Libraries don’t typically receive much funding from sources, so they rely on donations and special fundraising campaigns to keep them operational.
Education
Library Fundraising & Ideas
Libraries don’t typically receive much funding from sources, so they rely on donations and special fundraising campaigns to keep them operational.
Even in the modern age of the internet, with a wealth of online information, libraries still fulfill a major role in the community by providing reference books, literary classics, and reading materials of all types to interested readers.
Of course, they’re not the only source of information in the community anymore, which has reduced their popularity and usage in recent years, making funding even more scarce. You can support your local library by conducting one or more of the fundraising campaign ideas described below, which have been successful. Here are some of the best ideas for fundraising campaigns for your local library.
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Read-a-thons
This is a very popular idea involving donors sponsoring participants who read a specific number of pages, chapters, or entire books during an established time frame. The more a participant reads, the more money will be earned toward the library fundraising campaign. This will be especially effective if all participants have multiple sponsors paying for their reading prowess. You can set a specific time frame for the read-a-thon to be conducted, and once you reach the end of that time frame, you can have a big celebration for everyone involved. This is the perfect time to sell pizza and other refreshments, which can also earn profits for your fundraising campaign.
Community book clubs
Several communities around the country already have their book clubs in place, but you can take the idea to another level by using it for fundraising. You can charge a small membership fee for connecting groups of adult readers with certain book selections and having these selections discussed at regular meetings throughout the campaign. It will be enjoyable for all the participants, and you can sell refreshments at these meetings to supplement your fundraising earnings. A good idea would be to hold your book club meetings at the local library so that everyone can keep the objective in mind and recall what a worthy cause they’re contributing to.
After-school reading clubs
This idea brings student readers into the mix and gets them involved with supporting your local library. There are many ways to conduct your after-school reading clubs, but a typical one is to pick out various reading selections for different grades and then organize discussion groups for those readers. You can also read stories to younger students or provide free reading time for older readers. By charging a small membership fee, you can provide a safe environment for students whose parents tend to work late, and you may also be kindling a new love for reading in many youngsters. By providing recreational reading opportunities, many young readers might develop a lifelong love for learning, appreciating books, and supporting their local library.
Commemorative brick fundraising
One unique way of raising funds for your local library is to have a commemorative brick fundraising campaign. Donors will have the opportunity to have their names engraved on a commemorative brick, which could then be built right into a sidewalk, a new building, or a small wing attached to the library. This idea provides a lasting memory of a person’s donation and shows their community spirit and involvement, which is why it’s usually very easy to sell these commemorative bricks to donors. Many contributors are happy to show their generosity in supporting a local library in exchange for having their contribution recognized by the entire community.
Themed book baskets
Work with your local library to get some used books donated, and these can be packaged with candies, household goods, and other prizes so they can be sold at some auction or raffle. This is especially successful around holidays when people are in a giving mood since everyone enjoys winning a themed basket at an auction or raffle. It’s very easy to have baskets for the campaign made up cheaply, and all other prizes can be donated by local businesses so that virtually all the profits go directly to your fundraising campaign. Depending on the number of books you get donated, you can include one or multiple books in each themed basket, and you can make up as many baskets as you have books.
Book signings
If you have any local authors who have achieved some success, you can invite them to participate in your book signing campaign, which will support your fundraising efforts. This is a great way for upcoming authors to promote their masterpieces, and your organization will benefit by collecting entry fees and percentages on autographs. Authors need not be nationally-known artists but can be local authors who are trying to establish themselves. It’s usually very easy to find a number of these individuals, and they are often eager to participate because it helps them and your local library. If you can get good participation in an event like this, you have the potential to earn some serious money to support your library.
Collaborate with Classful
These days, fundraising campaigns are very easy to organize and manage, even if you have no experience conducting such campaigns. You can make use of Classful.com, which is an online platform that facilitates the whole process by providing a convenient platform for donors to log in to and make their contributions, either anonymously or otherwise.
Organizers will have a centralized Dashboard to communicate with all donors and potential contributors and monitor the campaign’s progress. The Dashboard can also generate regular reports detailing all donations and donors, so you’ll know who to thank and have a ready list of donors to approach for your next campaign.
Funds will get paid out each night, so organizers will not have to wait to receive campaign funds. Classful.com charges no fee for providing these services since donor tips comprise their only form of payment. This is a modern, efficient way to conduct your library campaign, and you’ll always know exactly where you stand with your overall objective. Contact us to learn more.
