Simply the Basics is a privately funded nonprofit organization. The funds raised for our organization allow us to provide thousands of hygiene products ever month, reusable-mildew proof tote bags for all recipients, and engage with the community in a compassionate manner - You can help us provide dignity and compassion by hosting a fundraiser for Simply the Basics!
Steps to Prepare a Simply the Basics Event
Select a Date and Venue
We recommend giving yourself at least 2 months to promote and plan.
Oftentimes an less obvious venue, like a corporate headquarters or community space, will donate their space as a way to introduce people to their facilities!
Get the best deal for your buck! Lots of restaurants host “happy hour” for 2-3 hours and offer $5 dishes or half-off on dishes and have special prices for drinks.
Consider elements of the event that you would like to include. The more unique, the more enticing!
For some fun ideas, visit our blog to learn about fundraising events we have successfully hosted! (Such as the Period Party: A Comedy Showcase to raise funds for menstrual products and where comedians and members of the audience could share their worst or first period stories).
Determine what will be available: food? wine? etc.
Consider an upfront budget when planning activities. (Simply the Basics does not provide funding for hosting events). You can get creative by asking people to bring treats, have wine donated, etc.
Create an RSVP Process
We recommend a registration page, such as Evite, that allows you to collect donations on the platform
Ask each attendee to make a donation at the onset to cover the cost of the ticket price. Want to offer options? Give a suggested donation amount!
Invite Family and Friends!
Send email invitations & social media posts
Create a Facebook Event page as a way to spread the word further!
Showcase the impact of our programs!
We have documents on the Impact of Hygiene on Health to demonstrate the importance of our work!
Share the Simply the Basics Documentary (also can be fun to show at the event itself!)
Share the event with us so that we can highlight it on our social media and in our e-newsletters!
Event Day Activities
Welcome everyone!
Show the Simply the Basics Documentary
Have a way of collecting donations on site (online, product bin, etc).
Additional fun ideas:
Have a “Message Board” where people can write the basic needs they use every day or what “Dignity” means to them
Have a Hygiene Product Collection table
Donate the Proceeds to Simply the Basics
All donations raised under the brand Simply the Basics may be used ONLY for Simply the Basics purposes. The following are the only available options:
Donate all monetary proceeds to Simply the Basics
Use donations to purchase hygiene products for an approved Hygiene Bank Activity. Only approved Hygiene Bank Activity Leads may use monetary funds for the purposes of hosting a Hygiene Bank Activity. 100% of donations must be used to purchase products and tote bags. These donations are not tax deductible, only donations received by Simply the Basics are tax deductible.
For Hygiene Collections, they must be used through an approved Hygiene Drive or Hygiene Bank activity
