Looking for a fun project with big impact? Try running your own fundraiser! All the funds you raise will go towards patient care at Victoria Hospital.
What to know before you start:
- The Volunteer Guild of Victoria Hospital is a registered Canadian charity that raises funds to support patient care at Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg. We have been in the business of raising funds for The Vic for 70 years!
- We would love your help raising money to support our hospital!
- This document will outline your responsibilities and ours so that everything runs smoothly.
Checklist for Success:
- Choose a fundraising project. We’ve got some suggestions.
- Complete the attached form and send it to our Fundraising Team.
- The Fundraising Team will work with you to ensure everything is on track. They will also work with you if you need any support from us.
- Run your fundraiser! Good luck!
- Arrange to transfer the funds to our Fundraising Team within 2 weeks.
- Feel great that you’ve made a difference to the patients at Victoria Hospital!
Let’s Start at the Beginning!
Is there a specific project that you’d like to raise money for? Here are some of the options:
- Patient Toiletries (shampoo, razors, dental floss, tampons etc.) help provide dignity for patients who cannot afford them or do not have family to bring them supplies.
- Recreational activities (like art supplies, journals for mental health patients, craft supplies, gardening supplies, etc.) help with mobility, concentration, and emotions.
- Music therapy (radios, musical instruments, access to recorded music, or visiting musicians) brings great happiness, particularly to our elderly patients.
- Pet therapy; the dogs bring enormous joy to our patients and staff. Although the dogs and their owners are volunteers through St. John’s Ambulance, we do have to pay for their training, evaluation, and expenses.
- Wherever the need is greatest (examples would include items like medical equipment or discharge medications for patients in need).
How would you like to raise money? Here are a few suggestions:
- Do a “pop up” event – run a bake sale, a hot chocolate stand, a pancake breakfast, or a yard sale, candygrams or flowers on Valentine’s Day, pictures with Santa
- Hold an event – hold a karaoke party, a talent show, a trivia night, a fashion show, an art show, or a movie night
- Partner with a company that does fundraisers like Mom’s Pantry or Glenlea Greenhouses – sell a product and earn a percentage of sales.
- Offer a service in exchange for a donation – a car wash, leaf raking, snow shovelling, singing telegrams
- Recruit sponsors for a walk-a-thon, read-a-thon, or polar plunge
Advance Planning:
- Develop a detailed plan for your event including a venue, a date and time, whatever supplies will be needed and a “to do” list.
- Get the necessary permissions from the Volunteer Guild and other stakeholders like your school, the venue etc.
- Clearly assign tasks, so everyone knows what is expected of them.
- Promote the event including the cause and how people can participate.
During the Event:
- Follow your plan, making adjustments as necessary.
- Ensure good communication between the team members.
- Keep excellent financial records.
- Be sure to thank your donors.
- Have fun!
After the Event:
- Transfer funds to the Volunteer Guild within two weeks.
- Debrief with the team to see what went well, and what you would do differently next time.
- Celebrate your success!
The Fine Print
- Remember that if you are having a raffle or lottery of any kind, or plan to serve alcohol, you’ll need a license from the Liquor, Gaming, and Cannabis Authority: https://lgcamb.ca/
- Sometimes donors are eligible for a tax receipt. For example, if someone comes to your bake sale, buys $10 worth of cupcakes, and gives you $50, we could provide a tax receipt for $40. The donation must be above and beyond an exchange of money for goods and services; it must be an additional donation of at least $10. In this case, please have the donor complete a Donor Card (we’ll provide you with some) and forward it to us.
- If you run the kind of event that just takes donations and don’t want to handle cash, you could consider setting up a fundraiser on CanadaHelps.org and listing the Volunteer Guild of Victoria Hospital as your charity of choice. Participants who make online donations instantly get a tax receipt.
Ready to Get Started?
Here is the application form! Complete it, send it to us at fundraising@vicguild.ca, and we’ll get back to you quickly.
Have fun!
Thanks for helping us make a difference to folks who really need it. Let’s keep in touch; we’ll help you however we can!