Your guide to fundraising success >

2.

Your help is urgently neededEvery day, animals are being lost to illegal poaching and habitat destruction.

Many species are on the brink of extinction.

Chimpanzees in the wild are needlessly being slaughtered for bush meat, while their forests are devastated by logging. It is estimated that 80% of their habitat is already gone.

Every 11 hours a Rhino is killed. Only a few thousand Black Rhinos remain in the wild. They are being hunted to extinction simply for their horns, which are used for traditional medicines. Their horns are made from keratin, the same substance as our hair and nails. They have survived for over 40 million years but are now threatened by humans.

Less than 400 Sumatran Tigers survive in the wild due to illegal poaching and destruction of their habitat for agriculture.

Tasmanian Devils are an Aussie icon and endangered, with over half of their population wiped out by the contagious Devil Facial Tumour Disease.

Only 300 wild Asian Elephants remain in the Kui Buri National Park, Thailand and those left and threatened.

Taronga is working in Australia and around the world to help safeguard species at risk.

We are working in 18 countries across 5 continents.

3.

You can help usWe believe that wildlife and humans can share this planet.

You can help us breed threatened species, protect their genetic diversity and even re-introduce them to the wild.

Get started >This guide is full of fundraising information and ideas to help you get started.

Good luck.

4.

Fundraise at School> Animal-theme mufti day

ask for gold coin donations

> Cake bake donate the proceeds

> School disco charge an entry fee

> Colouring in competition contact us for a template and charge a dollar to enter

> Crazy hair day ask for gold coin donations

> Spelling Bee hold your very own spelling competition and get parents to sponsor you for each word

> Sponsored silence parents and teachers are sure to pay good money to see how long you can keep quiet

> Piggyback on an existing event. Organise your fundraising activities to take advantage of an event that is already happening, such as a school assembly, play or concert

> Birthday pledge instead of receiving gifts ask for donations to wildlife

Thank you for choosing to fundraise for TarongaThere are many ways you can raise money and here are some ideas >

Remember it doesn’t matter how much you raise as it will all help support our vital breeding and conservation programs.

5.

Case StudiesTake a look at some of the fantastic ways children have raised funds for Taronga >

Sofia and her Birthday PledgeInspirational Sofia decided to use her 6th Birthday to do something very important to her, to help save precious animals. She chose to raise funds for Rhinoceros and Bilbies. So instead of buying her presents she asked people to help her reach her fundraising goal of $500. She ended up raising an amazing $550. As she told her Mum and Dad...

“I really don’t need anything but these animals are endangered and they really need help”.

Max and Sam dog walk for Sumatran TigersYear 6 schoolboys Max and Sam, from Mosman Prep, raised an awesome $1,000 by dog walking for two terms to help protect Sumatran Tigers. The boys were inspired to fundraise after attending the launch of the ABC TV show Wild Life at the Zoo.

As few as 400 Sumatran Tigers survive in the wild due to illegal poaching and destruction of their habitat for agriculture. They are hunted for their skins and bones. They are critically endangered.

Max and Sam’s fundraising will help Taronga to conserve Sumatran Tigers, with over 30 bred at the Zoo since 1979. Taronga’s breeding program acts as an insurance against extinction in the wild. Taronga also campaigns for sustainably grown palm oil in tiger habitats and partners with international groups to protect Sumatran Tigers in the wild from poaching.

6.

Case StudiesTake a look at some of the fantastic ways children have raised funds for Taronga >

School girls raise money for Ghost BatsKelly and her Year 6 mates, from St Aloysius Catholic Primary, held a mufti day to raise funds for Ghost Bats and Taronga’s Wildlife Hospital. They wanted to help and reward the Taronga Wildlife Hospital for keeping our Aussie mates out of the extinction category.

They shortlisted four animals that were either really endangered or had only been adopted by a few people. The animals were the Fijian Crested Iguana, Regent Honey Eater, Ghost Bat and the Feathertail Glider. They had a vote and the Ghost Bat received the most votes.

The only reason it is called a Ghost Bat is because when the moon shines on its wings it looks like a ghost. And to their prey they are a living nightmare because of their excellent hearing and inch-long fangs.

York Public School raises $1,000 to help save endangered RhinosYork Public School held a free Friday Disco in school time. The school sold ‘rhino water’, special sparkling water purchased for $1.90 a bottle and sold for $4 per bottle. The children were very excited because the water had flashing lights and lit up in all different colours at the disco.

The school’s fantastic efforts raised in excess of $1,000 to help protect endangered rhinos. This magnificent animal has been hunted close to extinction simply for their horns.

The rhino is on the brink of being lost forever.

7.

Fundraise with colleagues> Dress Down

Organize a dress down day or fancy dress day and get everyone to donate $5

> Give it up for the wild give up something you like to raise a few dollars

> Have a cake sale

> Arrange a sausage sizzle

> Organize quizzes and games from a pub quiz to bridge

> Shave it take the chop for conservation

> Have a raffle

> Take part in a public fundraiser

> Run an auction

> Hold a public collection

8.

Take part in a public fundraiserHelp protect endangered species and increase understanding of wildlife while you get fit and have fun.

One of the easiest ways to fundraise is to take part in a public event and raise funds for Taronga. Choose from inspirational fun runs, ocean swims, bike rides or triathlons.

> Sun Run

> Cole Classic

> The Surf Swim

> Canberra Marathon, Half Marathon and Fun Runs

> Gold Coast Triathlon

> Manly Scenic Fun Run

> Port Stephens Triathlon

> SMH Half Marathon

> The Great Ocean Road Marathon

> City2South

> Run Melbourne

> City2Surf

> The Sunshine Coast Marathon

> The Canberra Times Fun Run

> Blackmores Running Festival

> Melbourne Marathon Running Festival

> Noosa Triathlon

> City2Sea

9.

Create an online fundraising pageSetting up an online fundraising page is quick and easy. >

Visit Everyday Hero or gofundraise and create your own page.

Ask your closest friends and family to sponsor you first. They’re likely to give more generously and set the trend for other donations.

Personalise your page and make it your own. Tell people what you’re doing, why you’re fundraising for Taronga and what you’re hoping to achieve.

Write your own message on the page and upload your own photos and videos. Remember to promote your fundraising on Facebook and Twitter to get everyone you know to sponsor you.

Publicise your fundraising to help raise as much money as possible >

Tell others> Write a press release – keep it short and snappy.

Include the key facts who, what, when, where, why and how. Put your contact details at the end for more information. Include a great, eye-catching photo.

> Contact media - local papers love to hear about local people getting involved with good causes. Email a press release to your local newspaper, radio station and community websites. Follow up with a phone call.

> Social networks – you can create a Facebook event or Tweet about what you’re doing on Twitter. Link your online sponsorship page to Facebook.

> Email link – include a link to your online fundraising page whenever you send an email.

> Work intranet and newsletter – ask your employers if they will include details of your fundraising.

> Tell Taronga – we’d love to hear what you are up to. Please send Taronga your story and we could include it in our newsletters or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

> Word of mouth – tell everyone you know that you’re fundraising for Taronga.

> Put up posters and fliers – to let people know about your fundraising event. Thank everyone – let people know how grateful we are for their support and how much you’ve raised.

10.

Make the money grow> Matched giving

many companies have budgets for matching their employees’ fundraising efforts. So find out if your employer does Matched Giving. For every dollar you raise, they will donate a dollar.

> Sending your money to us please don’t send cash in the post.

What happens with the money you raise?Your fundraising efforts will support Taronga’s work such as international research and education programs focusing on endangered species around the world, as well as assisting with the conservation, breeding and preservation of wild animals and their habitats.

ABN 41 733 619 876

If you organise your own event check it is safe & legalFundraising is great fun, but you need to be sure everything you do to raise funds is legal and fits with Taronga’s wildlife conservation and preservation objectives.

There are certain rules for holding auctions, raffles and competitions.

If you’re organising an event of your own, you may need a licence from your local authority, you will need to think about health and safety issues and insurance.

You will need to fill in a Fundraising Event Application Form or a School Fundraising Application Form.

For further information please email: tarongafoundation@zoo.nsw.gov.au

11.

Taronga’s Top Tips for fundraising success> Keep it simple – the best fundraising projects are the simplest. Be realistic and cost out

your event carefully. Have a wet weather plan.

> Set a date and start early – keep a checklist so you know exactly what needs to be done at every stage. Be aware of major sporting events and school holidays.

> Have a goal – setting a fundraising target helps you plan. Think about how much you want to raise.

> Tell us about it – please let us know what you’re planning.

> Keep it legal – you need to ensure everything you do is legal. Do you need insurance?

> Ask for community help – approach local businesses for support.

> Do Your sums – make sure you keep an accurate report of all financial transactions you make for your event. See if your employer is willing to match donations.

> Spread the word – tell your friends, family and work colleagues about what you’re up to and let your local media know. Get online and keep people updated via Facebook and Twitter. Send a blanket email to your address book.

> Maximise your reach – use Everyday Hero and gofundraise and create your own page. Make it easy for people to sponsor.

> Compete - with colleagues, class mates and friends to see who can raise the most money.

> Thank everyone – let people know how grateful we are for their support. When you know how much you have raised, tell them so they know what a valuable contribution they have made.

12.

Your invaluable support will help Taronga, one of the world’s most respected wildlife organisations, to put things right.

Your contribution will make a real difference to the future of the world’s wildlife.