How to Raise Funds to Attend A Conference
How to Raise Funds to Attend A Conference
The feeling is great when you know that you get admitted to an international conference that you wish to go. However, most of the conferences do not provide financial assistance for the qualified delegates. Even if they do, it only covers the conference fee and you still have to pay for your own return air tickets, accommodation, expenses and so on.
Imagine that now you have been chosen to take part in this extraordinary conference but you cannot afford the conference fee. You have only two choices, either forget about it as if it never happened or go ahead and take on the task of raising funds to attend the conference.
Do not worry if you have no experience in organising a fundraising campaign. Life is all about trying something new by taking your first step. Do not think that it is hard and give up. Does that mean planning a fundraiser is easy? No, it is not. Nothing is easy and bear in mind there is no such thing as free lunch. You have to work hard before you get something you want. If you are sure that you really want to attend the conference, forget about all the negative thoughts and start planning now!
The first step is to determine your goal. You have to know how much money you need for this conference. Normally this includes the conference fee, accommodation, air tickets and personal expenses. Then set a deadline for your fundraising campaign. Once you get these done, proceed to the next step.
Make a list of people you know. They can be your friends, teachers, relatives, neighbours or even your parents' friends. Then, try to think of companies and organisations in your country that would be able to sponsor you. They can be business corporates, government agencies, non-profit organisations, law firms, schools and other clubs.
Now, you have to prepare your curriculum vitae. Remember to make it as brief as possible and it should not be more than two pages. After that, contact the potential sponsors by sending them an email or through phone calls. In the email you should include your curriculum vitae, information about that particular conference and a formal letter which clearly states your aim in writing this letter and how can they help you. Also, tell them how they can benefit from sponsoring you to attend this conference. You can offer to write a report after the conference or give a presentation about it when you return. If you have a blog, you can help advertise their companies by putting their banners on your blog.
If the potential sponsors do not respond to your email, give them phone calls after a week. Introduce yourself and ask them if they have read the email. You can also make an appointment with the potential sponsors so that you can let them know everything in detail. Here is your chance to show your presentation skills.
Then, tell everyone about your fundraising campaign through social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace. They are very useful in terms of promoting the campaign. You might also want to set up your own website to keep sponsors updated. Besides, you can contact the local media and ask them to support your campaign.
Record everything you do and people you contact. If they agree to sponsor you, remember to thank them for giving you this opportunity. Even if you are rejected, do not forget to thank them for considering your request. When you are back from the conference, write a note to thank your sponsors again!
Another way of raising funds is by organizing your own events. For example, you can hold a bake sale and sell the results to your friends and neighbours. You can also have a garage sale in which you collect unwanted things from your friends and sell them in your school. Believe me, it is fun organizing your own event and you will certainly enjoy it.
Give yourself a little more time for your fundraising campaign. If you wish to make it a successful campaign, start it earlier and you will have ample time to prepare for it.
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