Fundraising with my show

Hi,
I've been running my show for a few years now and it's drawing a crowd and every knows me as the crazy Christmas lights guy. I put off fundraising previous years because it got dumped in the too hard basket, did I need a FM license, how to collect the money etc.

This year has been a tough year, my Dad passed away in the UK after being diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2023 and then it got into his bone. It was so quick but I'm glad I got to spend time with him. Now a close friend has bone cancer too!

So what I would really like to do it fund raise for a cancer charity this year. Does anyone do this? Do I need to get that radio license? What are good 2024 ways to fund raise??? Any help appreciated.

For the actual fundraising part, maybe reach out to the charity organisation to find out how best they would accept a donation from your fundraising efforts. Then to collect the funds themselves, you could use a bucket or something that can securely hold cash donations for walk up visitors. You can also setup a website and/or QR code to direct visitors to donate online.
Advertise your charity and fundraising efforts via a short info sequence during your show. If you have a tune-to or info panel you can add details on there. Even a couple of laminated paper posters or stuck to coro would help.

As for thr FM license, there's already threads covering this such as THIS ONE. Legally, yes we probably should email APRA and apply for a narrowcaster broadcast license. The chances of someone dobbing you in if you dont have one are probably very small, but for the sake of sending an email asking for a free license, then at least you are covered.

Dreamin said:

This year has been a tough year, my Dad passed away in the UK after being diagnosed with lung cancer in June 2023 and then it got into his bone. It was so quick but I'm glad I got to spend time with him. Now a close friend has bone cancer too!

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Firstly that absolutely sucks man. It's a damn noble thing to want to raise money for the big C. Hope you do well this year from it!
Last year I did the Childrens' hospital Lights 4 Kids one. They did everything. I didn't collect cash, just QR code, I didn't deal with any of the financials. Keeps it totally honest that way.
They also produced all the signage to put up around the place. Very well organised.

Dreamin said:

Do I need to get that radio license?

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djgra79 said:

yes we probably should email APRA and apply for a narrowcaster broadcast license.

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This license allows you to use the copyrighted music without paying royalties. It does _not_ allow you to actually transmit radio waves.
To quote the terms of the license

I understand your service will be self-funding, equipment used for the broadcast is to be donated and the service
will not be transmitting any paid advertisements or sponsorship announcements.

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This grant authorises the broadcasting of APRA's controlled works during the above mentioned transmission,
subject to appropriate broadcast acknowledgments (in the way of acknowledgement that the music is being
broadcast courtesy of Australasian Performing Right Association)

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As per the actual "broadcast" stuff though, the radio transmission itself is "technically" not permitted, unless you have an ACMA license. Not gonna happen for short of 5 or 6 figures.
Don't be stupid with the transmission power (just enough that you can hear it with your display is visible), ensure you're not clobbering other stations, and don't broadcast anything obscene or questionable and you shouldnt attract interest.

Thanks for clarifying @Skymaster
I'm just used to playing music most of my life

I echo the sentiments above. So sorry for the loss of your dad and what your mate now must go through. It’s so tough on everyone.

Our entire street (that puts up lights) fund eases for Chris O’Brien Lighthouse each year. It’s typically a simple matter of contacting the charity and explaining what you’d like to do they will issue you an authority to fundraise and help you through the rest.

Raising money for charity while doing this is extremely rewarding - it’s a great feeling that you’re giving to a special cause while doing something you love. All the best mate.

B4IGO said:

they will issue you an authority to fundra

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This is one very important step I missed; you must get a letter from the charity to say you are allowed to fundraise on their behalf.

For NSW at least:

To fundraise in NSW an organisation needs to meet one of the following:

• obtain an authority to fundraise
• enter into an arrangement with the holder of an authority to fundraise on that holder’s behalf.

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The second being the pertinent point here.
QLD may have slightly different rules, so just check the state authorities so you're in the clear.

Take the Cancer Council for example:

Why do I need to register?
So we can provide you help and guidance as and when you need it. Once you register we’ll send you a welcome pack containing the things you need to run a successful fundraiser.
You'll get a document which authorises you to fundraise on our behalf which you may need to show donors, sponsors and other event organisers

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@Dreamin Sorry to hear about your dad but raising money in his honour is a lovely gesture.

Raising money is the number 1 reason I do my show, I take it very seriously (down to the fact that every evening, we count up all the coins and mark them in a spreadsheet with the weather and estimated crowd count)

We've been fundraising with our display since the beginning and I run a training session on our EU zoom about Donation Optimisation, between lights and other activities, our family has raised about £60,000 for local hospice.

I'll try and make my advice generic as I know laws are different in other places

- Have several places for them to donate, one easy way is get some letter boxes with a side flap - https://amzn.asia/d/gRnEy0j and stick the charity logo in front with a "donations for x" sign
- Signage, remind them that it's free and they are welcome to donate, if you have a P5 panel or virtual matrix, put a little reminder in between the songs to say what you are raising for and why
- Contactless, the ability to accept card really helps (in the UK at least) we setup a contactless tap to donate and by the end of the year 45% of donations were coming through that
- We setup a separate bank account and all donations go into that, it's not needed but it helps keep things separate
- QR codes are not the solution, people will scan it, people will say they've scanned it, people rarely do.
- If you have a Facebook page for your charity, add a charity fundraiser to some of the posts

These are some of my initial thoughts, I can come back later with some photos of what we do if they are of interest.

I put a box out at the front of the driveway, it clearly states what it is, and where the donations are going, it also has very clear wording to say that the donations are not a payment to enter the light show, as the light show is free to enter. I don't broadcast FM anymore, was too much of a hassle.

I'm still looking into fundraising myself.
Choosing a charity is a difficult decision and finding a suitable metal box that is secure is another challenge.

I like @LawrenceDriveLights 's donation box which triggers FPP to play a sequence.
I'd setup this into my home automation and a reminder notification to empty the box after the show.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9bBRIcXzH0

Thanks everyone, I've contacted the cancer council and applied for my license (probably should have done that years ago )

domhodgson said:

- QR codes are not the solution, people will scan it, people will say they've scanned it, people rarely do.
- If you have a Facebook page for your charity, add a charity fundraiser to some of the posts

These are some of my initial thoughts, I can come back later with some photos of what we do if they are of interest.

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Thanks mate, yeah I was thinking QR codes are hit and miss. I'm finding people scan them and then get distracted. I'll have to think of innovative ways to get people donating.