RSPCA New South Wales: cupcake day
- Exhibited by
- RSPCA NSW (Australia).
- Added
- August 31, 2009
- Medium of Communication
- Face to face, online
- Target Audience
- Single gift
- Type of Charity
- Environmental/animals
- Country of Origin
- Australia
- Date of first appearance
- August, 2008
SOFII’s view
Here’s a simple idea that really seems to have struck a cord with supporters, so their enthusiasm and willingness to get involved has made it a huge publicity attraction as well as a fundraising money-spinner. The brilliant thing about this idea is that the supporters do most of the work and they have a great time too.
Creator / originator
RSPCA NSW created the event. The marketing materials were prepared by a graphic design house, following RSPCA’s brief.
Summary / objectives
Cupcake day for the RSPCA was a fundraising day. We encouraged supporters to register to become a RSPCA cupcake cook, then bake cupcakes and sell them to friends, family and colleagues and send the money to us.
Background
Many charities in Australia have fundraising days. The RSPCA has an event called ‘million paws walk’, when people register to walk their dogs. This event has very high infrastructure costs so we wanted to find an event that would cost little to put on and that could be coordinated by our supporters. We supplied the advertising materials.
Special characteristics
The campaign included sponsorship from a national weekly magazine, TV placements, a website, www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au, and a mechanism to generate an online community – through uploading pictures of supporters’ cupcakes and stories to the site.
Influence / impact
Who would have thought that a humble cupcake could change lives? Our supporters got behind this initiative. We had anticipated that most participants would be schoolchildren. We were wrong – 60 per cent of the participants were from the business and corporate sector. Because we had no way of measuring its uptake we promote it as strongly as we might have done with this event. But we have learned for next time.
Costs
Initial set-up costs (event identity, marketing materials and website development) – AUS $26,908.58; these costs will not be incurred again. Printing and postage nationally - $32,720.27. Total event costs nationally – $59,628.85.
Results
Total income nationally - $309,353.01.
Merits
This was a simple idea, simply executed that resonated with its multiple audiences. It was a great testament to the power of a supporter to run a campaign on a charity’s behalf. And it was a lot of fun. Also the outlay in terms of costs, planning and preparation was minimal and the return was overwhelming.
Other relevant information
We have made cupcake day for the RSPCA an annual event.
Also in Categories
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- Individual donors
