The Basics of Organizing a Fundraiser
Putting together a fundraising event can prove challenging, especially with COVID going on. But with a little planning, and with the help of a classic dunk tank, your fundraiser can go off without a hitch.
Dunk tanks are easy to set up and provide hours of fun for everyone attending your fundraiser. You simply fill the dunk tank with water (the colder the better, hehe). Then, you ask the "dunkee" to take their seat. This might be the principal, a fire chief, or maybe a clown or a comedian who can gently tease passersby.
Each participant pays a price per ball and takes turns throwing them at the dunk tank target, dropping our honoree into the water below if they hit the mark.
Whose the Boss?
You'll want to take your time and pick the right person for dunking. Choosing an authority figure, like a principal or a boss, creates a fun incentive for participants. After all, who doesn't want to dump their principal into cold water for a good cause?
It's also important you determine your fundraising goals and parameters. If the goal of your event is to raise $5,000, and you anticipate 1,000 participants, you'll need to charge $5 per ball or more to reach that goal. You might charge $2 for one ball and $5 for three balls, for instance.
Choosing a location is important, too. For a dunk tank fundraiser, you'll want to set up the event somewhere with easy access to a water source (preferably with good water pressure), on a surface that won't be damaged when you drain the tank. And you'll want enough free space for participants to practice safe social distancing, too. Large parking lots and sports fields are great locations.
Be sure to promote your event, too. You'll want to publish clear, informative instructions for guests. Scheduling on a weekend maximizes the number of people who can participate. You'll also want to ensure you've got plenty of volunteers on hand on the day of the event, too.
For a few great tips on using social media to promote your event, read this.
Staying Safe from COVID
You'll of course want to make sure everyone is having safe and healthy fun during the event. Here are a few tips for observing health safety during your dunk tank fundraiser.
- Choose just one person to be dunked for the entirety of your event. This will eliminate the possibility of spreading germs on or in the dunk tank.
- Since cash can be a source of contamination, consider using PayPal, Stripe, or another digital method to pre-sell balls.
- Create markers or indicators on the ground six feet apart where you would like participants to line up.
- Minimize crowd size by creating participation time slots. For example, ninth graders all participate from 10 AM - 12 PM; tenth graders from 12 PM - 2 PM; and so on. Ask participants only to attend during their designated slot. Or consider asking participants to wait in their vehicles when possible.
- Sanitize your balls! Have volunteers onsite to quickly disinfect the softballs that participants are throwing. Lysol, Clorox wipes, antibacterial soap solutions, etc. will all work, but the more clean balls you have, the easier it will be to keep your line moving.
Let's Get This Dunk Tank Fundraising Party Started!
Hosting a dunk tank fundraiser is a lot easier than it might seem. And as fundraisers go, there really aren't any other formats quite as fun as dropping someone into water with a hearty throw. Best of all, dunk tanks are sturdy and dependable. With just a little care, one can last you year after year. Toss in a few sealed air games and carnival games and you'll create an event no one will soon forget.
Given social distancing requirements, hosting a big in-person dunk tank fundraiser may not be feasible. But that's okay! You can host one online, instead. Simply set up your dunk tank as you normally would, and stream the event live via Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, or Discord. The audience at home can donate remotely via PayPal or Swipe, sponsoring throws from their favorite pitchers.
Whichever way you decide to set it up, you're going to need a high quality, commercial grade dunk tank for your big fundraiser event. Give Pogo a call today at 716-566-5806 and we'll gladly help you find the perfect dunk tank for your event. Everyone is going to have a great time, too. Well ... except for maybe the person getting dunked.