Roadside collections
Events, functions and fundraising activities
Roadside collections
Roadside Collections or tin shaking is a very simple concept and involves having club volunteers on each corner of an intersection (3 per corner depending on traffic), rattling tins to each of the passing motorists, with the hope of collecting small change from passing cars. The idea is that the surrounding community not necessarily involved in the club will contribute funds to the club.
Your club will need to speak with your local council to find out where the approved intersections for tin shaking/collections are and to organise a date. You will require roads authority and council approval to conduct this event.
Intersection collections are highly regulated by local councils and are now often utilised by local clubs and charities. Members of the public are also becoming aware that collectors need to have identification and signage around the intersection further establishing who it is that they are giving their money to.
Substantial volunteer staff will be required. Volunteers will need to wear high visibility clothing and only engage the intersection during the red light sequence. Volunteers must be a minimum of 16yrs of age.
The revenue opportunities can vary depending on traffic and weather conditions – it is not uncommon to collect $2,000-$10,000.
Why Roadside collections?
This is a great fundraiser to use when you are hoping to collect fundraising dollars from the wider community. As collectors need to be over 16 years of age this may be easier to organise in clubs with a higher number of senior participants.
When should I hold this fundraiser?
While this fundraiser isn’t time specific, it is important to take into account the weather. Not only for your volunteers but also the drivers who will be winding down their windows. Finding busy weekends on the road is great to consider to help maximise your fundraiser.
Key Activities
These are the tasks you will need to consider to assign to volunteers at your club:
Before the Day
- Contact your council to organise the necessary permits and permission
- Organise a Volunteer roster for the day
- Organise signage for the intersection
- Promote in your club’s newsletter, on social media, you website and around the club.
- Organise tins for the money and high visibility tops for the volunteers
On the Day
- Organise you volunteers and run through how to collect money safely.
- Allocate high visibility tops and collection tins.
- Monitor the safety of volunteers
- Ensure signage is visible.
- Encourage Volunteers throughout the day.
After the day
- Publicly thank everyone involved.
- Announce the amount of money raised in club newsletters, on social media, website and around the club.
- As the wider community are also part of your fundraiser, seek support from your local media and community groups to thank those who donated.
Who can help?
It is important to engage your members to help in the running of your fundraiser.
For a Roadside Collection you could approach them to help:
- Organise logistics with the council
- Volunteer on the day
Recruiting your people
It is important to create a culture of volunteering at your club to help not only with fundraising but also across the day to day running of your club. For more on how to create this at your club, click here.
Using technology to make it easier
You may like to consider using technology to reduce the workload on your volunteers and increase your fundraising dollars.
You may like to promote your collection online. Your club may like to use social media, email newsletters and your club website to promote the collection.
You may like to live stream some of the event on social media to encourage people in the area to drive past and donate.
Financial Considerations
The financial overheads are limited to signage, tins and high visibility vests; often many of these things can be sourced from within your club which means the revenue raised on the day is essentially almost all profit.
You may consider the use of a mobile digital sign. These can be hired for around $180 dollars and parked well before the intersection draws the attention of your activities to motorists, allowing them time to find coins and consider the club and cause at hand.
Promotion
Promote your collection day using traditional club resources such as the club website, newsletter and social media pages. You may also consider contacting local media as well as putting up signage around your club.
Communication considerations
Communication can help increase the amount of people who drive past your intersection to donate. You can use social media to build awareness and countdown to the day.
You can also live stream the event on the day to remind the community and your supporters to drive past and donate.
What can go wrong? (Risk Management)
Road Safety
As this event is conducted around a major intersection, participant safety must be taken seriously and reinforced. There have been instances of deaths at intersections whilst trying to raise money in this way. It is a horrible truth and must be given due diligence. Some clubs have enforced an age limit of 18yrs minimum to help on the day, either way there is a necessity that collectors are given instructions, understand the risks and act in the safest manner possible.
Fire Danger
There is a minor risk that the event can be cancelled due to fire danger risks. Depending on the municipality, you will need to take this into account.
Weather
The weather can make the day difficult to run should their be extreme heat or extreme rain. Alternative arrangements should be discussed and decided on prior to the day should they be necessary.
Licenses and Permits
State road regulators and local councils will require notification and approval to conduct an intersection tin rattle. Councils will typically limit the amount of tin rattles done per year and even per day in their municipality.
Additional Factors to consider
Public Liability Insurance
Public liability insurance is required for you to undertake this event. Consider the policy and ascertain if your policy covers you for offsite events.
Additional Revenue Opportunities
This links to other pages that have fundraising ideas that can run simultaneously, should the club like to.
Suppliers/Links
Any specific suppliers or links for this particular fundraiser. Could be used for 3rd party advertising in the future.
Disclaimer
This procedure should be treated as a guide only. Your club should seek advice specific to the needs of your club and event. Seek further details from authorities and service providers; especially in regards to insurance, licences, permits, spectator and participant safety.