Shoe Fundraising Ideas
While many of us enjoy the fashionable element of shoes, we tend to forget that wearing shoes is a privilege. Sadly, a huge portion of the population in developing countries cannot afford them or simply don’t have access to footwear.
The good news is that shoe fundraising drives can help provide footwear to people who cannot afford them. By developing shoe fundraiser ideas, you can help less fortunate people in certain parts of the world or collect funds to support another cause.
8 Shoe Fundraising Ideas for a Successful Shoe Fundraiser
#1 Establish your "why"
A successful shoe fundraiser starts with a compelling “why,” so begin by establishing your reason for the shoe drive. Then, if you are looking to support an organization, dive deeper into that and get as much information as possible, so you can answer any questions potential supporters might ask.
Some common reasons to start a shoe fundraiser are the following:
- Raise awareness for a cause
- Support developing towns or countries
- Make a difference
While the reasons above are not entirely wrong, you want to be specific to be compelling. So here are some reasons you should go for:
- Make footwear available to kids who need them to go to school.
- Help start microbusinesses in underdeveloped regions of the world.
- Prevent the spread of infectious diseases by avoiding contact with bare feet
#2 Involve your family and friends
Before you reach out to a broader group of people, it is best to begin with the people closest to you. Get their support; this way, you will have further reach into their networks.
#3 Promote through social media
Social media, particularly Facebook and Instagram, is a powerful tool for sharing your shoe fundraising ideas and causes.
Here are some tips when promoting your fundraiser on social media:
- Produce eye-catching media like photos and videos.
- If someone in your family or friends is a social media marketer, they are most likely willing to spearhead your social media efforts.
- Use your connections and look for influencers.
- As you go about your shoe drive, post regular updates to let your supporters know how the drive is doing.
#4 Engage your neighborhood
Potential supporters love seeing a local community come together for a fundraiser, so reach out to your neighbors. Educate them about your cause. Like your family and friends, when you get the support of your local community, you get further reach into their network.
#5 Throw a party
Throwing a simple party is one of the best shoe fundraising ideas you could explore. You don’t have to go over and above and offer a five-course meal, but be sure to set expectations. For example, you could host an outdoor movie night where you only need to serve beverages and popcorn, and each person needs to donate a pair of shoes as a “door charge.”
#6 Meet and greet
Throwing a simple party is one of the best shoe fundraising ideas you could explore. You don’t have to go over and above and offer a five-course meal, but be sure to set expectations. For example, you could host an outdoor movie night where you only need to serve beverages and popcorn, and each person needs to donate a pair of shoes as a “door charge.”
#7 Streamline the giving process
The giving process often turns into a bottleneck for many shoe fundraisers. Many people who come across your promotional posts on social media feel motivated to give there and then. So ensure that once potential donors look into the details on how they could give, they will find it convenient.
The giving process often turns into a bottleneck for many shoe fundraisers. Many people who come across your promotional posts on social media feel motivated to give there and then. So ensure that once potential donors look into the details on how they could give, they will find it convenient. Here are some shoe fundraising ideas for the giving process:
- List all your drop-off points.
- Set a collection schedule and stick with it.
- Indicate what shoe types people can and cannot donate (sneakers, boots, and sandals).
- Make it clear if people can donate both new and lightly worn shoes.
#8 Work with The Fundraising Company
Launching a shoe fundraising drive can be overwhelming in itself, but where you go with all the shoes you collected is another thing. With The Fundraising Company, you get assistance every step of the way.
Our process is easy:
- Collect. You gather new or lightly worn shoes.
- Pick-up. We pick up the shoes for free whenever you are ready.
- Pay-out. We weigh and sort your shoes, then email you a check.
- Double impact. We send the shoes to our partners in developing countries, and you, in turn, can proceed with your cause or pay it forward with the funds you received.
And some of the causes we proudly support are the following:
- Adoptions
- Sports teams
- Medical
- Scout troops
- Youth groups
Even if you wish to do a shoe fundraiser for a personal cause, our team would be glad to support you. For any questions, get a free consultation with our fundraising coordinator, or call us at (213)-458-9896.