Even in our current age of technology, when everything is published on the Internet and everyone can be contacted via email, getting press attention for your fundraising events can be difficult. While there are hundreds of social networks to which you can submit information about your initiatives, there are also thousands of people who are submitting theirs.
The competition out there is fierce. Here are some tips on how to get that much needed press attention:
- Understand your community — Find out which medium is most preferred by members of your community. While some neighborhoods may have online forums and communicate with each other via electronic newsletters, others would still prefer the traditional art of reading and writing for newspapers.
- Know your local press — Find out who the editors and journalists are and identify one or two of their favorite subject matters. For example, some editors are passionate about topics related to the environment. Issues such as family, children’s wellbeing, employment and animal welfare are also popular among many journalists.
- Provide press releases — A well-written press release can attract the attention of your editor and/or journalist far better than a quick email about your fundraising event. Make sure that crucial details such as the who, what, where, when and how of your event are included in the press release. Particularly important is why your fundraising event will benefit the community and raise funds at the same time.
- Thank your editor and/or journalist — Always express your gratitude to those media professionals who have helped promote your fundraising event in any big or small way. Ask them for a copy of their coverage and place it in a prominent spot of your organization’s public relations material. Promise to tell them about your future fundraising events.
