Group Meetings
Fundraising guide
Ask the people already in the room
A group meeting is the most personal way to fundraise: a dinner, a lunch-and-learn, a college meet-up or a neighbour’s living room. No stage, no tickets — just a short story and a clear ask.
Why small rooms work
People give when they feel personally invited. A room of eight can raise more than a room of eighty because everyone is seen, and no one can hide at the back.
The work is easy to explain in person: school fees, books, a uniform, a safe place to sleep, meals and mentoring. Our story What the First Village Visits Taught Us is a good five-minute read before you host.
Pick a format
- Dinner or supper club — six to ten people, one hosted meal, one ask.
- Office lunch-and-learn — thirty minutes, a short presentation, employer matching.
- College or alumni meet-up — a reunion with a purpose and a low target.
- Neighbourhood gathering — a coffee morning, a book club, a building common room.
- Remote call — the same agenda on video for friends in different cities.
Keep it small enough that everyone can speak. Twelve is a good ceiling for a first meeting.
A twenty-minute agenda
- 0–3 min: welcome and why you invited them.
- 3–8 min: one story from the work. Specific, not sentimental.
- 8–12 min: what the money funds, using the ladder below.
- 12–16 min: the ask, one level at a time.
- 16–20 min: questions and a clear next step.
Do not serve food during the ask. Eat first, then talk.
A host script you can use
Thank you for coming. I asked you here because I care about girls’ education in India, and I support Sneha Karma Foundation. I am not going to talk for long. [One story, two minutes.] That is the work. A year of school for one girl costs about $250 — fees, books, uniform, a safe place to live, meals and mentoring. Some of you can give that. Some can give $50, which is a term of materials. Some can give time or an introduction. All of it matters. I will send a link tomorrow, and I will tell you exactly what the money did.
The ask ladder
Offer choices so people can say yes at the level that fits:
- Give monthly — the most useful, because it lets us plan.
- Sponsor a year — $250 for one girl.
- Give a term — $50 for materials, uniform and exam fees.
- Start a fundraiser — a birthday or a workplace page.
- Volunteer or introduce us — skills, a company, a school.
Then stop. Silence after an ask is normal; let people think.
QR giving and materials
Bring one printed impact one-pager, one QR code to the donation page, and a simple sign-up sheet for people who want to hear more. Test the QR code on two phones before the meeting. If the room has weak signal, collect email addresses and send the link the next morning.
Every gift is receipted. Operating costs are funded by a founding member, so 100% of every donation after payment-processing fees goes to programs.
Follow-up that keeps the relationship
Within twenty-four hours: a personal thank-you and the link. Within a week: the total raised and one photo or story. Within a month: what the money is doing. Within a year: invite them back. The follow-up is longer than the meeting, and it is where trust is built.
What the money funds
What your ask makes possible
These are shares of a real program cost, not fixed price tags — need varies by village — but they show what a modest gift can do.
- $50 — one-fifth of an annual sponsorship: roughly a term of school materials, uniform and exam fees.
- $250 — a full year of Support-A-Girl for one girl: tuition, books, uniform, safe accommodation, healthcare and mentoring.
- $1,250 — five years of sponsorship, carrying a girl from school into higher education or a trade.
Donations are tax-deductible in the USA (EIN 47-3774368). For Indian 80G and FCRA status, please contact us before giving if a deduction matters.
Questions
How many people should I invite?
Six to twelve. Small enough that everyone can speak, large enough to reach a target.
What materials do I need?
One impact one-pager, one QR code, a sign-up sheet and a short story. We can send approved images and wording.
Can I host remotely?
Yes. The same twenty-minute agenda works on video; send the link in the chat at the end, not the start.
What if people cannot give?
Offer the other rungs: volunteering, an introduction, sharing the link. A no to money is not a no to the work.
Should I ask for a specific amount?
Yes. Name the ladder and let people choose. A specific number is easier to respond to than “give what you can”.
How do I follow up without pressure?
One thank-you, one update, one story. Then wait. People return when they feel informed, not chased.
Contact us
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