Fundraising Ideas

Every season of the year presents lots of reasons to hold parties and other events. Why not turn your gathering of friends and loved ones into a lifesaving effort for animals? Or, let your customers know that you support a wonderful cause?

Business owners and fundraiser planners, please click here to download an information sheet to fill out and turn in if you will be hosting an event or promotion where donations will be collected or generated for the Central Oklahoma Humane Society.

Check out these ideas:

• Celebrate your wedding, birthday or other special milestone by suggesting charitable donations as a gift option.
• Business owners – hold a special shopping day or event where a portion of sales benefits OK Humane.
• Business owners – create an ongoing affinity or “shop to give” promotion. Learn about similar promotions.
• Hold a yard sale or car wash to benefit the pets in our care.
• Have a Jeans/Dress Down day at the office and request that employees make a donation to participate.
• Host a neighborhood or block party and accept donations.
• Work with local bands to organize a concert and donate the cover charge.
• Organize a bake or crafts sale, lemonade stand or other sale and contribute the proceeds.
• Register to participate in a walk, marathon or other event to raise money on behalf of the animals in our care.
• Host a golf or other sports tournament.
• Sell items on eBay and designate OK Humane to receive all or a portion of the proceeds.

Why partner with the Central Oklahoma Humane Society?

• Because orphaned animals need your support.
• Because we find homes for 3,000 orphaned dogs and cats a year.
• Because we receive no government funding and rely exclusively on private donations to fund our lifesaving programs.
• Because we have a wonderfully dedicated base of supporters and a fundraising program with a great reputation.

We can provide:

• Flyers about our programs and services, as well as electronic email blasts and social media promotion with exposure for your business (if applicable)
• * Digital OK Humane logo for event flyers and other promotions (please e-mail info@okhumane.org to request)
• * Help with promoting your event (online calendar, social media, etc.)

Some things to keep in mind:

• We request that corporate sponsorship solicitations to cover the cost of putting on your fundraiser not be made in our name or on our behalf.
• We will need to review all materials that include the Central Oklahoma Humane Society name or logo. Please e-mail items to Amy Shrodes at amy@okhumane.org for approval.
• When mentioning our name in print or on air, please refer to “The Central Oklahoma Humane Society.”
• Cash donations are always welcome, and we also need these items.
• Checks should be made out to the Central Oklahoma Humane Society.
• Donations may be mailed or brought to the OK Humane Adoption Center at 7500 N. Western Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK, 73116. If you let us know you’re coming we’d love to say hello. Just e-mail info@okhumane.org.

Tips for a successful event (courtesy of The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia):

• Choose a Good Planning Committee. Enlist enthusiastic people whose dedication and skills will make your event a success. Involve enough volunteers to share the workload.
• Brainstorm! Get everybody thinking, dreaming, and discussing ideas. Now is the time to let imaginations soar. The more they participate now, the more committed they’ll be later.
• Choose the Right Event. Decide on just the right event/promotion/fund-raiser that best utilizes the unique pool of talent, skill and interests of your particular group.
• Identify Your Target Audience. Who do you want to participate in the event? Does it include public participation or is it geared to members of a specific organization?
• Schedule Your Event. Pick a date and time for your event carefully to encourage maximum participation. Unless your event is holiday-related, steer away from major holidays to ensure best response. Most of all, give yourself plenty of time to organize, publicize and guarantee greater success with less headaches.
• Plan Your Budget. By identifying and planning for expenses and income sources in advance, you will maximize donations by keeping event costs down.
• Promote and Publicize Your Event. Publicize early! Get the word out every way you can. TV, radio, newspaper and magazines often provide free public service time and ad space. But don’t forget flyers, posters, community bulletin boards, e-mails, and good old word-of-mouth.
• Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Recognize and acknowledge everyone who participates! Let them know how much they raised and heap on the praise. This can lead to the event becoming an annual undertaking, which generates donations for years to come.
• Have fun and take lots pictures and send them to us to post on our website!

For more information about hosting a fundraiser to benefit homeless pets, please call 405-286-1503 or e-mail info@okhumane.org. Thanks for your support!