Fundraising

Hear from those that have fundraised before you.

When starting your fundraising, it can seem like a huge challenge ahead. It’s great to take inspiration from those that have been there and done it before you. Every year we see remarkable students achieve their target through a huge range of creative activities.

The Success mindset.. Begin with the end in mind…

Someone clever somewhere once said… that the quality of our thoughts dictates the quality of our actions. And so, here’s a tip of how to approach every task within your fundraising (or life!) At TP we often use a step-by-step model to approach tasks. Before you start a task, go through these steps.

• Mindset

What’s the desired outcome? What is your goal? What mindset do you need to achieve this goal? Do you need to be creative, playful, fearless, open, honest or energetic?

• People

How are you going to do it? What do you need to know to complete this task? Put a plan together? Write a checklist? Failure to prepare is preparing to fail.

• Planning

Who needs to be involved? How will you communicate with people?

• Action

The when, what and where to implementing your plan. Then act on it. Action is the foundational key to success of your fundraising.

“Before Think Pacific I genuinely thought the idea of fundraising would be a piece of cake, I was wrong! I have so far managed to raise over £1000 from a number of different ideas I have planned and executed while studying in my final year at Liverpool John Moores University.

These ideas have included a half marathon and the liverpool 10k. Also a pub quiz night was another really good way to raise money through fees for quiz entries and a raffle. Although, the fundraising has not been an easy task, it has been an amazing challenge that I’m glad I decided to undertake. It also makes you realise what wonderful friends you have that help contribute to sharing your story and donating their time to help with events!

Now I have raised my fee – I can’t wait to depart for Fiji next month, meet my fellow team mates and begin the project.”

Matt Larson, Liverpool John Moores University

“To save up for my project I worked at a Solicitors firm, Pinsent Masons to fund the flight and gain some great work experience as my ambition is to study law..

After meeting Simon from TP, he suggested I wrote to the company partners and ask if I could present to them about the project and what it will achieve. I researched Fiji and the biggest thing that struck me was the lack of school resources and opportunity the children have, especially the lack of girls receiving further education. The firm and my colleagues really got behind me and my passion to help.

I organised sponsored activities at work including cake sales and a 10k run too. I exceeded the fundraising total and donated extra to the charity to provide even more resources to the children in Fiji. It was a rewarding feeling knowing I’d worked so hard to get here and ensured I made the most of each day.”

Tabitha Candy, Leeds University

Create a Fundraising Page!

Setting up a fundraising page is by far the easiest method to collect donations. You can share this easily across social media platforms, accept credit card payments and update everyone with your fundraising events. Here are the best two options for fundraising online..

Just Giving –  https://www.justgiving.com/think-pacific You can set up a fundraising campaign linked to Think Pacific’s Just Giving Page. Click the blue button ‘fundraise for us’ to begi and all funds raised will go directly to Think Pacific.

Go Fund Me – https://www.gofundme.com You can choose to have the page directed to Think Pacific Foundation (and the funds would go to our charity). Or you can choose to have donations directed to your own account.

Both above platforms are very popular for those fundraising for our projects. For either platform, if you set the payment to go directly to Think Pacific, then at the time your final balance is due, just send across the link to your page and our finance team will have any

Sign up to EasyFundraising

Easyfundraising is an amazing and  FREE way to raise money whilst we shop online. Over 4,000 online retailers give a small  donation with every purchase when you shop via easyfundraising. These include Amazon,  ASOS, Just Eat and many more! It’s super easy and at no extra cost! Your friends and family can get involved and help you raise money whilst they shop.

Visit Think Pacific’s Easy Fundraising Page to get started

Sponsored Activity..

Instead of just asking friends for donations why not put in a bit more effort and organise a sponsored group event. This will also give you a chance to talk to everyone about your upcoming project in Bali. Ideas include hosting a dinner, film night or a garden party with live music. A past student managed to hire a portable projector and do an outdoor screening of ‘UP’ at the lake outside our halls. She put out fairy lights, bean bags, blankets, popcorn and sweets – this was a hit as many people had never been to an outdoor cinema!

Here’s Some Ideas To Get You Started..

• Auction
• BBQ
• Quiz night
• Car wash
• Open mic night
• Fancy dress night
• Cake sale
• Talent show
• Battle of the bands
• Sponsored trek
• Sponsored silence
• Bike ride / challenge
• Coffee morning
• Bali ‘tropical’ themed party
• Treasure hunt
• Video game contest
• Football tournament
• Dog walking
• Sports tournament
• Murder mystery night
• Jewellery making
• Fashion show

Donated Text Book Sale

At the beginning of first term and the end of third term you might be able to find some generous students to donate you their old textbooks to sell. Many students will have bought theirs second hand for £5-10 and probably won’t mind giving them away. You will need to put leaflets up around campus so people know you are looking for book donations. It could be a good idea to ask if box can be kept behind the reception at the student union so students can hand their books in. Remember to ask your housemates and course mates to donate if they can and help to spread the word. Once you’ve collected enough books ask permission to hold a book sale on campus or in the library. Decorate your stand and share photos of the book sale on your university’s Facebook page – this will encourage people to come and grab a bargain, or may even lead to Facebook sales. This could be extended to all book types, or could be substituted with a clothes or Xbox game sale – why not try all three! Anything that doesn’t sell can be reshared on university social media or sold on eBay.

Online Tutoring

Online Tutoring can be a great way to raise money whilst helping others. With the current  school closures, many young people could benefit more than ever from a bit of extra support. Tutors can earn around £20 an hour and the flexible and remote nature makes it a perfect way to raise money alongside your daily schedule. You can tutor in your strongest subject and it’s an amazing way to earn money whilst building valuable relationships and  growing interpersonal skills in the process.  Here’s a couple of examples we’ve found to help you get started:

https://www.mytutor.co.uk/tutors/apply.html

https://tutorful.co.uk/become-a-tutor

Host a Virtual Event

Virtual events can be an amazing way to bring the community together and create fun  activities to keep everyone entertained during lockdown, all whilst raising money at the same  time! From virtual pub quizzes, online cooking lessons to community talent shows, there are  many creative opportunities for you to host fun events for people whilst raising money for a  good cause. You could even ask participants to give a small donation and hold a raffle or  online auction during the event to raise some extra cash!

Do Your Research…

University Funding…

If you are a university student, many universities provide support for taking part in global mobility, volunteering, work experience or expanding your skills abroad.

Please see a list of funding we are aware of on our University Guide Here

Almost every university has some form of grant that you can apply for, especially through your careers centre or global opportunities centre. Make some enquiries and never be shy to ask, the funding is there to be allocated to you, or fellow students!

Find out by sending emails to key university departments, these 3 should be at the top of your list:

1) Your course tutor or faculty

2) Your university careers centre

3) Your university study abroad team.

Share Think Pacific’s website page of the project that you are applying for and why you feel this will develop your skills and experience and ask if the university may have any scholarships or know of any funding you could apply for to achieve this.   There may be alumni grants or bursaries available that you are not currently aware of.

UK Government Turing Scheme…

It’s worth researching for scholarships, bursaries or grants that may be available to you, including the UK Government Turing Scheme.

The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s global programme to study and work abroad.

The UK Government are providing universities with over £100 Million to fund students on projects, such as Think Pacific

The scheme provides funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. Supporting the government’s Global Britain objectives, the Turing Scheme unlocks the opportunity for UK organisations to offer life-changing experiences across the world for their students, learners and pupils.

But you don’t have to be at university to gain financial support! Many local companies, charities and organisations in the community provide support for young people to achieve charitable and/or self-development projects such as Think Pacific.   Please download our fundraising guide below, where we provide lots more tips and advice.

Grants, Trusts & Company Donations..

Every year, hundreds of students receive grants for our projects from applying to charities and trusts, or from writing to local companies.

The best resource for this is a book called ‘The Directory of Grant Making Trusts’. This is a reference book and may be tucked away in your university library. It is filled with the latest contacts and opportunities, so do try and find a copy!

Example Organisations…

Lord Mayors 800th Anniversary Award Fund

The fund supports young people aged 17 – 24 who are going on character developing projects, usually abroad. ‘Including projects designed to broaden their experience, develop their self confidence and improve their career chances’.  Preference is given to those applicants with a connection to the City of London. Think Pacific participants have been extremely successful in receiving funding from this trust fund and we would encourage you to apply.

The Ferguson Trust

Each year the Ferguson Trust awards 250 grants worth £300 each to students undertaking gap years. These are given on a first come first served basis and students will only be able to receive one grant.

The Jack Petchey Foundation

This foundation offers grants up to £400 for students aged 11-25 living in London or Essex. Like the Round Table the Jack Petchey Foundation ask you to submit a report summarising your project so they can use it on their website – a great opportunity if you ask us!

Volunteer Forever

Volunteer Forever offer travellers scholarships between $500-1000 to volunteer abroad. Though scholarships are more limited in number they can be used for anything relating to your trip, not just the programme fee!

The Round Table

The Round Table offer grants to volunteers that are working on community projects outside the UK. This opportunity requires a bit more input than the previously mentioned grants. In return for financial support they ask that upon completing a project, grant recipients submit a report and give a presentation about their trip. Although this means more work for you, it’s a great opportunity to reflect on your project and to spread the word about Think Pacific’s work!

The Sir Philip Reckitt Educational Trust

If you live in Norfolk, Hull or the former East Riding of Yorkshire you can check out the SPRET trust, who exist to help support individuals embarking on educational and overseas projects.