Ways2Raise

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Why event planning is where AI really shines

Organising a fundraising event — a bake sale, a quiz night, a sponsored run — involves a lot of moving parts. Most teens underestimate how much planning is involved and end up scrambling at the last minute.

AI is brilliant at generating comprehensive checklists and timelines because it can draw on thousands of examples of similar events. What would take you an hour to think through, AI can produce in seconds.

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Prompts for event planning

Here are three prompts to try for different types of events:

Bake sale: "Create a detailed planning checklist for a bake sale at a UK secondary school to raise money for a student expedition. Include a timeline (2 weeks before, 1 week before, day before, on the day, after the event), a list of what to bring, tips for pricing, and ideas for maximising income."

Quiz night: "Plan a fundraising quiz night for a UK teenager raising money for an expedition. Include how to find a venue, how to structure the quiz, how to charge entry, ideas for additional income (raffle, snacks), and a promotional plan."

Sponsored event: "Create a step-by-step guide for organising a sponsored [run/silence/swim] for a UK teenager. Include how to set up a JustGiving page, how to promote it, how to collect sponsorship, and how to thank donors afterwards."

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Using AI to solve problems

AI is also useful when you hit a specific problem. For example:

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Problem: I need raffle prizes but have no budget: "Give me 10 ways a UK teenager can get raffle prizes donated for free from local businesses. Include what to say and how to ask."

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Problem: I need to write a press release: "Write a press release for a local newspaper about a 16-year-old from [town] who is fundraising for [expedition]. Include a quote from the teenager and a call to action for local businesses to get involved."

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Problem: I need to thank my donors: "Write 5 different thank-you messages for Instagram Stories to thank people who have donated to my expedition fund. Make each one feel genuine and personal, not generic."

✏️ Plan your next event with AI

Choose your next fundraising activity — even if it is a few weeks away — and use one of the prompts above to generate a planning checklist. Save it somewhere you can refer back to.

You now have a proper event plan. In the final lesson, you will put together your AI toolkit — a personalised set of prompts you can use throughout your fundraising campaign.

Lesson 5: Use AI to Plan Your Next Fundraising Event