The Fund Raising Committee are targeting, as a first step, the recruitment of members for the Trust. A target of 200 members has been set and the drive for members started at the Havant game (39 signed and paid up, to add to those who signed up at the open evening, the total is currently around 70). Those supporters who took forms but did not sign on the day will be chased up. 200 members will produce an annual income of £2,000 assumming all pay £10, although we have already some siging up for life memberships or 5 year terms. Members will also be approached to agree to donate a monthly sum to the Trust in order to finance projects on behalf of the Football Club (if just 20% agree to pay £10 a month, that will produce another £4,800). The Committee are working towards raising £15,000 per annum.

On a wider scale ongoing discussions are being held with a professional fund raiser. Once plans have been formalised then approaches will be made to various institutions for largs donations. At the moment ideas for projects include providing football coaches to work in the local community and building a stand for disabled fans.

Fundraising Working Party - Some Ideas and Challenges

Remember this is designed to raise funds for the Trust and not to replace the club’s current commercial activities although some of the ideas will be relevant to both Trust and Club.

• Target number of Trust members – how are we going to recruit them? How many and by when? What about corporate members, juniors?
• Membership fees- what we should offer to attract investors?
• Voluntary contributions, donations – what can we offer subscribers to make regular voluntary contributions
• Affinity schemes: how do they work and are they worth it?
• What have other Trusts done and what have they found successful? – contact a selection of Trusts, particularly at non league level, steal their best ideas!
• How much can we raise in total? One off payments, annual subscriptions, standing orders – what is a realistic and achievable target?
• Fund raising events/ideas:
o Sporting dinners, sports talk ins – can we get a sporting celebrity to give time for free?
o Quizzes, horserace evenings
o Sponsored events; walks, marathons, football matches, bike rides
o Share fund raising events with local charities?
o Raffles, auctions
o Merchandise sales – is it worth it?
o 200 Club – run on behalf of the club?
o Jumble sales
o Summer fair
• Explore what grants may be available – need to liaise with Community Work Group – community coaches, local government, sports bodies, etc
• Mini-soccer, soccer schools
• Sharing ideas with the football club
• Involvement in Trust launch event
• Who, when and how is the plan going to be delivered? Need to balance effort against returns achievable.

Minutes of the Fund Raising Meeting held 12th June

Minutes of Fund Raising Meeting held 11th February