Community Fundraising

Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) is the peak national patient organisation for Australians affected by melanoma. We represent the voice of melanoma patients with government, the medical profession, cancer and research organisations.

Our vision is that all Australians affected by melanoma receive the best support, information, treatment and care. We want to ensure that no one affected by melanoma walks alone.

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. While it accounts for just 2% of skin cancers, it causes 75% of skin cancer deaths. In recent years there have many improvements in the treatments available to those diagnosed with melanoma, especially if detected early, but unfortunately if left undetected melanoma spreads easily and can quickly become life threatening.

We are so thankful for our community of supporters who help us every day to provide high quality services for free to those affected by melanoma. We rely on the generosity of individuals, workplaces, schools and local communities who fundraise on our behalf – we couldn’t have the impact that we do without people like you.

Whether you raise a little or a lot for us we appreciate every effort, and we will put your fund towards our vital support services.

Today we provide support services across Australia in the form of face to face, online and telephone support groups, as well as holding annual information forums and publishing a range of evidence-based brochures, resources and videos.

If you’ve never held a community fundraiser before it can seem a little daunting. To help you get the most out of your fundraiser we’ve outlined a few simple steps for you to get started.

• Decide on a fundraising idea
  Choose something that you like doing and that will be easy and fun for others to get involved. It can be as impressive as setting yourself a physical goal or as simple as a lolly guessing competition. Think about the resources and time you have available to you and what you’re willing to commit to. Remember that every fundraising effort helps. If you’re feeling stuck we’ve made a list of ideas, otherwise your only limit is your imagination!
• Fundraising guidelines
  Make sure you are aware of the rules and regulations surrounding fundraising particular to your state or territory. If you’re planning on holding an event like a gala you’ll need to check if you need insurance or local council permissions. If you want to hold a raffle, there are certain state-based regulations you have to follow.
• Seek approval to fundraise
  Once you’ve decided on your fundraising activity and have checked the requirements for holding it in your state or territory, you’ll have to contact us with your Fundraising Proposal. We’ll review your proposal and if successful we will send you an Authority to Fundraise letter within two weeks. You won’t be able to start fundraising until you receive that letter from us.
• Set up your page
  An easy way to manage your fundraiser is by setting up an Just Giving page. You can personalise your page with pictures and your story to make it more engaging, and then copy the URL to link on social media and in emails. The donations will be sent directly to us so you won’t have to worry about handling money, and your supporters will receive a tax receipt immediately.
• Invite people
  Once you’ve got everything set up you can start inviting people to come to your event or donate. Engage your network by emailing and sharing to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Don’t forget to include a link to your fundraising page and ask people to share.

• Be the first to donate. Showing how committed you are encourages others to donate to your cause.
• Access your local network. Your family and friends are the people most likely to help you, especially if it’s something you’re passionate about.
• Set yourself a target. This can be a great motivator not only for you but for your supporters as well.
• Don’t be shy about sharing. Social media is an easy way to get your message out. Write about your motivations for fundraising, people respond well to personal stories. Posts with pictures tend to gather more attention so get creative with something that will be eye-catching.
• Remember to say thank you to the people who support you! Let them know how much you appreciate their donation and how it will help others.

When deciding on your fundraiser remember to consider:

When you hold it. Choose an appropriate date and give people plenty of notice. Check if there are any other events happening in your community on the date you choose.

Where you hold your event. Make sure it’s easy for people to get to and consider accessibility for things like parking and wheelchair access. You may need to apply for a permit from your local council depending on the type of event you’re holding. It is important to make sure your event is safe and legal.

Who you can ask to get involved. If you’re organising an event approach people in your personal and professional networks who can donate their time or skills. Don’t be afraid to ask local business to supply goods or to promote your fundraiser in their display. You’ll be surprised by the generosity of people, and the worst that can happen is that they decline.

What will you do? This is the fun part – deciding on something that interests you and that will be engaging for your community.

• Sausage sizzle  host a BBQ at your home, office or local Bunnings. BBQs are simple to set up and you can approach your local butcher to donate some sausages, or your local bakery for some bread.
• Host a morning tea  there’s nothing like coffee and baked goods to bring people together. Have people bring a plate and a gold coin to enjoy the spread.
• Trivia night  gather around your friends and family and have a fun night out. You can set themed trivia questions and get creative by accepting bribes from participants for answers.
• Raffle  contact local business to supply prizes. Remember there are specific state-based regulations surrounding raffles so check them out before you begin.
• Donation for a celebration  if you’ve got an upcoming birthday why not ask for a donation to MPA instead of a gift.
• Set yourself a challenge  whether it be to run a marathon, give up caffeine or radically change your hairstyle, challenge yourself and ask others to support you in your journey.
• Workplace giving  if you’re holding a morning tea or casual clothes day at your office, ask your employer if they can match any funds raised by your colleagues.

There are so many fun and easy ways to hold a fundraiser – remember that every donation is appreciated, no matter how big or small.

Don’t forget that an easy way to manage your fundraiser is through setting up a Just Giving page.

It is important that you are aware of your rights and responsibilities when fundraising. Depending on the state or territory you live in and the type of event you are holding you will have to comply with the appropriate regulations on safety, food handling, alcohol and gambling. Each state will have their own Charitable Fundraising Act that outlines what you are responsible for. You will also need to check with your local council to see if you need any permits for the type of event you hold.

For more information on fundraising regulations on the state and territory level:

• Australian Capital Territory
  ACT Office of Regulatory Services
  www.accesscanberra.act.gov.au
• New South Wales
  NSW Fair Trading
  www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au
• Northern Territory
  Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading
  www.consumeraffairs.nt.gov.au
• Queensland
  Office of Fair Trading
  www.fairtrading.qld.gov.au
• South Australia
  Office of Consumer and Business Services
  www.cbs.sa.gov.au
• Tasmania
  Office of Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading
  www.cbos.tas.gov.au
• Victoria
  Consumer Affairs Victoria
  www.consumer.vic.gov.au
• Western Australia
  Department of Commerce
  www.commerce.wa.gov.au

You must complete a Fundraising Proposal and receive an Authority to Fundraise letter from us before you can start fundraising. This is so that we can see whether your fundraiser complies with our fundraising guidelines.

Please note that we have the right to decline fundraising applications for activities that we believe are contradictory to our mission and purpose, that fail to comply with our guidelines and that will have a negative impact on our name and brand.

For the purpose of fundraising in our name we do not endorse telemarketing, door to door fundraising or any activity that has an association with alcohol, tobacco or gaming organisations.

Once you have your Authority to Fundraise letter we can provide you with our logo to use in promoting your event. Any promotional materials you use will have to be approved by MPA before you distribute them by sending them to info@melanomapatients.org.au.

We have limited availability of resources. If you would like to chat to us to see what we have available please email us.

In talking about your event it’s important that you use the phrase ‘Proudly supporting Melanoma Patients Australia’. We ask that you do this so that the public know you are responsible for the fundraiser and it is not an activity of MPA. For example, instead of calling your event ‘Melanoma Patients Australia’s Golf Day’, call it ‘A Golf Day Proudly Supporting Melanoma Patients Australia’.

The easiest way to collect money is through an Just Giving fundraising page. The money donated through the site is given directly to us so you don’t need to worry about handling money, and your supporters will automatically receive a tax receipt.

If you receive cash donations you can deposit the funds directly to us by an EFT transfer. Our details are
BSB: 124 001
Account no: 208 298 92
Account name: Melanoma Patients Australia

If you wish to pay by check, please make the amount payable to Melanoma Patients Australia and post to
Attn: Melanoma Patients Australia Fundraising
PO Box 308
Varsity Lakes 4227

Alternatively, you can pay by credit or debit card through our website www.melanomapatients.org.au/product/donation

If you require a tax receipt for your EFT donation please email info@melanomapatients.org.au including the following details

• name of the person or organisation for receipting
• date of donation
• amount donated
• contact details for where the receipt is to be sent

Tax deductible receipts can be issued for donations of $2 or above. Please note that the following items do not qualify for a tax-deductible receipt

• purchase of tickets to attend a fundraising event
• purchase of raffle tickets
• purchase of merchandise such as pens or chocolates
• goods received in kind

If your donors require receipts you will have to record their donation amount, their name and postal address and supply us with that information following the end of the fundraiser. We will issue a receipt directly to them.