Fundraising events are as different as the people who organise them. The one thing they have in common though is the fact that the organisers are trying to raise money for good causes. That means that somebody has to sell the idea that people should contribute generously. So what that a speaker has to do is to touch hearts and open purse-strings. There are always people who know and already support a particular charity present at any fundraising function. There will also be what in electioneering terms are termed the “Don’t knows.”They are the ones who have to be coaxed into helping out. So the good speaker will make them feel particularly good about themselves and their charitable instincts. He will tell them just how important they are and give an example of what their contribution will mean to the charity. So never underestimate the importance of a good fund-raising speech. It can add tp the charity coffers

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When times are tight charities suffer. That’s understandable yet the needs of those benefitting from the charities do not get any less. In fact in hard times more people than ever need help. So it is critically important that those who are organising charitable events touch hearts and minds when they speak. Whether it is a fundraiser for a school or a hospital, a children’s’ charity or you are raising funds for cancer research doesn’t matter. What matters is that, by what you say, you make people dig that little bit deeper into their pockets. You have to make them feel good about themselves and their generosity. Whether you are opening a charity fundraiser or fete or speaking at a benevolent association dinner what you say is critically important. Your speech should not be long but it should be appealing.

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Benevolent associations are now more important than ever. When times are tough there is less money to go around and Governments cut the benefits they give. That means that the work of benevolent associations is critical to the wellbeing of staff members who have fallen on hard times. They often gather the money they dispense by having a social function to raise funds. During the night someone will undoubtedly give a speech. It is very important that such a speech compliments those who give and refers to those in need. Nobody can, for instance, help being ill and needing expensive treatments. Visits to hospitals incur travel and other expenses. The widows and orphans of a staff member may be in dire need or someone could need to have a house conversion to allow for a wheelchair. The work of such benevolent societies is often done in secret and rightly so. Nobody wants to be an object of charity. What they want instead is to know that somebody in their company cared enough to understand their problem and to give a helping hand. The speaker should give those who are themselves healthy and able to work the challenge of helping their co-workers in need.

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Charities are having to work harder for their money. In these recessionary times people have less disposable income and fund raisers have to be very imaginative in finding ways to make money. No matter what sort of occasion is organised somebody usually gives a speech about the charity in question. It’s very important then that what that speaker says touches hearts and opens purse strings. The speaker has to ensure that the guests are thanked for their generosity to date but the need for ongoing funding is stressed. Somehow, by what is said, the guests have to feel involved in the charity; have to feel a personal responsibility for it. The speaker should, of course, mention what has been achieved to date but stress what more needs to be done. All this has to be said in a way that is entertaining yet sincere. Fundraisers have an unenviable task but, using the right words, they can cajole more funds for their favourite charity.

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Summer time is the time for Wimbledon and strawberries, for Independence Day and barbeques. It’s also the time of year when dedicated workers turn their thoughts to raising funds for different charities. There is no end to the ideas they have for such fund-raising. Generally speaking though at this time of the year an outdoor fundraiser is probable. They are relying on the public to attend such fundraising fairs and they like to open them with a bang. So the opening of charity, fundraiser or fete speeches should set the tone for the day. The speaker should speak of the need for funds for the church roof, the nearby hospital or the local school. They should mention the great bargains to be had and the enjoyment to be had browsing and buying. They should also mention those who contributed so much to the event whether in prizes, hard work or donations. The speech should be short and simple and end with the message “Buy, buy buy and support this worthy cause.”

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Fundraising is a difficult and often thankless task. Yet every day there are those who organise fundraising activities in aid of some good cause or another. It may be for heart disease or cancer or for a school. It could be for a sporting organising or a children’s charity. Whatever the cause what you say is important. So if you are giving a fundraising speech take time to get it just right. After all the more emotive and persuasive you are the more people are likely to subscribe to the coffers. So tell a story that demonstrates just what a difference the money can actually make. Make those present feel good about their own generosity. Encourage them to enjoy the dinner, the fete or the benefit concert that has been organised. The Bible says that the poor will always be with us and the same applies to charities. So ensure that the audience realises that ongoing fundraising is essential and that you hope to see them at your next fundraising event. So make sure your speech touches hearts and opens purses.

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Being a teacher doesn’t automatically make you a good public speaker. Yet teachers, by the very nature of their jobs often have to speak in public. They may have to speak at a sports day, a graduation day or at the beginning and ending of term. They may have to address parents in an open house meeting. There are school concerts and shows to be opened not to mention fund- raising events. In fact it would seem that teachers are speaking in public the whole time whether they like it or not. Sometimes they say just the bare minimum and hope to get by. They are correct in thinking such speeches should be short but they must also have content. After all they, and the school itself, are often judged by what is said and it is important to get it right. Praising the children and their efforts is one way of ensuring that parents are happy with the speech. Speaking of the commitment of the staff is another. Talking to them as fellow educators is important because schools need the back up of parents. If they are speaking to pupils alone mention should be made of incidents that have happened in the school and it should be light-hearted. Children love to laugh. Whatever the occasion teachers should do their homework and say the right thing.

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Volunteering can be fun. That’s something that lots of us forget. If you do something worthwhile for others you do, of course, get a sense of job satisfaction. Volunteering, though, means you mix with like minded people and you enjoy their company as you meet some shared challenge. All the nicest people have a sense of humour and volunteers, on the whole, are very nice people indeed. Just as a sense of humour helps in most marriages it helps when you are faced with the everyday struggles of volunteering too. Many of us forget how many types of volunteers there are and the different types of work they do. Think of the football coach of the little girls team whose young footballer, realising she had made a foul, gallantly turned to her opposition number and handed her the ball apologising for her error. This was despite the fact that the referee hadn’t noticed the foul. What could her coach do but laugh admiringly while tearing out his hair? Volunteers are necessary in many tragic situations such as the recent Tsunami in Japan. Lest we forget though they are also necessary in every amateur organisation and group. Schools need them, the office social committee needs them and so too does the local community. We cope with many tough situations by looking on the funny side, hence the popularity of cartoons. Most of us would not stick at it if we didn’t enjoy the camaraderie and the banter that volunteers enjoy. Organisations that need volunteers should take heed of that fact and sell it as a positive plus. Yes, there is no doubt about it volunteering can be great fun.

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We have just welcomed in the New Year. Hopefully, too, we will welcome many other events in 2011. A C.E.O. or manager may, for instance welcome guests to an opening of a new business. A literary agent might welcome guests to a book launch. A guest of honour may welcome visitors to the opening of a charity/fundraiser or to the opening of a school or hospital. Despite the recession shoppers will undoubtedly be welcome to the opening of a new store. There may be a church welcome or the welcome to the faculty at the beginning of term. Parents may be welcomed to an Open house meeting while students may be addressed welcomingly by a head teacher at the beginning of term. All over the world there will be conferences where the participants are welcomed. Whatever the occasion or wherever it is there is no doubt but that speakers have to lay out the red carpet by expressing their delight in seeing those present. The secret of such speeches is to make the audience feel that the occasion would simply not be worthwhile if they were not present. Like New Year’s Eve itself every event has its own importance and the speeches, like the old song should say “This could be the start of something big.”

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Do we fundraise more in winter? Maybe the cold days of that season inspire us with pity for the homeless and the hungry. Alternatively, perhaps those dark winter nights are more suitable for dinners and concerts than the more active days of summer. Whatever the reason benevolent association dinners are usually held in winter as too are cancer fundraising or indeed HIV fundraising events. Speakers at these and other charity functions are faced with the fact that what they say must stroke egos and open purses. In fact coming up to Christmas speakers are often challenged to find the words to open a fundraising fete and again to put pressure on those present to donate as much as possible. In these recessionary times it is difficult to be successful and much depends on what the speaker says. He is often speaking to the converted but a speaker must never take this for granted. He or she must find the words that will illustrate the need for the funds. If he is raising funds for a new hospital for instance he might say “5000 people with cancer had to travel 200,000 miles this year for their treatment because there is no local hospital in this area. Can you imagine how painful and difficult it was for them?” He might then go on to add “You can change that.” In other words his speech must emphasise the need for change and that those present are the people to make that change. He will, of course, have more luck if he soft talks the audience, telling them how wonderfully generous they are already. He will mention the fact that they deserve to enjoy the particular function they are attending, again stressing how good they are to be present. It will add to the speech if he can tell a story of some success achieved by the group or fundraising body. The speech should end with an appeal for donors to remember that they are the ones challenged to make the change.

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