There is an old expression in the sales business you sell the sizzle not the steak. This is also true with fundraising, i.e. promote what the money will do. This impact could be sending a child to school or providing lifesaving equipment or providing food for the homeless. There is nothing like enthusiasm to get others to donate. 

Getting involved in a fundraising event can be lots of fun. Young people waving you down on the street to have your car washed are often having a blast. Raising money by bike riding or swimming or running can give you a sense of accomplishment. Sometimes it requires a huge commitment such as running a marathon or climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

I once raised money for the Muscular Dystrophy Society by spending a day in a wheelchair. I urge you to try it sometime. You will learn why wheelchair athletes have such strong upper bodies. You will also understand how difficult it is to use a public washroom that is not accessible or get into a car. Walking in a woman's shoes has the same effect to understand life from another view.

Enhancing the education role and rights of women can be often be the most effective ways of decreasing poverty. This has not been lost on organizations such as CARE and PLAN. PLAN's campaign Because I am a Girl has had an amazing impact on the amount of money they raised, the women who benefit and the society in which they live. This approach has been championed by my friend, Rosemary McCarney, the former CEO of PLAN Canada and, now, Canada's Ambassador to the UN on disarmament. The renowned Brookings Institute in the US lists the benefits of educating women include smaller families, improved health, increased incomes, successful micro-credit operations and better educated children.

This impact is inspiring but if you have been a fundraiser for many years, you could be burned out. If so, you might want to try another cause to settle for just giving your money. If you are burned out, take some time, think about the people you have helped and what it will mean to their lives and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.

There are a myriad of ways to raise or give money. Participating will give people involved the chance to make a difference. As Anne Frank said "no one ever became poor by giving." As Henry Thoreau said "goodness is the only investment that never fails." 

Chris Snyder is a pioneer in the personal finance business and co-founder and chair of the ECC Group. His new book on Volunteerism is coming out soon. He has authored many articles and five books on personal finance. His most recent previous book, Be Smart with Your Money, focused on human behaviour and money. He is chair of The Canadian Landmine Foundation, HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) and runs hands-on school building trips for Rotary to the developing world. Chris is the recipient of The Queen’s Golden and Diamond Jubilee Awards.