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We did it! At Crystal Clear Copy, we believe in giving back to the community, and one way we do that is through charity fundraising. This year, we hosted our 3rd Annual Endless Pawsabilities Fundraiser for Save Our Cats and Kittens, Inc. (SOCKS), a local non-profit dedicated to helping cats in need. As a small business, running a fundraiser is not only about making a difference for a cause we love but also about connecting with our community in meaningful ways. However, a lot goes into charity fundraising, which is why we are taking this blog to share how we organized this year’s fundraiser, the results we achieved, and why running a charity event as a small business is so rewarding. Whether you’re considering a fundraiser for the first time, are looking to improve your next one, or you are curious how you can help us achieve greater success with this fundraiser next year, we hope our 2024 results inspire you!
Why Small Businesses Should Get Involved in Charity Fundraising
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty details, we want to take a moment to talk about why charity fundraising is important for small businesses.
First, charity fundraising offers small businesses a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their communities. For Crystal Clear Copy, supporting local causes like SOCKS isn’t just about raising money; it’s about building a deeper connection with the people and organizations that matter to us. By hosting a fundraiser (whether grand or small), small businesses can foster goodwill, create stronger community ties, and show that they care about more than just profits.
Second, engaging in giving back strategies like charity fundraising can also enhance a business’s reputation. Customers are more likely to support companies that actively give back to causes they care about, leading to greater loyalty and positive word of mouth. Plus, if you have employees (or contractors as we do), they benefit from participating in charitable initiatives, as it boosts morale and creates a sense of purpose within the workplace.
At the end of the day, charity fundraising allows small businesses to use their platform to create positive change. Whether you’re supporting a local shelter like we do or another giving back strategy close to your heart, the impact goes beyond the funds raised—it’s about fostering a spirit of generosity and community involvement that resonates with both your team and your customers.
How We Planned and Executed Our Fundraiser
Planning a successful charity fundraiser as a small business requires careful thought and organization, but it’s also an incredibly rewarding process.
The planning process for our 3rd Annual Endless Pawsabilities Fundraiser started with our continued commitment to SOCKS. We’ve supported SOCKS every year because of their dedication to the well-being of cats in need. As cat lovers, we feel it is the charity for us.
For 2024, we set an ambitious goal of $3,000 for my 30th birthday, aiming for 30 generous $100 donations to mark the occasion (hehe - see what I did there?) This goal motivated us to create a memorable and impactful fundraiser.
This year, we ALSO decided to expand our efforts by hosting our first-ever Shelter Supply Drive in addition to our traditional month-long monetary fundraiser. The drive was a great way to engage our local community on a more personal level, giving people a chance to participate by donating physical items like cat food, litter, and cleaning supplies. Organizing an in-person event was new for us, but it was a fantastic experience that brought together so many passionate supporters.
Securing sponsorships and leveraging local partnerships played a big role in our event’s success. We reached out to local businesses like St. Michael’s Brewing Company, Dawn’s Cookies & Cafe, TOPS Hamburgers Navarre, and Navarre Liquor, all of whom generously contributed gift cards and prizes for our raffle baskets. Their involvement not only added value to our event but also helped build stronger community relationships, which are key to any small business fundraiser.
To drive awareness and engagement, we made the most of our social media platforms, email newsletters, and good old-fashioned word of mouth. We regularly updated our followers with the fundraiser’s progress, upcoming events, and raffle prize details. Personal connections and social sharing were crucial in getting the word out and keeping our audience excited and involved throughout the fundraiser.
Lessons Learned and Tips for Other Small Businesses
Before we get to the results, we want to take a moment to recognize the challenges we faced this year - as growth is as much of the journey as the end result. Looking back on our 3rd Annual Endless Pawsabilities Fundraiser, we learned several valuable lessons that can help other small businesses organize their own charity events. Here are our key takeaways:
1. Early Planning and Clear Communication with Sponsors
In the last two years, we had plenty of time to plan our charity fundraising, but this year we aimed higher—with much less time. Why less time? Well, in case you didn’t hear, 2024 was a year of big milestones for me personally, which made planning this fundraiser more challenging.
I got married in April (to my amazing husband, Hunter!), and between the wedding and everything that came with it, I was “planned out” by the time summer arrived. Planning the fundraiser took a backseat, and I got a much later start than usual.
To complicate things, we decided to expand the fundraiser by adding a Shelter Supply Drive, which required even more time and coordination.
On top of that, I was in the process of buying a new home! If you’ve ever bought a house, you know how soul-sucking and time-consuming the process is. Funnily enough, we actually closed on our house the day before the fundraiser! So, instead of spending my first day as a homeowner settling into my new space, I was at the fundraiser!
While everything came together, I realized the importance of early planning and clear communication with sponsors to ensure nothing slipped through the cracks.
2. Involving Employees and Volunteers
This year, I’m proud to say I accepted help more readily than in the past, and it made all the difference. My good friend, Kassandra, was instrumental in organizing the supply drive and securing sponsors. When I told her my idea, she jumped all in! I couldn’t be more thankful. She reached out to businesses like Dawn’s Cookies and Navarre Liquors, bringing them on board as key supporters.
Additionally, my virtual assistant, Doreen, was a lifesaver! She handled the virtual side of the fundraiser, updating the website, creating graphics, setting up emails, and managing social media. This level of collaboration ensured the event ran smoothly and allowed me to focus on the bigger picture.
3. Balancing Promotion with Community Engagement
A big part of our fundraiser’s success was the community connection we built through our relationship with St. Michael’s Brewing Company. They were not only our venue but also a sponsor, and many of their patrons—whom I have personal connections with—came out to support the event. This made the fundraiser fun and engaging, helping us balance promotion with genuine community involvement.
4. Setting Realistic Goals and Flexibility
We set an ambitious goal of $3,000, and while we technically exceeded that with the help of Crystal Clear Copy’s donation, it was a stretch for a small business event. While our fundraiser was a success, we learned to be flexible with expectations and to adjust goals based on realistic outcomes. Next year, we’ll use this experience to set goals that challenge us but remain achievable.
Running a charity fundraiser as a small business isn’t without its challenges, but with the right team, clear communication, and a little flexibility, you can create an event that makes a real impact on your community.
Now…..drumroll please….
The Results – A Breakdown of Our 2024 Fundraiser
We’re excited to share the final numbers from our 3rd Annual Endless Pawsabilities Fundraiser, and we couldn’t be prouder of what we accomplished together! Our goal was to raise $3,000 to support Save Our Cats and Kittens, Inc. (SOCKS), and thanks to the generosity of our community, sponsors, and volunteers, we came incredibly close:
$2,407 in cash donations 💵
$556 in supplies 🐱
$300 from Crystal Clear Copy’s donation ❤️
That brings our grand total to $3,263 in cash and supplies, officially exceeding our $3,000 goal! While we didn’t hit our overall goal in cash donations, we’re celebrating this win—because sometimes, the combined efforts of the community and a little extra love from your small business can make all the difference.
This year’s fundraiser was especially exciting because it included our first-ever in-person Shelter Supply Drive. Though there were a few bumps along the way (as expected when trying something new), the event was a huge success. The outpouring of support we received, both in physical donations and in the energy of those who attended, showed us just how powerful collective effort can be. The supplies we collected will directly impact SOCKS, helping them care for the cats they rescue and nurture every day.
We want to give a huge thank you to our sponsors: Dawn’s Cookies & Cafe, TOPS Hamburgers Navarre, St. Michael’s Brewing Company, and Navarre Liquor, for their generosity in donating gift cards and prizes. We also owe a heartfelt thank you to our volunteers—Kassandra, Hunter, and Malachi—who worked tirelessly to make the event happen, and, of course, to our incredible community who donated and participated.
Will You Join Us in 2025?
We’re already looking ahead to our 2025 fundraiser as we wrap up another successful year! Over the last three years, we are proud to have raised $9,937.00 in cash and $556.00 in supplies! That elusive 10k is almost in reach!
If you want to stay updated on all the details, be sure to join our charity newsletter and follow us on social media. You’ll be the first to know about next year’s event and all the ways you can get involved.
In the meantime, you can also check out our charity fundraising page to learn how you can continue supporting Save Our Cats and Kittens, Inc. (SOCKS) throughout the year. Let’s make 2025 even bigger and better together!
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Chelsey
Chelsey is the founder and head copywriter of Crystal Clear Copy. She is an avid writer, published author, and lover of cats and craft beer.
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