Lately I have been searching the world wide web using different key word searches so that I can optimize my website, www.golfmarathonman.com.  During these searches I have come across articles that offer help for those planning charity golf tournaments or events.  I am always interested in what others have to say on this subject because this is my passion and mission.  No, my passion isn't to help those who want to plan charity golf events, my passion is to help non-profit organizations raise large amounts of donations as efficiently and effectively as possible. 

Today, I found an article that stated that successful charity golf events centered on three things - maximizing player turnout, increasing pledge amounts, and obtaining sponsored prizes.

To increase turnout the author suggested that the organization must have significant publicity for the event.  Press releases, have local media coverage, and placing ads in the paper.  This sounds like a lot of work and is not the easiest thing to accomplish.  That's why corporations hire PR people because this takes great skill and determination and a budget. 

The second thing mentioned was increasing pledge amounts from the players.  This I agree with, however, the author's idea of "significant" was $100 minimum per player in pledges.  In most cities, this amount of pledge would barely cover the cost of the greens fee and lunch or dinner. 

Finally, to draw in more players that will raise more pledges they suggest having great prizes for longest drive, closest to the pin, etc.  Oh, and where do you get these prizes?  Easy, just solicit local merchants to sponsor these prizes.  Wrong.  This is hard work and takes time to complete.  I can guarantee you that most volunteers in your organization will not want to do this task.

Everything about this article and others I read on-line are about the golf or the golfer and not about the charity or maximizing the dollars raised for the charity.  That's where I come in.  I am all about getting results for the charity.  Raising more dollars than they thought possible in 100 days or less.

My successful charity golf fundraisers are centered on these three things - passionate volunteers, maximizing their fundraising effectiveness, and accountable to achieving an attainable pledge goal that is agreed to by the volunteer.

I recently completed a fundraising campaign for Habitat for Humanity in Las Vegas in which their passionate volunteers raised $95,000 in 8 weeks.  The average pledge amount per participant was $2,800.  There was 33 people involved, those that wanted to be involved.  Since our campaigns are not about golf (there are no prizes based on your skills), volunteers who wouldn't normally play in a golf tournament participated and were tremendous fund-raisers.  The second leading fund-raiser was a woman who had never golfed before.  In fact, she bought a set of clubs just so she could play.  (By the way, my team provides clubs to anyone who doesn't have a set.)  She raised over $7,000.  If this had been a traditional golf tournament she would have never played and the non-profit would not have benefited from the $7,000 she personally raised.

If you are thinking of holding a traditional golf tournament you will miss substantial dollars because your non-golfers will not want to play in a skills based event which is what golf tournaments are.  Don't miss out on the tremendous opportunity your volunteer base can bring to your next fundraising campaign. 

My mission is to train your passionate volunteers to be powerful, effective fundraisers for your organization.  I have clients in Las Vegas, NV, Phoenix, AZ, and can work with any non-profit organization across the Southwest and Southern California.  If you need to raise $40,000, $70,000, even $100,000 or more our specialized fund-raising campaigns can help you reach your goals.

I can be reached at 1 (800) 327-1353 or by email at richardmorris@golfmarathonman.com.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Richard Morris