The Dog Days of Summer
Five ideas to keep your donor base engaged in the summer

As we get into the last few weeks of August, we run into quite an interesting time for nonprofit professionals. Even though the sun is out, and seemingly everyone is on vacation — your important work does not stop. So the challenge becomes: how do I remain relevant when the summer sun leads to a less engaged base?
There are a few things you could try. But instead of just trying to pull people away from the great weather, you should try steering into the skid. Use the sunny season as fuel for some of your most engaging and fun donor-centric events.
Here are some ideas to make you stand out in the dog days of summer:
Get to know your “Block”
Block parties are great ways for the community to gather, have fun, and grow together. Use this community gathering as an opportunity to bring your donors together. Have games to play, snacks to eat, and don’t forget to sprinkle in a bit of the work you do. A great thing to do is to invite some of your volunteers and program workers to host tables or presentations about their work. Use this block party as an opportunity to tell everyone about the amazing work you’re doing.

Summer Movies (Under the Stars?)
Nothing quite says summer like an amazing Hollywood blockbuster. You can try to organize Summer Movie Nights. Find a movie, grab a projector, pop some popcorn and you’re set. It doesn’t have to be fancy — it just has to be fun! Advertise within your community, and be sure to invite your key donors.
Do you have access to a parking lot and some speakers? You can make this event a bit more magical by hosting a movie night under the stars. Just let Mother Nature take care of the ambiance!
Ice Cream Sales
Forget the traditional bake sale! Cool everyone off by selling frozen goodies: ice cream, popsicles, freezies and everything in between. When the sun is blazing, these items will fly off the shelf!
Buy some frozen treats from your local grocery store and setup shop somewhere with a lot of foot traffic. A good place is usually the lobby of your building, or on the sidewalk in front of your building. You’ll be sure to get quite a few people come by!

Car Wash
The car wash is tried and true! People will always want a clean car — and who doesn’t love cooling off on a hot day? It’s a win-win! Grab some buckets, some soap, and a hose — and you’re good to go. Spread the word beforehand, or just stand outside with some signs. It won’t be long until you’ll be busy with traffic! Just try to keep it clean!

Summer Scavenging
Everyone is looking for adventure — and this is especially true in the middle of summer. One fun event is a summer-themed scavenger hunt around the city. Have teams sign up for this event and send them on a rat race around town, doing some of the most summery things imaginable: build a sandcastle, jump in a pool, blow up 10 beach-balls, grill up the perfect burger. The list can go on and on. Not only will this be fun — it will also help donors associate fun events with your organization, and that’s always a plus.

What are some of your favourite summer-themed fundraisers? Let us know about them!

