by Roy Witman © 2006
Selling chocolate is a delicious way to raise funds if you only
need to raise a little. Silent auctions are known to bring in
bigger bucks, but they are exhausting to plan and prepare for.
Black-tie affairs with celebrity performers are always a hit,
but require an enormous amount of up-front funding. Cruises, on
the other hand, give your organization the ability to bring in
large amounts of proceeds without all the work.
Fundraising cruises are becoming more and more popular because
they give nonprofits the ability to generate greater interest,
increase donor giving and have more fun. In addition, cruise
agencies that specialize in fundraising cruises generally offer
the services of an account manager or liaison with the cruise
line who aids in planning and preparing for the tour. This
leaves your staff free to enjoy the cruise as much as the donors
who are attending.
Generate Greater Interest
Coming up with fresh ideas on an annual basis quickly becomes
tiresome. Yet, those fresh ideas are absolutely vital to attract
the interest of new donors and keep the interest of loyal,
repeat donors. If interest in your events wanes, so does your
funding for the upcoming year.
With fundraising cruises, you have the world to choose from.
Most cruise lines accommodate large fundraising parties. This
means you can opt for three- or four-night cruises to popular
destinations such as the Bahamas or more exotic locales
including Greece, Italy or Hawaii. Now that would generate a lot
of interest.
Increase Donor Giving
Working with your cruise agency, you can find packages that
offer the right levels of discounts in order to ensure your
nonprofit receives the highest percentage of donor giving. Many
cruise lines match all or part of the proceeds, allowing you to
earn even more from the cruise.
Have More Fun
All the options available to regular passengers will be
available to your fundraising party and more. Exceptional
restaurants, pools and other water activities, casinos,
nightlife, Las Vegas-style shows, full-service spa treatments
and more are at the disposal of those who sail with you.
Custom excursions exclusively for your cruise party can also be
arranged. Private parties aboard ship can be scheduled. Awards
dinners, talent shows, golf tournaments and even silent auctions
can all be lined up during the course of your cruise.
What's more, fundraising cruises can be repeated time and again
without fear of burnout or boredom on the part of your donors.
How? Because you choose which cruise line and what destinations
you prefer. The cruise is new and inviting with each year.
When you give donors something to get excited about, they reward
you with consistent funding. Check with your favorite cruise
agency for details about what they provide and how they can
assist with booking a fundraising cruise for your next event.
You'll surely find that interest, participation and
contributions rise dramatically when you do.
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