How to Campaign Like a #FirstBookChampion

Authored by Gavin McGuire on July 19, 2016

Posted in: For Educators

Being a First Book Champion is all about spreading the joy of reading to kids in need. Starting a campaign is the first step to becoming a champion.

The next step is brainstorming – thinking of all the clever ways you can get donors invested in your cause. Lucky for you, we are one step ahead – we’ve got a list of the five best ways to fundraise that will be both fun and effective.

Now – Get Ready, Get Set, FUNdraise!

1.Host a Read-a-Thon

Partner with a coffee shop or local business, get some friends together, and read! Vote on a book and set a time limit. Have people donate to participate or to come and listen.

Pick a book everyone will love to hear read aloud like the Hunger Games or a marathon reading of Roald Dahl’s collection. See if the business will donate part of their profits to your campaign – remind them that it is tax deductible!

2. Be Active

Setting a personal goal to align with your campaign goal will keep you motivated and striving for success. Host a walk, run, or bike ride. Train with friends, have fun, and get fit.

Feeling really adventurous? Campaign while you live out your greatest fitness dreams – like hiking the Grand Canyon or rock climbing in Colorado. Ask people to donate when you meet milestones.

3. Donations for a Special Occasion

Getting hitched? Have a birthday coming up? Maybe a bat mitzvah or a graduation? Skip the gifts and have friends and family donate to help give books to kids who need them. There is no better birthday present than knowing you are putting a big smile on a child’s face.

4. Get Competitive

Nothing fires people up quite like a competition – use that fire to fuel your First Book Campaign. Set up a literary trivia night, a 10-second reading challenge, maybe even a poetry slam competition. Your prize is glory — and knowing your giving the gift of reading to kids in need.

5. Books for Books

When donors make donations to your campaign, give them book recommendations. Set up a give a book, take a book free library, encouraging participants to donate to your campaign. Start a book club. Remind people how much they love reading and what a joy it is to share that love with others.

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