When it comes to fundraising for Wild at Heart Foundation, the sky really is the limit: with over 600 million stray dogs the world over, your support can make the difference between life and death for a dog currently fighting a daily battle for survival, and there’s more ways than ever before to get involved.
Fundraisers are a great way to socialise, meet new people (and dogs!), bring communities together, and – of course – raise vital donations for dogs who urgently need our help.
From baking to bungee jumping, swimming to spacehopping, the only limit on your fundraising potential is your imagination. We always love hearing your ideas for supporting us, no matter how weird and wonderful, but if you’re struggling to decide how to help, here are just a few ideas to get you started…
Hold a bake sale or competition
Because who can say no to cake? Organise a bake sale at your work or school and enjoy a guilt free slice (or two) knowing that your contribution has supported international dog rescue. Or add a competitive element and challenge your peers to a bake-off style competition all in the name of dog.
Challenge yourself
Whether it’s running, hiking, swimming or even sky-diving, there are so many ways to challenge yourself in the name of dog rescue. Join an organised challenge or race, or simply set yourself a target, and encourage friends and family to sponsor you.
Keep your eyes on our Instagram for opportunities to secure a charity place for some of the country’s top races and challenges.
‘Wild Walks’ – Organise a group dog walk
Group walks are not only a great way to fundraise, they’re also a brilliant opportunity to meet local dog-lovers, socialise, and enjoy the great outdoors. Please enquire about our ‘Wild Walks’ for more information on how to organise a group walk and collect donations on the day.
It’s never been simpler to set up, run and collect donations from a fundraiser. Whether you’re seeking sponsorship from friends and colleagues, or holding a sale or event, the following pointers should help you to get started. If you have any further questions about fundraising for Wild at Heart Foundation, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
1. Setting up your fundraiser
Wild at Heart Foundation are registered across all major fundraising providers, including: JustGiving, Virgin Money Giving, and PayPal.
You can also start a fundraiser directly within Facebook, a popular option for people who generously choose to ask for donations in place of birthday presents or other special occasions. Find out more about how to set up a fundraiser on Facebook.
Alternatively, you can run your fundraising campaign offline and donate the proceeds directly to us once completed. See below for more information about how to process cash / offline donations.
2. Collecting donations
It’s easier than ever to ask for donations for your fundraiser. Social media provides a quick, easy and engaging way to share the link to your fundraising page. Try to share the story of why you’re doing what you’re doing, why you’ve chosen to support Wild at Heart Foundation, and any other details that will help people to connect with your personal challenge; we all love a story! Make sure to tag us in your posts and stories and we’ll do our best to share.
If you’re holding a local event, raffle or sale, simple flyers can be a great way to spread the message. Often local businesses are happy to help promote on your behalf, and schools / places of work are a great place to get the word out.
3. Encouraging people to take part
The key to a successful fundraiser is promotion. Be sure to tell your friends, family, and colleagues about your plans – email details of your fundraiser and share on social media to encourage people to sponsor you or attend your event.
If you’re holding an event or physical fundraiser, consider advertising and promoting locally through flyers and Facebook groups. Local pubs and shops might be happy to promote on your behalf, and may even donate raffle prizes or free drinks if you ask.
We want to hear from you! Tag us in any of your Facebook or Instagram posts and we’ll do our best to share your efforts on our channels.
4. Processing cash / offline donations
If you’ve collected cash donations or proceeds from a raffle, sale or event, you can send these to Wild at Heart Foundation in a number of ways. The easiest is to bank it yourself, and then send us a donation via our website for the same amount. You can also send via cheque or bank transfer.
Full details of our address and online banking details can be found here.
If you’re running an online fundraiser and would like to add cash donations to your overall personal fundraising meter, you can bank the cash in your own personal account and then add a donation to your own fundraising page. Find out more information on how to do this on JustGiving (same process applies for all major fundraising platforms).
There are now more ways than ever to fundraise for Wild at Heart Foundation. We’re registered across a number of platforms, ensuring that you can choose the fundraising model that’s right for you.
You can create a fundraiser on Facebook – for a special occasion, sponsorship, or simply to help promote our message – and Facebook will donate all funds generated directly to Wild at Heart Foundation. Everything is contained within your Facebook post and page, and donors do not need to visit another website to process their donation, keeping it simple and easy for everyone involved!
Facebook Fundraisers are also eligible for GiftAid, meaning that we can claim a further 25p from the Government for every £1 donated!
Find out how to set up a Facebook Fundraiser here.
Support Wild at Heart Foundation in your next Insta Story by using the donation sticker. This allows you to embed a donation portal directly into your stories, allowing your followers to donate without clicking links or navigating away from Instagram.
Find out more about Instagram’s donation sticker here.
Ebay
Wild at Heart Foundation are a registered ebay charity, meaning you can hold an online sale for dogs in need directly via their portal. All sales and transactions are managed by ebay themselves, and funds generated are donated directly to Wild at Heart Foundation.
Find out how to set up an ebay charity sale.
Amazon Smile
If you’re not in a position to donate yourself, and don’t want to ask friends or family to donate on your behalf, you can still raise vital funds for Wild at Heart Foundation! By shopping via Amazon Smile or Give as You Live and selecting us as your chosen charity, you’ll be helping rescue dogs around the world simply by shopping online.
Find out more here.