperwork for an NGO. You can assist students develop skills online, or offer to teach children through virtual classes. Another way to help around by spreading awareness about local charities in your social circles.

There is no right way to be generous or kind, but one way to do it is by donating and giving through charity. Trust us, it comes with more positive benefits than you can imagine.

Sakshi Grover

Sakshi dreams of writing a gripping murder mystery – unless she’s creating content and building the Giving for Good brand. She’s a tennis player, a swimmer, a crime fiction enthusiast, and a twenty-something-year-old who enjoys volunteer work.

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128 Charity Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Charity is a noble act that has the power to make the world a better place. Whether it is by donating money, volunteering time, or raising awareness, there are countless ways to support charitable causes. However, choosing a topic for your charity essay can be challenging. To help you get started, here are 128 charity essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing:

The impact of social media on charitable giving.
How can individuals make a difference in their local community?
The role of celebrities in raising awareness for charitable causes.
The importance of transparency in charity organizations.
The ethics of accepting donations from controversial sources.
The role of religious institutions in promoting charity.
The impact of tax incentives on charitable giving.
The effectiveness of online crowdfunding platforms for charity.
Exploring the concept of effective altruism in charitable giving.
The challenges of running a successful charity event.
The impact of climate change on charitable organizations.
How do charities help in disaster relief efforts?
The role of education in empowering individuals to give back.
The benefits of corporate social responsibility for businesses.
The role of government in supporting charitable organizations.
The impact of poverty on access to healthcare in developing countries.
How can technology be used to improve charitable giving?
The benefits of volunteering for personal growth and development.
The role of art and culture in promoting charitable causes.
The challenges of addressing homelessness in urban areas.
The impact of war and conflict on charitable efforts.
The role of international organizations in global charity work.
The importance of promoting gender equality in charitable initiatives.
The benefits of microfinance initiatives in empowering individuals.
The impact of animal cruelty on the need for animal welfare charities.
The role of sports in raising funds for charitable causes.
The challenges of addressing mental health issues through charity.
The impact of technology on fundraising strategies for charities.
The importance of early childhood education in breaking the cycle of poverty.
The benefits of supporting local businesses for community development.
The role of media in raising awareness for charitable causes.
The challenges of addressing food insecurity in developing countries.
The impact of child labor on the need for children's charities.
The role of government policies in promoting charitable giving.
The benefits of supporting environmental conservation charities.
The challenges of addressing human trafficking through charity.
The impact of education on reducing poverty rates.
The role of art therapy in supporting mental health charities.
How can technology be used to connect donors with charitable projects?
The benefits of supporting refugee resettlement programs.
The challenges of addressing water scarcity through charity.
The impact of disability on the need for disability charities.
The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing social issues.
The importance of promoting LGBTQ+ rights through charity.
The benefits of supporting cultural diversity initiatives.
The challenges of addressing substance abuse through charity.
The impact of income inequality on the need for poverty alleviation charities.
The role of education in preventing child labor.
The benefits of supporting medical research charities.
The challenges of addressing domestic violence through charity.
The impact of climate change on the need for environmental charities.
The role of technology in improving access to education in developing countries.
The importance of supporting LGBTQ+ youth through charity.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that empower women.
The challenges of addressing racial inequality through charity.
The impact of natural disasters on the need for disaster relief charities.
The role of education in promoting sustainable development.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote arts education.
The challenges of addressing mental health stigma through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to clean water in developing countries.
The role of technology in connecting donors with local charities.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote peace and conflict resolution.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote access to healthcare.
The challenges of addressing youth unemployment through charity.
The impact of urbanization on the need for affordable housing charities.
The role of education in promoting gender equality.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture.
The challenges of addressing substance abuse stigma through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to education in developing countries.
The role of technology in improving access to healthcare in remote areas.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote animal rights.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote community development.
The challenges of addressing mental health disparities through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to sanitation in developing countries.
The role of education in promoting environmental conservation.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote renewable energy.
The challenges of addressing income inequality through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to nutrition in developing countries.
The role of technology in improving access to clean water in remote areas.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote disability rights.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote peacebuilding.
The challenges of addressing food waste through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to healthcare in rural areas.
The role of education in promoting social justice.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable tourism.
The challenges of addressing mental health in the workplace through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to education for girls in developing countries.
The role of technology in improving access to education for marginalized communities.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote LGBTQ+ rights.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable transportation.
The challenges of addressing income inequality in urban areas through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to clean energy in developing countries.
The role of education in promoting cultural diversity.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote social entrepreneurship.
The challenges of addressing food insecurity in urban areas through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to healthcare for indigenous communities.
The role of technology in improving access to clean air in polluted areas.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote animal welfare.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable fashion.
The challenges of addressing income inequality in rural areas through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to education for children with disabilities.
The role of education in promoting mental health awareness.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable architecture.
The challenges of addressing water pollution through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to healthcare for elderly individuals.
The role of technology in improving access to education for refugee children.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote indigenous rights.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable farming.
The challenges of addressing income inequality in developing countries through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to clean cooking solutions in developing countries.
The role of education in promoting peace and conflict resolution.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable transportation in cities.
The challenges of addressing plastic pollution through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to healthcare for LGBTQ+ individuals.
The role of technology in improving access to education for girls in developing countries.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote disability inclusion.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable waste management.
The challenges of addressing income inequality in developed countries through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to clean water for indigenous communities.
The role of education in promoting environmental sustainability.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable tourism in developing countries.
The challenges of addressing deforestation through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to healthcare for refugees.
The role of technology in improving access to education for children with disabilities.
The importance of supporting initiatives that promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity.
The benefits of supporting initiatives that promote sustainable urban planning.
The challenges of addressing income inequality in marginalized communities through charity.
The impact of poverty on access to clean energy for rural communities.

These 128 charity essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of social, environmental, and humanitarian issues. Whether you choose to focus on a specific cause or explore the broader concept of charity, there are countless ways to approach your essay. Remember to conduct thorough research, provide evidence-based arguments, and showcase your passion for making a difference.

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Organise a campaign

In this guide, we explain how to organise a campaign. Learn how to advocate your cause with the right campaign planning. Go beyond raising awareness and make change happen.

Article quality : ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5) Not to be confused with : This guide is about activist campaigns that create social change, not marketing campaigns to sell more products. Marketing, for example making use of an advertising campaign or a social media campaign, is part of activism though. Check out our communications chapter for more information about that. Related guides : if you are looking to develop a campaign plan, also make sure to check out our strategy chapter .

Introduction #

If you're an activist who wants to make a difference, you need to know how to organise a campaign. A well-organised campaign can be the key to success, and this guide will show you how to do it.

Campaigns have been used throughout history by large and small social movements for everything from overthrowing dictators to getting recycling in a city.

From setting goals and targetting your audience, to choosing the right tactics and organising your team, we'll cover everything you need to know to make your campaign a success!

What is a campaign? #

A campaign is a strategic plan devised to reach specific objectives within a specific time frame. It usually takes several months. You might need several campaigns to achieve your goals, especially when you are fighting for a big or complex issue.

Campaigns are sustained efforts at a specific social justice goal. Campaigns are a powerful way of strategically building the capacity, developing experience, and laying the groundwork for future movements. Simultaneously, campaigns win solid victories for social justice.

Difference with a protest actions #

A campaign is different from a single protest action: A protest action is a one-off event. A campaign consists of a series of actions over a longer period of time.

Often, inexperienced activists will start by organising a single protest, after which they discover that it has not led to the desired result. Then, they continue to organise more protests, without strategically thinking about how all their actions are connected.

This causes participants to be disappointed by the impact they are making with the first few protests, because they do not see how these are contributing towards the bigger picture. Effective campaigns strategically build up towards a goal.

Why campaigns, not protests, get the goods by George Lakey (2016)

Difference with a movement #

A campaign also differs from a social movement . A campaign usually consists of a series of actions over the span of a few months to a year, and focusses on a single issue. A movement exists for a longer period of time, and targets multiple issues within a bigger story.

Often, the injustices we are fighting are complex. A campaign focusses on changing a single issue within that complex system. In many cases, when activists win their campaign, their group falls apart because the thing that bound them together is no longer there.

This does not mean, however, that all injustices are gone. It would be a shame to let the change-making capacity you have built up with your group fall apart. This is where movements come into play. A movement communicates a message that helps people understand how various issues are connected. In addition, a movement invests more resources into building structures that allow people to work together for longer periods of time. For example, movements may put more time into community building, fundraising, coalition building and internal training programmes.

More about campaigns #

Campaigns have a goal #.

Campaigns are defined by their objectives: winning a particular housing reform; overthrowing a dictator; convincing the city council to undo a repressive ordinance; or getting sweatshop multinationals to allow unionization in their factories.

Goals require having someone or a group of someones who are “targets” – the people who can make that change.

This is different from a future vision of “economic justice” in which no single individual or group of individuals can make the vision come true. Campaigns take a piece of those large visions and demand implementation. So a campaign goal under economic justice might be “universal health care” (and the target would be the national government). In a local context it might be “five new affordable housing developments in an area” – the target would be the private developers, or the government which gives out housing contracts.

Campaigns have an attainable goal #

Some goals are also more useful than others. Unattainable goals aren’t as useful as attainable goals (it doesn’t build the movement to set ourselves up for failure!). To be attainable, the goals need to consider the group’s capacity (a local group would, before a national movement shows up, take on a local-sized goal, though it might be a goal with national/international implication).

To combat sweatshops, United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) used students’ schools as the location to wage local campaigns. In schools across the country, students forced their administration to sign contracts requiring full disclosure of where the various products were made. With that information in hand, students could make and get others to make visits to the sweatshops to inquire about human rights violations, the ability of workers to unionize, wages and other notorious conditions (like no bathroom breaks). Workers in sweatshops in Indonesia, China, Haiti and territories of the United States would no longer be fired in secret.

Nike and other apparel companies said information about their factories was a “trade secret” and could not be shared without ruining business. After months of organizing on dozens of campuses, the campaign paid off with the largest apparel leader – Nike – doing partial and then ultimately full disclosure of its factory sites. Other apparel industries followed suit.

So that gives a glimpse of another aspect of goals: Goals that have more meaning and impact on people’s lives can be more useful than goals that have less impact.

"I personally went on a speaking tour during the USAS campaign with a union organizer named Haryanto, who had been fired for passing out Nike’s Code of Conduct in a factory. Because of the pressure mounting against Nike for full disclosure, when his factory got exposed to the public, he become the first union organizer in a Nike sweatshop to be reinstated through international pressure." - Daniel Hunter

Goals that set up the movement for future wins are more useful than goals that prove to be dead-ends. (Does that new achievement encourage more activism? Does it lead to a practical next step?). In the case of full disclosure of sweatshops, it led naturally to a campaign to create and get campuses to endorse using a monitoring organization, now called the Workers Right Consortium.

Campaigns may be made up by many different tactics #

Blockades, sit-ins, strikes, marches, street speak-outs are all tactics that might show up in campaigns. In the case of the USAS, all of those tactics were used, plus many creative ones like the sweatshop-in (sewing all night and day in a public square).

In campaigns, the tactics are designed to keep the pressure on. Throughout the campaign the pressure on the target keeps being applied until they accept or can no longer oppose.

Otpor, the student movement organization in Yugoslavia, understood this when they built their successful campaign to oust the brutal dictator Slobodan Milosevic. They picked tactics that kept escalating the pressure on Milosevic. They started with creative forms of popular education and guerilla theatre, and moved to illegal public protests combined with other tactics. (One highly effective tactic was “stalking police officers” – getting the names of police officers who brutalised students on the streets, and then showing up in their neighborhoods with signs saying, “This police officer beats up peaceful protestors.” It was so effective at shaming police officers in front of their neighbors/families, that Milosevic could no longer count on them to follow orders.) As the public pressure mounted, Otpor eventually shut down the capital city, literally stormed the parliament building, and forced Milosevic into exile.

Different tactics are used to do education and outreach to specific allies/ally groups. Petitions and marches mobilise support and show power, and build towards mass noncooperation with the system (like boycotting campus sweatshop apparel).

Campaigns take time to build #

In this way, they differ from one-time actions. They are sustained and involve building pressure over time. While a one-time march might scare the politicians, they want to know if they can “stay cool till the heat blows over.”

Campaigns make sure the temperature on politicians (or whoever the targets are) stays hot. They keep escalating tactics until a win is gained.

This also distinguishes campaigns. They have an end-point: when the campaign wins. Campaign groups can clap their hands, celebrate, and then tic off a checkmark on that campaign! (In some cases, like that of USAS, there may be a need for monitoring to protect the win from rollback.)

If they choose, campaign organizations can lay themselves down and free up individuals to work on the next campaign. That’s different from building an action organization that protests every month for years, with no end in sight. (Organization building is also valuable! But one advantage of campaigns is they do not always need a wide organizational base to win.) Indian National Congress provided another model: doing an “all out” campaign every couple of years, and returning to their “regular” political activity in between.

Why do campaigns work? #

The movement needs leadership and experience at the grassroots.

In order to carry out effective national campaigns, we cannot rely solely on national or international leadership. King, Gandhi and Che may be great: but the real power of social change lies in the grassroots.

Campaigns build local capacity and local leadership in a natural, decentralized way. With local victories come increased self-confidence and readiness to take on more and more. With experience, groups make smarter and more sophisticated decisions.

Campaigns are also radicalising processes: people who get deep into one issue are likely to learn – not at a book-reading level but via personal experience – the ways issues connect. When campaigning about local housing issues, for example, people naturally run into environmental, economic, and political issues, too. As local activists get smarter and more experienced, they are less caught up in useless political skirmishes or sidetracked by negotiated settlements with the opposition (bargaining for higher wages but breaking the union). Reflected upon experience creates wisdom, which is a pool we will have to draw from again and again.

Local campaigns can be replicable #

As local organizations explore issues and try out new tactics, they are more likely to run across tactics that are replicable. The national sit-in movement, for example, began with four students in Greensboro, NC who decided to take on their local Woolworth. They popularized the tactic we now know as the sit-in.

The innovation was the tactic – and the implicit campaign goal. It was local, so it could happen in hundreds of other locations. Out of one local action came a national movement. So even while the national/international organizations and coalitions argue out details, we can change the agenda by our combined local actions.

A more recent example of that occurred in the struggle against the US’s domestic war on Muslims, Arabs and other marginalized groups. Hundreds of cities passed city council resolutions against the so-called USA PATRIOT Act. For a long time this growing movement went unnoticed by the mainstream until a New York Times reporter in Flagstaff, Arizona, (a fairly conservative city) found that the city passed a resolution against the USA PATRIOT Act. Thinking it was a fluke, he investigated, and broke the story that dozens of cities had passed such resolutions! Some of the resolutions were symbolic statements, while others pushed the envelope and constrained local officers to not be involved in any USA PATRIOT Act-related round-up.

Though each resolution resulted from a local campaign, the impact of so many cities passing such resolutions amounts to a groundswell of opposition to the PATRIOT Act. In fact, resistance was so high that just recently John Ashcroft tried to take back the offensive by launching a major publicity campaign and doing speaking tours on the PATRIOT Act around the country. The campaign has provided communities with a voice: they don’t have to act powerless in the face of oppression. In fact, it has resulted in a major scaling back of plans to launch a PATRIOT Act II. (Senators who authored the document recently claimed they had never even heard of it!).

Campaigns take the offensive #

As in the case of the PATRIOT Act, campaigns reclaim the initiative. It puts the oppressors in the mode they should stay in: defensive.

Protests often keep us on the defensive: responding to the last war, bemoaning the most recent destroyed housing, attacking the latest action by our mayor/Senator/Governor, or doing mass actions when and where powerholders meet. Campaigns are about achieving goals – and therefore are inherently on the offense. We set the goal and we push for that goal. Local sit-ins put those who would enforce the Jim Crow laws on the defensive.

Campaigns pull the foundation of society – the grassroots – out from underneath the structure of oppression. As more campaigns win, more and more people are ready to resist and non-cooperate with the oppressive patterns of society. A building cannot support itself without its foundations.

Campaigns bring in new energy and form new allies #

Many of us work towards a meaningful social revolution with a new paradigm. We are not content with single isolated victories.

Campaigns mobilize new constituencies. People like winning, and people like being part of a movement that is headed somewhere. “What’s your goal?” people so often want to know. By being in a campaign, you can bring in people interested in achieving meaningful goals, but who are not yet ready for the revolution (unlike trying to convert them to Marxism, and then tell them to protest the war). New people provide new energy and help radicalize stale organizations.

Furthermore, in a campaign you may be able to engage passive allies. While some political allies may not be ready to sign up for a lifetime of activism, more are ready to work for a specific campaign (which has a limited duration). Campaigns can be key radicalizing processes for such potential armchair activists or isolated allies.

For a grassroots revolution to take place we need a radicalized grassroots base. Without a grassroots ready to challenge the system, confident enough to take on leadership, and experienced enough to make wise decisions, we cannot gain our larger social justice aims.

Targeting specific key allies can also be the difference between victory in a campaign. George Lakey writes of an example of this:

A small group of activists once threw a monkey wrench into a U.S. foreign policy objective by correctly figuring out who to influence through direct action. The U.S. was supporting, as it often does, a military dictatorship that was killing thousands of people. In fact, Pakistani dictator Yayah Khan was killing hundreds of thousands of people in East Bengal who wanted independence. The U.S. government lied about its support, but the activists learned that Pakistani ships were on their way to U.S. ports to pick up military supplies for the continuing massacre. The group also realized that if longshoremen refused to load the ships, the U.S. government would be foiled.

The problem was, the East Coast longshoremen were, if anything, politically inclined to support the government, and wanted to feed their families. The activists repeatedly tried to persuade the longshoremen to act in solidarity with the East Bengalis, without success. It was time for direct action. The group announced a blockade of the port which was expecting the next Pakistani freighter, and began practicing “naval maneuvers” with sailboats, rowboats and the rest of its motley fleet. The media gave ongoing coverage, and longshoremen witnessed on television as well as in person the strange antics of protesters who seemed to believe they could stop a big freighter with tiny boats. The tactic raised the longshoremen’s motivation to listen and discuss, and they agreed that, if the activists created a picket line, the longshoremen would refuse to cross it!

When the campaign succeeded in that city, the activists took it to other port cities, and finally the International Longshoremen’s union agreed workers would not load Pakistan-bound weapons anywhere in the U.S.! The blockade, initiated by a small group, succeeded because the group crafted direct action tactics specifically geared toward the part of the public that most needed to be influenced.

Through campaigns we can involve constituencies who are ready to be moved into action and move those who are merely passive spectators into participants! Rather than waiting for groups to agree with our vision, we can use tactics to engage with them: and in the context of a clear objective, help them see the reasons why they should support that goal.

Ultimately, campaigns are strategic in that they are headed somewhere. They are a series of tactics, headed toward an attainable goal, which build skills for resistance and grassroots leadership. They can bring in new allies and activate others that have become passive.

The question now is: what campaigns are we ready to take on in our contexts? Already movements around the world use campaigns – Otpor in Serbia, Nagas in India, farmers in Thailand, pro-democracy activists in Kenya and innumerable others. As we act in solidarity with them, what campaign goals will help our movements? How can your group/organization/collective integrate campaign thinking into its work? What campaigns can we imagine – locally, nationally, internationally – and build?

So: let’s wage campaigns for social justice, not just protest for it!

Steps to organise a campaign #

1. get people together #.

Start by getting together two or three likeminded people. Having a few different perspectives will help you come up with a better strategy (the next step!). And you will soon find out that lots needs to happen, so having a few people to help you comes in handy.

By Joppe | Generated using Dall-e

Grassroots organizing is an essential and powerful tool in any successful campaign. It is a type of direct action that relies on the mobilization of ordinary people to take action in their local community. Grassroots organizing is often used to build a base of support, spread awareness, and recruit volunteers and activists.

Check out our organising chapter to learn more about how to mobilise more people, keep people involved, work together with other organisations, and more:

2. Start strategising #

Often, people who are new with activism will just start a petition or organise a protest march, without thinking too much about whether that helps them to achieve their goals. This is a mistake.

Instead, make a strategy first. Think about the following:

What you would like to achieve?

Who are the stakeholders?

How do we pressure decision makers to act?

An activist standing in front of a maze strategizing

Strategizing is a critical part of organizing a successful campaign, as it allows activists to be more informed and organized in achieving their goals. It is important to take the time to think through the steps that need to be taken to reach a desired outcome, as well as to identify the resources, tactics, and strategies that will be most effective.

Learn how to write your own campaign strategy:

3. Choose your action tactics #

Once you have figured out your strategy, you know what type of action tactics you need to choose from to make impact. Now is the time to use your creativity and start organising an action.

In our tactics chapter, we help you answer questions like:

How do we prepare this action?

How do we make our action visually appealing?

How many people do we need for this action?

What materials do we need?

People sitting at a table having a meeting

Once you have a clear idea of the action you want to take, you can start planning and gathering the materials and resources necessary for success. You need to carefully consider what type of action is most likely to be successful and how to best use your resources. Good planning is essential for a successful action. You need to think about all the details, such as timing, location, publicity and media coverage, support from other organisations, resources, logistics, and safety. You also need to think about how you will evaluate the success of your action.

For inspiration, check out our list with action tactics used by activists around the globe:

4. Communicate your message #

You want the right people to know about your campaign. So you need to develop a communication strategy:

Who do we talk with?

What do we say?

What platforms do we use to share our message?

How do we create content to share?

Someone sitting behind their laptop taking minutes

First, you should identify your target audience. Who do you want to reach with your message? Are you targeting other activists, the media, political leaders, or the general public? Understanding who your target audience is will help you determine the best way to communicate your message.

Once you know the audience you want to reach, you need to decide what to say. What is the main message of your campaign? How will you explain the issue you are advocating for? Your message should be concise and compelling.

Next, you should determine which platforms to use to share your message. Do you plan to use social media, traditional media outlets, or email? Each platform has advantages and disadvantages. You should consider which platform is best for your campaign and the audience you plan to reach.

Finally, you need to create content to share. This could include written articles, videos, or press releases. Think about what type of content will be most effective for your campaign and the audience you are trying to reach. You should also consider how often you will be creating content and how often you will be sharing it.

Have a look at our communication chapter to learn more:

5. Take care #

Remember: you are in this for the long run. Do not work yourself and your fellow activists into a burnout. In our wellbeing chapter, we explain how to do activism in a healthy way.

Check out our wellbeing chapter to learn more about:

Self-care : Activism can be a stressful and emotionally draining experience. It is important to take care of your mental health while engaging in activism. This means taking measures to protect your mental wellbeing, such as taking breaks, setting healthy boundaries, and reaching out for help when needed. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the potential mental risks associated with activism, such as experiencing burnout or trauma. You should be prepared to deal with these issues if they arise.

Group care : Group care is the practice of taking care of each other within a group of activists. This includes providing emotional and physical support, setting healthy boundaries, and encouraging self-care. It is important to create a safe and nourishing environment for everyone in the group to ensure that everyone

Physical health: It is important to take care of your physical health while engaging in activism. This means taking measures to protect your physical well-being, such as eating a nutritious diet, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. Additionally, it is important to be aware of the potential physical risks associated with activism, such as exposure to tear gas, pepper spray, and other crowd control weapons. You should be prepared to give basic first aid at protests to protect yourself and others if necessary.

Learn all about group-, action- and self-care.

6. Pick your digital toolset #

If you are not using the right digital tools, you will soon find yourself overwhelmed with boring administrative tasks. With a good digital toolset, you will be able to do more in less time.

Check out our tools chapter to learn all about:

Project management: Use tools to keep track of to-do's and stay on track with your team.

Creating a website : Allow people to sign up for events, add forms for registering as member, share guides for your volunteers, and write content so you can be found via search engines

Automate administrative tasks: Use tools like Zapier or n8n to make all of your digital tools work together seamlessly.

Digital security: You should protect yourself and fellow change-makers from hackers. As activist, you are in a high risk group.

And much more! For example: learn how to livesteam actions, find free stock images or record podcasts.

Check out our tools chapter, to find campaigning tools that are easy to use and affordable for nonprofits:

7. Know your rights #

Once you start making impact, you will find that your opponents start using the law to try and stop you. Don't let them. In many countries, the law provides certain protections to activists.

In many countries , activists have the right to peacefully protest and express their views. This is protected by the freedom of speech and assembly clauses in many constitutions. This means that you can gather together and express your opinion without fear of punishment or censorship. You may not be able to block traffic or cause harm to others in the process, but you should be able to peacefully gather and express your views without fear of being arrested.

In addition, the law also often protects activists from being surveilled or spied on without a warrant. This is important because it means that the government cannot put you under surveillance without a valid reason. This protects your privacy and allows you to be able to organize and plan for your cause without fear of the government eavesdropping on your conversations or activities.

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Improve this page #

You can make this guide on how to organize a campaign better!

Add links to related guides on Activist Handbook (for example, if the article mentions something about social media, add a link to our social media guide)

Translate this guide into other languages.

Many people are looking up information about campaigning in the context of online campaigning or marketing campaigns. Those topics do not fit in this article. However, your could create a guide on marketing campaigns in our communication chapter.

Most of the external resources are about campaign strategy . Make sure that guides that are only about strategy are moved to our strategy chapter.

Search keywords #

Keywords	Monthly searches	Relevancy
organise campaign	40	high
organise a campaign	30	high
how to organise a campaign	30	high
objectives of advocacy campaigns	30	high
awareness campaign	7.2K	low
online advocacy campaign	110	medium

External resources #

Reusable resources #, high quality 🤩 #.

Campaign strategy workshop Guide: Campaign Planning, How To Get Started by Anna Collins Nham and Campaign Bootcamp

Extensive & elaborate guide Getting an Advocacy Campaign Off the Ground by Community Tool Box

Campaign planning template Planning Template, The Campaign Canvas by Mobilization Labs

Perspective Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Building Power Guide by Original Power (2018)

Copyright resources #

Perspective Global South PDF: Planning an Advocacy Campaign by MyDemocracyTree Namibia

Extensive read Book: How to Win Campaigns, Communications for Change by Chris Rose

Global feminist perspective & practical workshops PDF: Developing Effective Advocacy Campaigns by Nancy Flowers Rakhee Goyal

Campaign planning template PDF: Advocacy Campaign Planning by Common Ground

Practical & easy to understand PDF: Making a Plan to Win, How to Run an Advocacy Campaign

Easy to understand advocacy strategy 7-Step Advocacy Plan by YWCA

Perspective Global South Planning an advocacy strategy by NoHep

Elaborate advocacy guide Collection: Making Research Evidence Matter, A Guide to Policy Advocacy in Transition Countries by Young, Eóin and Lisa Quinn (2012)

OK quality 🤔 #

Experienced campaigner, but US focus Guide: Campaigning for Social Change- Beyond Just Protesting For It by Daniel Hunter

Elaborate, but difficult language used 13 Strategies for your Advocacy Campaign by Sohini Paul, Civil Society Academy

Meh quality 🫤 #

10 advocacy strategies for your organization’s next campaign by Bonterra (2022)

Advocacy Planning, Your 10-Step Plan by National Council for the Social Studies

How to write a campaign advocacy plan by Cycling UK

Advocacy key steps by YouthDoIt

How to Build a Nonprofit Advocacy Campaign, Tips & Examples by Quorum

Strategic Planning Tools for Successful Advocacy by ProsperityNow

Advocacy Plan, Where do I begin by Joe Fuld (2023)

4 Quick Tips to Remember When Planning an Advocacy Campaign by TopNonprofits

13 Advocacy Strategies for Running a Successful Campaign by VoterVoice

Attribution #

The following resources were reused:

Campaigning for Social Change, Beyond just protesting for it! by Daniel Hunter (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial BY-NC)

We're building the Wikipedia for activists

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103 Charity Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best charity topic ideas & essay examples, 💡 interesting topics to write about charity, 📌 simple & easy charity essay titles, 👍 good essay topics on charity.

John Winthrop’s Model of Christian Charity A Model of Christian Charity is a short sermon that was written to summarize and arrange the ideas relevant to living in the Puritan colony, which wanted to be successful in the ‘new world’.
Football Fundraising Charity Project As for the first one, namely the establishment of the tournament, it is planned to gain profit from selling tickets to see the match.
Charitable Organizations: Mission and Functions To avoid donating money to the organization having the reputation of the kind, it is necessary to take a brief look at such charities as British Diabetic Association and British Institute of Learning Disabilities, as […]
Efforts to Raise Money for Charity However, the point is that charity is supposed to be for a simple act of giving and not expecting any returns from it.
Blood Donation as a Charitable Activity for Society We call it the black age where human miserably fought the worst wars of the human history, taken of vast land just for the cause of creating dominance on the map of the earth or […]
Qatar: Foreign Policy and Charity in Niger The study analyses the application of the results of the work of two authors – Amartrya Sen and Mark Duffield – dedicated to the reasons and the ways of solving of the humanitarian catastrophes in […]
Welfare and Charity in Society Even though that there is plenty of evidence as to the fact that biological factors play a very important role, within a context of defining people’s social status, the very thought that citizens’ racial affiliation […]
Charity Begins at Home: Benefits of Being Non-Profit With regard to non-profits, the stakeholder group constitutes of donors and the recipients. In addition, donors ensure of only funding non-profits that are more likely to abide by the rules and regulations that government such […]
Corruption in Charity Organizations However, certain rich people avoid paying taxes by giving lots of money to charities in the form of donations. The main reason why some people donate to charities is so that they can win the […]
Corporate Philanthropy and Social Responsibility The concept of corporate philanthropy evolved as a response to the threat anti-corporate campaigns pose to companies’ license to operate. The idea of corporate philanthropy is, however, a contradiction considering that companies are legally bound […]
“Hope of Children” Charity Organization Operations In addition, developing countries experience wars weakening the countries’ economy thus unable to provide for the basic needs of the less privileged in the society.
Why People Should Donate Time, Money, Energy to a Particular Organization, Charity, or Cause Its vision is to have a world that is free from Alzheimer’s disease.”The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading, global voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care and support, and the largest private, nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s […]
Problems With Monitoring/Controlling Charity Fundraising Projects The first issue in the assigned scenario refers to the risks of undetected stealing from the raised funds if the company uses traditional rather than virtual fundraising.
The Relationship Between Faith and Charity The word church in the Apostles’ Creed, similarly to the Bible, refers to the people of God, the holy society made up of individuals who profess faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy […]
Peter Singer’s Enduring Argument for Global Philanthropy In his famous 1972 article, “Hunger, Abundance, and Morality” the researcher, referring to the famine that broke out in Bangladesh in 1971, argued for the moral obligation of people in the wealthy West to help […]
The Borealis Philanthropy Organization’s Activity The company serves as an intermediary for the people in creating an environment of resilience and community growth free of bias. Approaching the work requires the incorporation of advocacy as a role of the department.
Business Charitable Contributions for Tax Purposes For instance, the way a tax is imposed for a sole proprietor is different for a partner in a partnership business.
Emirian Football Fundraising Charity’s Fund-Raising Project Therefore, the project charter for the Emirian Football Fundraising charity project will cover the scope of the goals and the people that will be involved in meeting the project milestones.
International Marketing: Corporate Philanthropy The management styles in the world vary in many ways that are characterized by the individualism or collectivism indexes and Power Distance Index.
Charitable Organizations and Trust Models: Duties and Ethics The main objective of duty of obedience is to ensure and maintain that the performance of the trustee in so far as the usage of trust funds are concerned, are in line with the objectives […]
Charitable Appeal From Two Points of View The concept of a charity appeal is traditionally viewed as one of the opportunities that must be provided to vulnerable groups in a democratic state as the means of providing them with the opportunity to […]
Charity Health Care Organization: Training Expatriates Before the expatriates are posted from the headquarters to the division where they are to carry out their job duties, there is need to carry out an elaborate training program for the expatriates so that […]
Effective Charity: Satisfying Main Social and Universal Requirements Charity can become the tool by the means of which the society satisfies the main social and universal requirements more and more.
Charitable Agency Project: Sourcing Donations Another idea we can also consider is approaching the rental firms around the city and talking to them about the possibility of having them work with us in developing a clothes rental discount voucher for […]
Charity Commission’s Policy Analysis It is possible to single out three sets of regulations: the system of charity regulations, the system of financial regulations and the system of organizational regulations.
Lineages and Charitable Work in Chinese History As Cao Xueqin noted in a book “The story of the Stone”, the traditional lineage and order of subordination was held even among the servants and the maids.
Philanthropy: Approaches of Nonprofit Organizations It is viewed that there is difference in perception and priorities of charity and voluntary work among generations of those born in the 1960s and 70s, and those born in the late 1970s through the […]
Children at Risk Charity Organisation’s Marketing Plan In the process, the areas such as the development of brand identity, the analysis of potential population segments and their needs, and the promotion of effective communication will be considered.
Students’ Charitable Initiatives and Warm-Glow Theory The research question will be ‘Interrogating the place that the warm glow theory has in the charitable initiatives of university students?’ The understanding of some social acts has been whopping trepidation to a number of […]
Canadian Animal Welfare and Role in the Charity Canada’s government and the justice system must oversee the welfare of pets, livestock, and performance animals equally to ensure an ethical approach to animal rights protection.
Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia The possibility of arranging a personalized schedule is discussed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Supervisor, and the particular employee. The decision of closing may be made by the CEO in the case of extreme […]
US Charities in Haiti After the 2010 Earthquake This paper aims to explore the overall implications of the earthquake and the response to it, as well as to provide an examination of the actions of three U.S.-based NGOs, which contributed to the restoration […]
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Describe a Charity [IELTS Speaking]

Posted by David S. Wills | Jan 11, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Speaking | 0

In part 2 of the IELTS speaking test, you will be asked to describe something. There are many, many different possibilities, including people , memories , objects , places , and animals , but today we are going to look at something a bit different. It is: “Describe a charity.”

In this lesson, we will cover a possible cue card, some useful language, other advice, and I will also provide my own sample answer.

Cue Card: Describe a Charity

First of all, let’s look at a likely cue card for this topic:

Describe a charity which is important to you. You should say: – what the charity does – why you are interested in this charity – how this charity raises money and explain whether you think it is important for people to get involved in charity work.

Remember that this is just one theoretical example and there is no such thing as a list of guaranteed IELTS questions to memorise. You should instead focus on preparing for common topics.

Analysing the Cue Card

You do not really need to talk about everything on the cue card but it is generally a good idea to do so. This will help you talk logically and fluently. As you can imagine, this is a stressful part of the test and people tend to get pretty flustered about it. It’s good to follow a list of bullet points to avoid getting mixed up.

First of all, though, we need to make sure that we understand what the cue card is asking us. In this case, we need to think about two things:

Our answer must revolve around a charity (ie not a business or government)
It must be one that we consider important (ie don’t later criticise it too much)

This probably sounds very obvious, but you would be surprised how easy it is to panic and make a mistake. Some people think about charities, then giving away money, and that might bring them to think of a business or governmental agency.

As for the bullet points, it is a good idea to talk about these things. It can help you to give a full, rounded answer that allows you to show off your English skills. It is usually structured so that you can explain the main topic adequately. In this case, the instructions are pretty straightforward.

Charity Vocabulary

For this sort of question, you will need to know some language related to charities. First of all, let’s just think about the main word itself: charity.

Noun	Adjective	Adverb
Charity	Charitable	Charitably

It is helpful to know this sort of language because you can then apply these variants to make your sentences more interesting. There is no verb form, but rather we would say “give to charity.” It is also worth knowing some of these words and phrases:

Vocabulary	Meaning	Example
Donate	(verb) give (money or goods) for a good cause	Last week, we donated our old clothes to a charity that serves homeless people.
Giving	(adj.) generous, compassionate	She was a giving person by nature.
Underprivileged	(adj.) not enjoying the same standard of living or rights as the majority of people in a society	This charity aims to help the underprivileged in society.
Transparent	(adj.) open to public scrutiny	It is essential for charities to be transparent in this day and age, or else they will draw criticism.
Volunteer	(verb) work for an organization without being paid	I volunteered in Nepal for two years after university.
Volunteer	(noun) a person who does unpaid work	She is a volunteer at the local animal shelter.

When it comes to charity, there were invariably be some talk of money because a lot of charities rely upon donations. As such, you should be aware of verb-preposition collocations. For example:

Give (money) to (someone/something)
Save (money) for (someone/something)
Spend (money) (on) (someone/something)

Note how these are used in the following passage:

I think it is really important for people to give money to charity because otherwise there will be people in society who have nothing. Governments don’t spend nearly enough on solving the homeless epidemic or dealing with refugees. I always save some of my income for charitable purposes because it is really important to me… and I hope it becomes important to you, too.

You can read some more vocabulary to describe a charity for IELTS here . It is a listening exercise but it contains some good vocab practice.

Making Notes

After you are given the cue card, you will have just one minute to think about your answer. During this time, it is a good idea to make a few notes. The time will fly by quickly and you cannot write nearly as much as you would think, but it is worth trying to note down some important vocabulary or ideas to help you structure your answer.

Here is what I would write:

raise money
preservation
get involved

It is not important for you to understand this. Notes only need to be intelligible to the person who reads them, and in this case it will be me.

Sample Answer

There is one charity that is important to me above all others. It is called the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society and I have given them money periodically since I was a small child.

All my life, I have been in love with the sea and the incredible animals that live there. When I was young, my mum and dad paid for a subscription to this charity, and so they would send me pictures and videos about whales. I loved the feeling of helping in some small way. Later, I would organise charity events to raise money for them, and finally when I was an adult I would just set aside a small portion of my income to go to that charity.

The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society is dedicated to the preservation of whales and dolphins, as its name suggests. It is a global charity but was founded in the UK. When I was young, I was fascinated by its work protecting whales off the western coast of Canada and the United States, but its work extends well beyond that because of the migratory nature of these animals.

They raise their money in different ways but rely heavily upon donations from people. They also let people adopt a whale or dolphin, which essentially means that they pay to follow that animal’s life and the money they give is used to fund its protection. This lets people feel that they are responsible for the creature’s welfare, giving them a more personal relationship.

I think that it is really important to give to charity or get involved in some way. Most people live selfish lives focused on their own well-being, but giving to others or helping animals is far more rewarding and ultimately helps to make the world a better place.

Notes on the Answer

This answer followed the structure of the cue card because it seemed quite logical. As long as there is a logical flow of ideas, it is fine to do this, but you can also play around with the order if you prefer.

As for vocabulary, I have used some words and phrases that are generally good for charities:

given them money periodically
paid for a subscription
helping in some small way
organise charity events
aside a small portion of my income
dedicated to the preservation of ___
founded in the UK
rely heavily upon donations
the money they give is used to ___
give to charity
make the world a better place

There is also some language specifically related to my favourite charity, though of course this will be different for each charity. Those that deal with homelessness, women’s issues, or climate change would have different language.

Ok, that’s all for this lesson. Hopefully you can use this language and advice to describe a charity that you really care about. Leave your description in the comment box if you want feedback on it.

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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IELTS General Writing Task 1: Raising Money for Charity (informal)

Nov 11, 2021 | IELTS , IELTS Test , IELTS Writing

Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of Copy of IELTS Reading Tips by Andrew Turner at English With An Expert 7

This month we are returning to IELTS Writing General Task 1. This time we have tackled an informal letter – which is usually one written to a friend.

Unlike Speaking, Writing is marked for Task Achievement – which effectively means you must answer all parts of the question and stay on topic. This means that each bullet point must be fully and more or less equally answered.

Here is the template followed when answering this month’s question…

Salutation – it is important to use the correct tone

1st paragraph – answering the first bullet point

2nd paragraph – answering the second bullet point

3rd and 4th paragraphs – answering the third bullet point

Sign off – it is important to maintain the tone with which you started

The Question

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task. Write at least 150 words.

You are planning an event to raise money for a charity. You would like your friend to help you.

Write a letter to this friend.

In your letter

give information about the charity you will help
describe how you are planning to raise money
say why you would like your friend to join you

You do NOT need to write any addresses.

Begin your letter as follows:

Dear …………… ,

IELTS Writing General Task 1 Model Answer - Raising Money for Charity (informal) by Andrew Turner @ EnglishWithAnExpert.com

How’s it going? I’m writing in the hope that you’ll join me in a big fundraising effort for Emmaus Leeds, a charity doing vital work in helping homeless people to get back on their feet. Emmaus does a sterling job in providing a stable home and gainful employment for people who desperately need it, but there’s one thing they’re falling short of this year: the funds for a new van.

I plan to break a Guinness World Record (yes!) by hosting the largest ever bake sale. If all goes to plan – it’ll be a Herculean task, mind you – there’ll be upwards of a thousand bakers purveying sweet goods, all of which will directly fund the charity’s good cause.

So I need all hands on deck! I know you’ve had experience organising large events in the past; your input would be invaluable. If you’re free, I’d be very grateful if you could help me in organising the event logistics.

Do let me know what you think.

Best regards,

Lawrence Cutting

If you would like to answer the same question and receive feedback, purchase one of our Writing Correction Packages .

If you would like to watch a video about how to write IELTS General Task 1 letters, visit this page .

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How Planning a Charity Event Works

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Junior League of Atlanta's Shamrock 'n' Roll road race

The only thing better than hosting a great party is planning one that benefits a worthy cause to boot. There's certainly no shortage of charity functions that you can attend, from sporting events and simple bake sales to elaborate black-tie dinners. Conveniently enough, charitable giving can be as simple or involved as a person prefers, from writing a check to throwing an all-out, upscale affair complete with local celebrities. Although many people prefer to simply support a charity by attending an event, others choose to donate resources even more precious than money -- their time, talent and energy. Without volunteers to spearhead functions, charities would suffer reduced proceeds, taking much-needed funds away from the people, groups and causes they're dedicated to benefiting.

Becoming involved in a charity event can be a mutually beneficial relationship. Aside from that general warm and fuzzy feeling that accompanies helping those less fortunate, professional gains are common for volunteers who assist with the various aspects of planning a charity event. High school or college students looking to beef up applications or seeking professional experience or even internships can do so by volunteering with a credible organization. Working professionals, from the post-college era well into an established career, can continually expand their professional network through involvement with a community or career-related charity organization. Stay-at-home moms and dads may even choose to fill up the missing years in their resumes by volunteering in their spare time. Whatever the situation, many nonprofit organizations are constantly on the hunt for reliable and passionate volunteers. We've put together a basic guide for would-be charity event planners interested in learning more about how these detailed affairs are planned.

Choosing a Charitable Cause and Connecting with Charitable Organizations

Types of charity events, organizing volunteers for charity events, involving businesses in charity events, charity event publicity, other tips for planning a charity event.

large donation for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta

It can be daunting to select a charitable organization with so many worthy causes to choose from. World-famous causes that serve people in need far from home like Amnesty International or the March of Dimes Foundation have long-standing reputations of openhearted excellence. If you prefer to keep the giving a little bit closer to home, organizing an event to benefit local not-for-profit hospitals, homeless shelters or groups dedicated to improving the lives of children is an excellent way to give back to your community.

Often, when people decide to become involved in a charity, they choose an organization with a cause that has touched their life in a significant way. For example, a daughter who lost her mother or a close friend to breast cancer may elect to become involved with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a global organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for breast cancer research. Those who have no specific tie to an organization or cause may pick one at random. There's no wrong choice when it comes to selecting a charity, as long as it's a reputable organization with a proven track record for the wise allocation of donated dollars.

Once you've selected a charity, it's usually a good idea to get in touch with a representative from the organization. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is one organization that receives numerous requests each week from groups and people interested in throwing a fundraising event.

Kate Myers, Foundation Program Coordinator at Children's Healthcare, says, "Children's is very fortunate that people want to plan events to benefit the organization. It makes my job fun and exciting because I get to talk to an array of different individuals who have either had a personal experience with Children's or who care deeply about the organization."

Often, established nonprofits are happy to provide valuable guidance and ideas to help you put on a successful event. After all, charities are in the business of raising money , so they have a good idea of what works and what typically doesn't.

Before pledging support to an organization, it's a wise idea to check out the group's rating with a charity evaluation service, such as Charity Navigator . This particular site offers ratings on more than 5,500 U.S. charities based on how efficiently their dollars are spent, giving would-be donors a better idea of how well their money will be put to use. Sites such as this one help those people with good intentions avoid organizations with less-than-stellar spending policies.

The type of charity event you choose to host should depend largely on the amount of manpower and funding available during the planning process. The success of a special event is vitally dependent upon the establishment of attainable goals up front. Representatives from many charities are able to provide realistic expectations based on the size and scope of the event chosen. If a large number of dedicated volunteers from a business, service organization, club, sorority or the like are available, a larger event like a sports tournament (for instance, a 5K run or golf tournament) is feasible. Smaller groups may opt instead to plan an event on a more manageable, smaller scale, such as a charity luncheon, silent auction or speaker fundraiser.

Truly high-end galas, such as big-ticket sit-down dinners or concerts, require a much higher level of investment up front, increasing the risk taken on by coordinators that their investment won't be returned. Many groups caution volunteers not to put the horse ahead of the cart in such a situation, although many of these events turn out to be largely successful. Careful budgeting, planning and understanding of the risks involved must take place before endeavoring to pull off a large-scale event. Lower-risk events that traditionally earn a significant amount of money include simple affairs such as car washes, auctions, flea markets and bake sales [source: Amnesty International USA ]. These options are a great way for a novice to test the waters and learn more about the event planning process.

One increasingly popular type of fundraiser that requires a substantial amount of organization but little personal risk is known as an "-a-thon." For example, walk-a-thons and dance-a-thons, such as the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life or the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Dance Marathon, are prime opportunities for hundreds -- or in many cases -- thousands of people to band together to raise funds for a worthy cause and have a great time in the process.

"Dance marathons are unique in that they are typically held on college campuses, which signifies that they are completely student planned and executed," said Kathleen Tvelia, Director of Public Relations for UCLA Dance Marathon 2010. "Our generation is often accused of apathy, yet this dedication to philanthropy demonstrates otherwise. Dance Marathons prove that our generation is invested and capable of creating change in the world."

The 2010 UCLA Dance Marathon raised more than $400,000 to benefit organizations dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric AIDS . Charities appreciate each and every dollar earned. Case in point: A simple lemonade stand set up in the front yard of enterprising 4-year-old cancer patient Alex Scott (1996-2004) has since blossomed into Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation , a charity that's raised more than $30 million to further pediatric cancer research. This example is positive proof that even the smallest effort can change lives and affect awareness.

Charity events are as fraught with details as they are good intentions. To that end, a staff of willing volunteers is necessary to pull off a successful function. One of the first tasks to be completed for mid- to large-scale events is the designation of a committee head or chairman. Ideally, this person has significant experience in this arena, making him or her the perfect person to lead the charge for the charity. Sub-committee heads for functions such as budgeting, audio/visual needs, publicity, food/catering, document preparation, donor solicitation, logistics, budgeting and the like should be appointed next. Remaining volunteers can be subdivided into one or more groups as needed to fill gaps and keep the planning process running smoothly.

Once leadership positions have been assigned, events of any size must next select a date, time and location for the festivities. It's vital to choose a date and time that's not in direct competition with other events that draw the same crowd. For example, if the intention of a golf tournament is to draw high-level executives, be sure not to plan it for the same day as a conference targeted to the same group. It's wise to double-check chamber of commerce and newspaper calendars before scheduling to avoid any conflict. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the event to be thoroughly planned and publicized. In general, small events may be put together in as few as three months, with larger events requiring at least nine months for proper planning [source: Fundraiser Help ].

In terms of location, it tends to be easier and less costly for smaller events to find a "home," (silent auctions at the church social hall, for example) whereas others require more planning. Most cities have a variety of hotels, restaurants, business centers and other special event venues available for luncheons, dinners and other detailed affairs. Although these sites require more up-front investment, big-ticket events tend to lead to larger profits, if planned effectively.

Any party planner knows that the best events are tied together with a theme. For charity events, in particular, identifying and incorporating a theme is easy. An event raising funds for the local children's library can boast a theme related to children's literature classics, complete with inspired giveaway items, decorations and food (green eggs and ham, anyone?).

Prior to event day, all volunteers should be completely aware of their responsibilities, from setting out table linens to confirming and greeting key speakers. Even if all i's are dotted and t's are crossed, however, some details are bound to go sour or slip through the cracks altogether. To that end, prepare for the inevitable mishaps as much as possible. For example, if the caterer is short on utensils, have a volunteer at the ready to pick up extras. The old adage "you can never be too prepared" is true and especially applicable to planning events of all sizes and scopes.

Charity events are best executed with a large group of volunteers, such as friends or co-workers. "The events that are most successful are the ones that are run by a corporation or a committee," said Kate Myers, Foundation Program Coordinator at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "An individual does not have the same capacity to plan and promote their event as a corporation who has the financial resources. It is beneficial for an individual to do something within his or her own means."

goods from businesses on display at charity event

Companies and organizations with big funds at their disposal need not worry too much about budgetary restrictions. But in the case of charity organizations, the very purpose for their being is to stretch every dollar as far as it can go. Volunteers who put together or assist with planning a charity event should adopt this philosophy quickly. Local businesses and entrepreneurs are normally more than happy to associate themselves with well-known and respected charities. Often, caterers, event site coordinators and other vendors offer a nonprofit discount for their services, so be sure to shop around for the best deals.

Business solicitation is another great way to keep a tight budget in check. Volunteers can e-mail , call or visit businesses in person to ask for any goods or services they're willing or able to donate. For example, a massage therapist might donate a free couple's massage for a silent auction or giveaway, and a local coffee shop could provide complimentary coffee mugs or coupons for event attendees.

More often than not, even hard-pressed businesses can scrounge up some good or service to donate to a worthy cause, particularly if there are incentives to do so. Consider prominently displaying the company logo of donors of large sums or goods on event signage. On a different scale, donors of smaller value items can be recognized with a logo or printed name on a program or ticket. Donor recognition can be handled in any number of creative ways. Wise event planners are sure to deliver on any promises made to donors of all sizes. Jilted donors may not be so likely to repeat their act of kindness, and they often make other friends and businesses aware of their experience. Always remember that every good, service or cash donation shaves dollars off the budget and ramps up the final profit to benefit the charity.

Most event planners have woken up in a cold sweat more than once, having dreamed vividly that an upcoming event bombed, with nary an attendee in sight. Without publicity, this nightmare can quickly become a reality. After all, who (other than your mom) is going to show up if the public doesn't know when, where and why the event is happening? Smaller events can get by with posters strategically placed in business windows and on telephone poles (get permission first). Larger events require more effort to get the word out. First and foremost, consult with the charity, which may have public relations professionals on staff to assist with this venture. Often, they have existing contacts with television , radio and print media, which can facilitate media coverage of the event.

Simple calendar announcements can also be placed free of charge in magazines and newspapers serving the event's target audience. Be sure to plan well in advance, however, because most magazines work a couple of months ahead of publication. In a similar vein, submit announcements to be read at meetings of local civic and business organizations with members who would be interested in attending. When possible, attend these meetings and tell members face-to-face why they should consider supporting the charity.

For attendance and media coverage purposes, celebrities often draw a large crowd and offer the media a desirable angle for the story. A-list celebrities aren't required to generate buzz. Local persons of note, such as the mayor or even a college football star, can set tongues wagging and draw crowds and dollars . Of course, if a community celebrity is a desired addition to your event, be sure to get on his or her calendar as early in the planning process as possible.

Media-savvy event planners often elect to schedule a charity benefit for particular days or months of note. An event designed to benefit an organ transplant center might be held in April, which is Organ Donor Awareness Month. Tying in an event with a recognized date, piece of legislation or some otherwise newsworthy day increases the chance of media coverage, effectively boosting attendance and overall profit.

Stone Temple Pilots at charity event in West Hollywood

Few events go off without a hitch, even if professional-grade planners have agonized over every last detail. For those who intend to plan another charity event in the future, it's wise to take steps to determine what went well and what needed improvement. To that end, short evaluation forms can reveal the good, the bad and the ugly, and help the planning committee avoid the same fate in the future. For example, if all of the respondents trash the caterer, perhaps it's time to trade in that partnership for a new company with a more solid and tastier reputation.

Event planning is so exhausting that it's seriously tempting to avoid post-event responsibilities. It may seem at times that the volunteers have been solely responsible for the entire shindig, but in reality, a truly great event requires a multitude of people to join forces. The donors who so generously provided goods and services for auction, giveaways and the like deserve to be recognized in some form or fashion for their efforts. More often than not, a simple hand-written thank you note is all it takes to make donors feel appreciated and inclined to donate again next time.

By the same token, weary volunteers who have devoted nights, weekends and energy to the cause should also be recognized for their hard work. Often, volunteers who feel undervalued will hesitate to return to the event committee in the future. A pat on the back is often all that's necessary to re-energize a volunteer and get him or her ready for the next go-round. Event leaders should also consider polling volunteers to discover their opinion of how the planning process was handled and how the final event turned out. Volunteers in the thick of the event frequently can provide detailed insight regarding how improvements can be made, and may even be prime candidates for leadership positions in the future.

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2. Select a Theme

A theme always makes for a so much more fun event. This is important; people think that because charity event planning is raising awareness of a dire cause that the event is somehow supposed to be all serious. It doesn’t have to be that way at all. Create a lively atmosphere with a suitable theme.

Here are a few theme ideas :

Casino night “ set up various card game tables where guests can test their luck. This helps bring in additional money. Guests can also voluntarily donate the money they win.

Carnival night “ this is a good one if guests are bringing children along. Guests can purchase tokens to be used at carnival game booths. Again, money raised from the tokens helps bring in additional funds.

Auctions “ Auctions are a charity event staple. Items to auction away include handmade paintings, crafts, and items donated by companies sympathetic towards your cause.

3. Choose a Suitable Venue

This one ties back to your budget. Yes, you want an impressionable venue, but remember that the venue is usually the single biggest cost of the event. While you don’t want to use a high school gymnasium, you don’t want to have a spare-no-expense mindset either. Follow these tips when choosing a venue during charity event planning:

Choose a venue that fits with your theme. If it’s a moonlight garden theme, for example, then there should be outdoor access.
Have enough space to accommodate the expected turnout as well as additional equipment, such as game booths.
Consider a venue that is routinely used for high-profile charity events. This way, you can market the venue as such.

Some venues are also perfect for certain types of charity events. If your organization promotes science-based education for underprivileged kids, for example, then a venue like London’s Earth Halls is perfect, since it’s practically a science museum.

4. Promote the Event on Social Media

Social media is the best place to promote your charity while keeping costs to a minimum. In the weeks leading up to the event, create an event hashtag and use it in all of your posts and encourage attendees to do the same.

Posts can include updates, encourage donations, or provide statistical facts about your cause (e.g. 1 in 4 kids suffer from malnutrition by the time they’re 10). It can also include inspirational stories of how peoples’ lives were positively impacted due to charity groups like your own.

During charity event planning, you can also link to photos or videos that illustrate why your cause is so important. Social media is also a platform for raising funds before the event. Think along the lines of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Perhaps you can do something similar. Sure, it may not become a world trend, but it’ll attract a few extra people to spread the word and click the link to the donation site.

5. Continue to Promote After the Event

Your cause is an ongoing one, which is why awareness and contributions should continue well after the event . Continue to use the event hashtag for a few more days and also encourage people to continue to donate, all while keeping your followers updated on the total contribution amount and how the funds will be dispersed.

In the weeks after, share pics or posts related to post-event activity. Perhaps this can be a pic of you presenting a giant check to that children’s hospital you were raising funds for, or construction work to build that park in the inner city neighborhood that your event helped pay for.

People are donating because they care about the cause, so remind them of the difference that they are a part of.

People like you and your nonprofit org truly make a difference. By following these guidelines during charity event planning, you’ll maximize the positive impact and become a beacon of hope for your noble cause.

Make The Case for a Bigger Events Budget

When it comes to the logistics, don’t leave anything to chance. Get the best of event diagramming, guest management, venue sourcing, and check-in ” all in one free event planning app .

Looking for more information about charity event planning?

Any event whose primary purpose is to generate funds for a cause, charity, or non-profit is considered a charity event. Thus, the purpose is raising money.

For larger non-profits, some of the most successful fundraising events are large-scale galas or other splashy events. Because it’s for a good cause, wealthy individuals will pay large sums of money to attend.

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How to Host a Donation Drive in Your Community | Steps & Ideas

If you're looking to do more for the people in your community who need it most, a donation drive can provide the supplies you need. But it isn't always clear how to run one. In this article, we'll walk you through everything you need to know about donation drives, including some ideas you can implement to bring in more donations.

Donation drives are an excellent way for anyone to support their favorite charity or the community at large. Using these drives, you can raise funds or collect items like clothes, food, toys, or anything else that helps an organization achieve its mission.

Donation drives can be done in person or online. In-person drives require some strategies, planning, marketing, and event arrangements to gain more attention from everyone in the community. Online drives can be easier to hold but require one to follow some basic steps for planning and marketing.

This article will give you the specific steps to make your donation drive a success, along with some of the most popular donation drive ideas with examples.

9 Steps to Run a Donation Drive in Your Community

1. decide on a cause and items to collect.

The first step is to decide what you’ll collect and which local organization you want to help. Before you start collecting, you must reach out to the charity to get a better idea of what they need. Some organizations cannot take used items, especially if they work with small children and infants.

Online fundraising is another great way to kick off your donation drive. Sometimes, it’s easier to raise funds for a cause and either purchase items on your list or allow reputable organizations to purchase the items they need directly.

For example, The Community Grocer raises funds directly to aid their mission of sharing affordable fresh fruit and vegetables. They use Donorbox to streamline their donation process so they can spend less time fundraising and more time making a difference!

Example of someone using Donorbox to collect funds for their donation drive.

2. Finalize a location and date

Donation drives don’t need a prominent location like other events, but you need a place large enough to accommodate the people and items you’ll collect. You can hold your donation drive outside, but make sure you have a rainy-day plan. Even if you hold your drive online, you’ll still need a place to contain the items once you’ve purchased them.

Alternatively, if you’re directly sending donations to the organization, they can take care of the location requirements. If you have plans to host an in-person event for the whole community after the online donation drive, you should work with the nonprofit to select a venue and date.

3. Set goals

A donation drive’s goals are obvious but getting specific will convince people to give. Talking with the charity beforehand will help you understand what’s needed, but there are a few other things you must contemplate when coming up with your goals.

How many items will the nonprofit need?
How many people can you count on to give?
Are you collecting money too?
Will your location, date, and time affect the number of donations?
How will you advertise your donation drive?
Will your donation drive cost anything to run?

Do highlight the number of items you’re planning to collect or the amount of money you’re hoping to raise to enable the nonprofit to buy specific items. These numbers encourage more donations. Add them to your online fundraising page and across all marketing materials. Some donors would give more than they otherwise would just to help you reach that goal.

With a goal thermometer, the below campaign lets its potential donors know that they’re looking to raise $8,000 to be able to give hygiene items to women and girls in Lebanon. We love how they share everything you need to know about their mission and how they will effectively reach it right on their donation page.

Screenshot of a Donorbox fundraising page raising money for a hygiene products donation drive.

4. Form a team

Like any other event, a donation drive takes time and effort to get right. Having a team to assist you will be crucial. Recruit friends, family members, community groups like Boy Scout troops , and more.

When forming a team, several smaller jobs will need to be filled:

Meeting with the benefitting nonprofit regularly
Creating an online donation page
Promoting the event
Arranging for food and activities on the event day
Organizing and storing items
Dropping off the items
Keeping track of online donations and any payments
Raising more with peer-to-peer fundraising

You can also seek help from the nonprofit you’re working with. Ask their volunteers and board members to help with online fundraising, marketing, and event arrangements. They’ll have more expertise in these areas.

5. Find a local partner

In addition to your team, you’ll have a better chance at success if you can find a local business willing to become a partner . Companies can offer your drive a few benefits that most donors can’t:

Help with advertising
Match donations to boost your success
Sponsor a larger event to encourage more involvement and donations

Finding a corporate sponsor or matching donors for your donation drive helps you turn it into a bigger event to reach more people. In turn, the business gets to set up a stall at your event to promote its products and services to attendees.

6. Choose an online tool for fundraising and the event

These days most donation drives are online. This means you raise the money online and then buy the necessary items to help the charity. Alternatively, some collect items in person but raise donations or sell tickets to host a community event on that day.

Choose an online tool that helps you with all of the above and offers powerful behind-the-scenes functionality to help you build better relationships with your donation drive donors! Donorbox wmakes it easy to fundraise online, whether you’re launching a fundraising page, event ticketing form, donation form for a website, and more. Discover all of our products and sign up today to start fundraising in less than 15 minutes!

Check out how Hope Active leveraged its Donorbox donation page to collect the funds to purchase Christmas presents for students in need.

Example of an organization raising funds for a toy donation drive.

Raise More with Donorbox

7. Promote your donation drive

Social media has become the primary way many people get information about what’s going on in their neighborhoods, and that makes it a great place to share your donation drive! If you have a Facebook group for the community, market the donation drive there along with your fundraising and event page.

Another way to advertise your event is with posters and postcards. Businesses usually allow you to add event posters to storefronts without too much trouble. You can also drop off a few postcards with each store to place next to the cash register in case someone is interested in learning more.

If you’re partnering with a local business, they can help you spread the word about your donation drive.

8. Host the donation drive event in your community

Turn your donation drive into a fun event! This will inspire more generosity and increase the success of your drive.

Invite the nonprofit your drive is benefitting, including board members, volunteers, and staff. Ask them to speak to your event attendees about the cause and beneficiaries. If you’ve already collected donations online, you can ask the nonprofit to thank the donors and tell them about the possible impact.

Lastly, have some fun games and activities to entertain all your attendees. You can keep them close to the mission of the nonprofit and encourage beneficiaries to take part as well. Food, snacks, drinks, raffles , and more will help the nonprofit raise more money with this event.

9. Share results and thank donors

When you’re done with the event, it’s time to thank all your donors and share the results. If you’re holding an event connected with the drive, you can share this information on stage.

If not, you can still share this information online with a few social media posts. You can also write a press release with the campaign results and details to your local newspaper and see if they’d be willing to print it.

Finally, whichever organization you’re raising funds or collecting items for would appreciate each donor’s name and contact information. If you’ve received any donor details, you can send those to the nonprofit, and the donor will receive an acknowledgment letter to use when filing their taxes. This also gives the charity the chance to thank donors personally.

6 Popular Donation Drive Ideas to Implement in Your Community

1. school supplies donation drive.

Parents receive a list of necessary items for their children to have every fall before starting school . In the current economy, not all parents can afford these items, and their children go without them, or it falls to the school to provide. A school supply drive can help parents, teachers, and schools keep up with the demand and ensure each student has what they need.

NuevaLife used a Donorbox crowdfunding page to raise over $16,000 for their school supplies donation drive.

Example of an organization using Donorbox to raise money for their school supplies donation drive.

2. Food drives

A food drive is an excellent way to support families in your community and the organizations that have made it their mission to keep these people fed.

Check out how St. John’s Food for the Poor Program is raising money for its food drive with the below donation page. Local volunteers and foundations help run this program and they’ve also mentioned the impact with an image in their campaign description.

3. Baby supplies drive

If you’re looking for a way to help families with infants and young children, a baby supply drive will help cut the costs and ensure these families can spend their money on keeping their families fed and healthy. Diapers, formula, bottles, and more are all supplies that families need to care for their children.

You can also collect secondhand materials where possible to distribute to those in need.

4. Blood drives

Blood drives are always in need. Hospitals need blood to help patients after surgeries and keep them healthy through cancer and other treatments. You can work with a local organization to run a blood drive in your community.

5. Donation drive for pet food and items

There are 3,500 animal shelters and another 10,000 rescue groups in the United States. Most of these organizations are run entirely by volunteers. Millions of animals are abandoned every year, and these shelters need pet food and supplies to care for them. A pet food and items drive will help these animals stay healthy and find forever homes.

You can create an online donation drive page like the one below and add suggested donation amounts. This helps people make donations that reflect the amount of items they’d like to donate.

6. Books drive

Book drives can help organizations that work with both children and adults to increase literacy rates, which boosts someone’s ability to be employed. The ability to read can give these men, women, and children a chance at a future.

Host a book drive in your community like the Tres Hermanos Foundation in their fundraising campaign that has raised over $43,000. We love how they’ve explained their need in the campaign description, thus creating transparency around it.

Example of an organization using a Donorbox donation page to raise funds for their book drive.

Launch Your Campaign

Final Thoughts

Donation drives are an excellent way to show appreciation and support for your favorite charity. Nonprofits have much to do and few resources to get it done. By holding a donation drive, you’re taking a lot off their plates and ensuring the organization’s future.

If you’d like to learn more ways to support your community, visit our blog for a list of creative and simple community service ideas .

As you host a donation drive in your community and include online fundraising, you need to choose the right online fundraising tool to ensure maximum donations for the charity you’re helping. Donorbox is easy to set up and free to start! We’ve helped nonprofits, as well as individuals, create simple fundraising pages online. 80,000+ organizations have already raised over $2 billion in donations. Learn about all our features here .

Check out Donorbox Premium – a straightforward and high-powered success package designed for all nonprofits! We help you get access to expert fundraising coaches, excellent tech support, a dedicated account ambassador, and premium tools to boost your fundraising. Pricing is personalized for your nonprofit needs and budget. Book a demo today!

Explore a plethora of other fundraising methods, ideas, tips, downloadable templates, and more on the Donorbox Nonprofit Blog . Subscribe to our newsletter to receive a list of our best resources in your inbox every month.

Kristine Ensor

Kristine Ensor is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience working with local and international nonprofits. As a nonprofit professional she has specialized in fundraising, marketing, event planning, volunteer management, and board development.

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Charity content writing – tips and examples

Written by Andy Pearson

Want to become a great charity copywriter? This guide covers the ins and outs of website copy writing: all the practicalities involved in getting words onto your charity website.

If you need help defining your mission, audience, proposition, etc then also check out our guide on how to create a communication plan . If you are thinking about sitemaps and user journeys then try our guide to website content strategy (with a free content strategy template) .

In this guide, you’ll get lots of practical tips about writing great content for your charity’s website across the following three chapters.

Keep it brief
Write clearly and anticipate action
Format for easy reading

1. Keep it brief

Charity copywriting : work on a need to know basis.

Focus on what your reader needs to know. Don’t add info just because you have it. We recommend allocating one page per issue or question. If you need to show lots of separate points on a single page it is often best to summarise them with short headings and provide links through to more information on subpages.

A great example of a single issue page that resists the temptation to say everything is Macmillan’s ‘What is cancer’ page. This is obviously a complex topic but they keep the page short and easy to understand. How do your pages compare with this one?

Short paragraphs

Paragraph length is an area where copywriting for the web is different from other forms of writing. If you are proficient at other types of writing this can be a difficult adjustment.

The concept of one idea per paragraph is especially important on the web. Break more complex ideas into smaller chunks that stand alone as a paragraph. Ask yourself what your user really needs to know and cut the rest. A good rule of thumb is that a paragraph should have between 1 and 3 sentences.

This guidance applies to informational content but also to journalistic or persuasive content.

Avoid very long sentences and vary sentence length

Now you know that we promote short pages and short paragraphs you won’t be surprised to hear that we also recommend short sentences. However, in this area it’s not as simple as ‘short is always better’. Varying sentence length is a powerful communication technique that can be used to summarise information and provoke action. Short sentences add power when they contrast with longer sentences. Use them intentionally!

2. Write clearly and anticipate action

Use strong titles.

A good page title will summarise the entire page including the charity’s message and the desired action. You can also use strong titles to break down a longer page into sections. This is a great page title example from Oxfam:

Front load your main points

Assume readers won’t read your entire page. Make sure that your key points are in the first two paragraphs, and that the most important information can be deduced from your sub-headings, titles and bullet points.

This ‘what you can do’ page from NSPCC is a great example. The single paragraph summary and informative titles communicate the key messages quickly. The reader understands where to go next without relying on the text below the headings or the images (though both add context and depth).

Active vs passive voice

If you favour the active voice your content will be easier to understand. This is a powerful copywriting technique.

Don’t worry if you’ve never heard of these terms before. They are simply terms that help you understand alternative methods of sentence construction. To know whether you are writing in the active or passive voice, first identify the subject of the sentence. The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something.

Next, decide if the subject is doing the action or being acted upon. With an active voice the subject is doing the action; with a passive voice the subject is being acted on. Here are some examples:

Passive: Our work (subject) is sustained (action) by our members. vs Active: The money (subject) given (action) by you changes lives.

Passive: Our members (subject) sustain (action) our work. vs Active: Your donation (subject) changes (action) lives.

Simple vocabulary

The web is rarely the place for flowery language. Most charities have a broad audience who are coming to them for information or inspiration rather than stimulating language. Just because you understand the word doesn’t mean your audience will!

This readability tool runs a series of automated tests on your page. You can use this as an objective measure of your writing’s accessibility.

Calls to action

Calls to action are often neglected when charities write for the web. Why? Because writing good content is hard enough and it is easy, once you’ve communicated our point, to leave it at that.

However, neglecting calls to action runs the risk of missing a huge opportunity afforded by your website. In many other mediums, from leaflets to tube posters, there is no guarantee that the reader has the means at their disposal to respond immediately. But when you are writing a web page you have an unrivalled opportunity to anticipate and control the user’s next action.

No matter what content you are writing, always consider the next action. There will always be a next action, even if it’s closing the browser. This should be at the front of your mind.

Try to avoid these mistakes:

Mistake #1 = dead-end pages.

Avoid pages that offer no clear direction to subsequent pages.

Mistake #2 = option overload

Avoid pages that provide an overwhelming range of options.

Simply forcing yourself to think through your desired or anticipated next steps for the user is normally enough to lead you to a small and specific selection of actions. By highlighting these next steps clearly you will make your charity website dramatically more user-friendly.

This page on exercise from Parkinsons UK is a good example, offering the user a small range of relevant next steps.

3. Format for easier reading

Understand semantic formatting.

If you are not familiar with writing for the web then you may think of formatting as primarily an aesthetic endeavour (i.e. how things look). When writing for the web it is important to start thinking of formatting as primarily a semantic endeavour (i.e. what things mean).

Aesthetic: Headings should be big. vs Semantic: Headings should logically divide and describe the content.

Aesthetic: My page should be colourful to keep it interesting. vs Semantic: I should have a strong and consistent colour for all of my links so that users know which areas of the page are clickable.

Aesthetic: Long chunks of unformatted text are boring. vs Semantic: Long chunks of unformatted text are difficult to scan quickly and do not prioritise the key points.

Headings should support a logical structure

Website formatting conventions rely heavily on heading levels. The lower the number next to the heading the more important it is. For example, your page title is your heading 1 or ‘H1’ and the next level of headings you use to divide your content into sections are each heading 2 or ‘H2’.

Headings are particularly important to search engines. Using keywords in your headings will increase your visibility in search engine results when people search for those keywords. It is therefore important to use keywords in your headings where possible. Use H2’s to support your main points, and use H3-H5 only where necessary on longer pieces of content (like this guide). There should only be one H1 per page, (the page Title) so never use H1s in the main text body.

For more information specifically on search engine optimisation, check out our guide on that subject.

Headings should be informative

Headings and subheadings are a key opportunity to get your message across and encourage people to read further. Subheadings should be used wherever possible.

The ideal length for the page title is anywhere between 30-60 characters. Anything longer than this will be cropped in search engine results, so ensure that if you do write longer page titles they still make sense when cropped to the first 60 characters. Don’t be afraid of long subtitles either, though these will often be shorter than the page title.

Use other formatting techniques sparingly and consistently

Bold should be used to add emphasis to one or two particularly important words in your content, for example, a term you are defining.

Italic is a subtler way to add emphasis to your text but be aware that it can make text hard to read on many digital displays. Used carefully, italic can helpfully distinguish quotes or captions.

Never use underline. On some websites, the stylesheet may automatically add an underline to link text but you should never add this manually because it can give users the impression the underlined text should be a link.

Make sure any bullet points are in the same tense and verb form, with any common information in the preceding sentence.

Do this…

Our members receive:

Free training
Access to resources

Not this…

Our members:

Receive free training
Receive access to resources

Inline links

Try to avoid writing out the full URL and instead add meaningful link text and configure this text to point to the URL. Where possible the link text you add should maintain the natural flow of the text. An exception to this guidance is where, at the end of the content or in particular areas, you list out a range of actions for the user.

Once you’ve made good progress on your written copy you may wish to improve other areas of your online communications. Our resources library contains a wide range of free resources for charities and membership organisations.

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How To Plan A Successful Charity Walk

Table of Contents

A charity walk is a popular fundraising event that provides an opportunity for a group of people to raise both awareness and money for good causes. It also allows people who may not be able to run to participate in a fun and healthy way

Many established charities host annual walks, such as the Alzheimer’s Society’s Memory Walk and Macmillan Your Walk. However, many choose to organise their own events with friends, family or work colleagues.

A charity walk could be between a few friends or involve thousands of volunteers, it can be at any time of the day and could be anywhere from a mile to a marathon.

Below, you’ll find everything you need to successfully set up your own charity walk, big or small, and raise money for your chosen charity or non-profit.

Where to start

Organising a charity walk can be overwhelming as there are many different elements to consider. Try to enlist help, don’t panic and remember to walk before you run.

Choose a route

There are thousands of pre-planned routes to choose from across Britain which can be found at websites like Walking Britain and National Trail . Common route distances include 5k, 10k, Half Marathon and Marathon.

Alternatively, speak to your local walking or hiking club for suggestions. Be considerate of your intended participants. If you want to be inclusive of all ages and abilities, you should avoid uneven or rugged terrain.

We recommend choosing a circular route that starts and finishes at the same location. This works well for events that provide toilets, parking and refreshments, plus it offers a base for participants’ family and friends to congregate.

Route options

Old railways

Decide on a date

It’s important to consider the weather when choosing a day to host your charity walk. Obviously, the summer months will have better weather, however, you may find yourself competing with other events.

Alternatively, you can pick a date that has a significant meaning to your chosen charity.

Once you’ve selected a date, be sure to contact the local council and landowner to ensure there isn’t another event that will conflict with your charity walk.

Organising the event

You’ve got the charity, the route and the date for your charity walk – well done! Now it’s time to turn your plans into reality and organise a successful fundraising event.

There are three main things you need to do to ensure your event is fully legal and will go ahead as planned.

Contact the charity for permission to use its name and logo for the event, you’ll also be able to find out how to donate the raised funds
Seek permission to use the planned route from the local council and landowner, if applicable
Obtain liability insurance for the event in case any medical problems occur, or damage is caused to the land during the walk

Assigning roles

If you have a team of volunteers, assigning specific roles will make the entire process run smoother, plus everyone can put their individual skills to good use.

You can assign more than one person a position depending on the size of your team and event, but ideally, you should appoint the following roles:

Chairperson – to have the final say over all decisions
Vice-Chair – to assist the chairperson in making decisions
Secretary – to provide administrative support
Treasurer – to manage and organise all financial responsibilities
Health and safety advisor – to manage the health and safety of the event

Health and safety

When planning your walking event, there are a few health and safety details you’ll need to consider:

All under-18s must have a signed parental consent form to join in with the charity walk
A First Aid trained person must be present, a St John Ambulance may be required for larger events
A risk assessment must be carried out
Water should be available if it’s a warm day
The Food Standards Agency provides guidelines on how to prepare, handle and cook food for a public event

Once you’ve finalised all of the legalities and had your event signed off by the appropriate people, you’ll need to think about the things you’ll need for a walking event. Below is a list of commonly used items:

Tape, rope and cones
Food and water
Tents and tables
Medals & T-Shirts
High visibility vests
Portable toilets

Promoting your event

You’ve set the event date, the route is mapped out, and you’ve even managed to rope in a few volunteers. It’s time to promote your charity walk and get people to sign up!

Creating a basic website with all the information and contact details will make it easy to direct the public, media and sponsors.

Social Media

At the very least, create a Facebook Fan Page for your charity walk. This way, you can create a Facebook event and reach out to people and organisations with similar interests to attend.

Contact local sporting clubs, community and local information accounts as well as charity ambassadors. Encourage people to share your event’s page with local groups and their friends to spread the message further.

Flyers & Posters

Use free tools such as Canva.com and BeFunky.com to create professional-looking posters and flyers.

We recommend starting with local businesses and supermarkets to place in shop windows and on counters for their customers. Alternatively, you can reach out to sporting organisations like running clubs, exercise classes and gyms.

Charity help

When you contact your chosen charity or non-profit for permission, ask whether they can help promote your event via its website and social media channels. If you have already set up your social accounts or website, get them to link to them so people can find all the information easily.

Contact your local newspapers and radio stations and give them all the information about your charity walk.

Raising money

Your event is organised, and you’ve started to create a buzz, now it’s time to raise some money! Below are some simple ways to do this:

Registration fees

Charging a registration fee can help cover the initial running costs of the event and also acts as an official pledge from the participant to take part. People are more likely to show up when they’ve financially invested.

With an initial fee, it’s also a great incentive to offer a gift or prize for taking part such as a t-shirt or medal.

Depending on the scale of your event, you can apply a minimum sponsorship amount per participant. This can range from £20 to £100, and the majority of participants will meet and exceed their initial target.

Corporate sponsorships

Landing a sponsorship from local businesses is an effective way to raise money and promote your event. Invite their staff and customers to participate and give them logos and images to use on its official website before the event.

Refreshments

You should consider selling snacks on-site and along the route for spectators and host a BBQ or picnic after the event is done to celebrate.

After the event

If you hope to turn your charity walk into an annual affair, you should start planning as soon as possible!

Send out surveys using free tools like SurveyMonkey to participants email addresses and ask them what they liked about the walk and what they want to be improved for the next year, such as walk distance, refreshments or the route.

You could also offer a free gift or registration discount to everyone that took part to help encourage them to attend next year.

Final advice

Add a memorable theme to make your event stand out more.
Use ropes and tape to make sure your walkers don’t get lost.
Don’t forget the spectators. The amazing people taking part will no doubt have family and friends supporting them from the sidelines along the route. Crowd control and care have to be considered in regards to accessibility and safety.
Plan for situations like weather changes to avoid huge disruptions for your event.

8 skills & qualities you need to excel in the Charity sector

Do you have what it takes to make it in the charity sector? We summarise the top 8 skills and qualities you'll have if you want to impress.

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1. Enthusiasm and dedication for your chosen charitable cause

You'll need to demonstrate that you have the passion for the charity's aims and strategic direction. Voluntary work experience of some kind will be a great way to show this.

2. Team-working and people skills

At university and beyond, get involved in projects or extra-curricular activities where you'll be able to show you can work in a team.

Perhaps you could assist in organising a charity ball or fashion show? Combining fundraising with working in a team will help you to stand out.

3. Communication skills: oral and written

Much of a charity's work can be measured by it's ability to spread an effective message. Regardless of what role you apply to, you'll need to communicate with people both within a charity and externally and so you'll need to make sure your communications are top notch. Demonstrate this by writing a good C.V.

You'll be a can do person who can adapt to new situations and teams.

4. Administrative and organisational skills

Like many a role, you'll need to be a natural organiser. There might be set processes that you have to follow or they'll be times where you'll be working under pressure and you'll need to make sure you've covered the nuts and bolts part of your work with aplomb.

Learn everything you need to know before you head to work with these free e-learning courses . Discover everything from how to develop your transferable and digital skills to how to smash the application process.

5. Commercial / business awareness

Charities need money to work - and they need to employ people who have the confidence to work with budgets and funders. Some day, you could be responsible for managing hundreds of millions of pounds. At the same time, all charities have to compete with one another for certain funding - be that from a business or the government.

You'll need to be aware of what might affect a charity's ability to raise the necessary funds. For example, the credit crisis of 2008 saw an acute drop in charitable donations from both private and company donors. You'll need to be savvy as to how external factors might affect the sector.

6. Pro-activity and flexibility

You'll be a can do person who can adapt to new situations and teams. You'll be someone who can happily go from working intensively at your desk one day, to assisting on a charity run at the weekend.

You'll need to be savvy as to how external commercial factors might affect the sector.

7. Willingness to undertake routine jobs

All jobs come with the fair share of admin. We'd love to say they didn't, but it's a universal truth and due to the accountability required by many charities, it can seem that more exists in this sector.

You'll need to be someone who, from time to time, respects why certain processes are in place. Of course you might find them frustrating, but they do exist for a reason.

8. Languages

Finally, in some cases, where posts may be international, a second language may be advantageous. For more UK-based roles, only speaking English will not hinder you, but it's worth bearing in mind that if you want to work for an international charity and potentially move abroad at some point, languages can certainly help you.

Check out the latest charity and social enterprise graduate jobs today by using our application list to browse graduate jobs. What are you waiting for?

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6. Pro-activity and flexibility. You'll be a can do person who can adapt to new situations and teams. You'll be someone who can happily go from working intensively at your desk one day, to assisting on a charity run at the weekend. You'll need to be savvy as to how external commercial factors might affect the sector. 7.
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