After you plan your event and have decided on what you would like to do for your Islam Awareness Week, you must figure out how you will obtain the funds needed to execute this plan. The fundraising committee's duties consist of drawing up a budget, itemizing it, prioritizing it, and figuring out how to obtain the money needed.

Guidelines:

Draw up a budget plan

Figure out how much money you will need to execute your IAW and itemize each section into a general budget proposal. Each itemized point should be descriptive and have an estimate of how much money will be needed. Overstate your needs because the more money you request from your benefactor, the more you are likely to get.

Possible costs to consider

• Track site rental costs. As you plan the event itself and as you meet with your venue manager, track all projected rental fees for the event and function space, housekeeping, baggage handling, and related expenses.
• Estimate catering costs. This includes all food and beverage charges
  Add decor expenses. Most events include expenses for decor, such as centerpieces, floral arrangements, tent rentals, etc. This is where you list those costs.
• Document entertainment & equipment fees. Common expenses in this category include the A/V equipment, but it's also a good spot to list honorariums to speakers or if you are hiring entertainers.
• Summarize printing charges. These include expenses for invitations, name badges, program booklets, event signage and banners.
• Post other expenses. If an expense doesn't fall into any of the above categories, list it as a miscellaneous expense item here.
• Give yourself a contingency fund category. Depending on the size or complexity of an event, you may want to give yourself as much as up to 20% of the event budget here. Despite the best planning, charges are going to exceed projected plans with expenses that you never consider. This will keep you from going over budget every time.
• Summarize projected expenses. As you build your event program, you will have a good projection of the total expenses.

University Funding

Many Universities offer funding to student organizations. Prepare a budget proposal to submit to your university to request funding for IAW. Check University guidelines and deadlines carefully before you work on your proposal. Be thorough and shoot for more than you think you will need, since they tend to give less than you ask for. Make sure you verify the deadlines on submission and hand your proposal in at least a week before the deadline so that if there are any corrections, they can be made. Most of your money should come from the university through this proposal. Include expenses such as photocopying, mailings, speakers' honoraria, room fees, hotel, films, advertising costs, and transportation. When you are allocated money, it is important that your organization uses all of the funds so that you can justify a similar budget proposal for next year. Keep all receipts and file all paperwork in an organized manner. Be aware of any restricted items that the university will not refund or any items that need to be approved before purchase.

Brainstorm ideas for fundraising

Identify key benefactors/contacts, businesses, etc in your community and assign each volunteer an area to cover. This includes:

• Co-Sponsorship with other student organizations such as Arab Student Association, Pakistani Student Association, Black Student Union, etc.
• Co sponsorship with University Departments (Middle Eastern Studies Dept, Religion Dept, Languages, Political Science, etc)
• Local Islamic/Muslim or ethnic Community organizations and businesses
• Have Businesses advertise at IAW (flyering, ads in event programs)
• University grants and funding
• Individual sponsors

Ideas may include fundraising through selling t-shirts (or anything else), fundraising dinners, sending around boxes at events, seeking money from the university, seeking money from masajid and Muslim businesses, and seeking money from individuals. Remember people only give money when they are asked and you cannot force someone to give you money. They give you the money because they see your cause as legitimate and want to help. Use a prepared template letter/proposal to send and present to key people who may be able to participate by donating. In your letter/presentation, stress the role the money being raised will play in the event and make sure to stress the background, importance and potential for success. Seek out deans or departments within the university who can help with grants, co-sponsorships, or any form of funding. Seek out Co-sponsorships with other organizations that may want to sponsor the event and help with organizing (even if just by having a table there).

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