# 4 easy ways for fundraisers to improve how they engage celebrities

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2017/09/22/4-easy-ways-for-fundraisers-to-improve-how-they-engage-celebrities/
- Published: 2017-09-22T08:27:10+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**In an interview with [Donorfy](http://donorfy.com), the cloud-based fundraising
CRM, athlete [Sally Gunnell OBE](https://twitter.com/sallygunnell) shared several
ways that charity fundraisers can better engage with celebrities to improve their
fundraising campaigns.**

Gunnell is the only woman in history simultaneously to hold Olympic, World, European
and Commonwealth titles, together with the 400 metres hurdles world record. 

Now she splits her time between motivational and inspirational speaking, media work,
working with organisations to become ‘[Fit / Fitter for Business](http://www.sallygunnell.com/)’,
charity work and spending time with her family.

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“My children are all very active, and now I experience what my parents did with 
me: running them all over the place for various activities”, she said. “My eldest
son has a passion for running and now travels overseas and the length and breadth
of UK training and competing.”

 

## 1. Take advantage in the popularity of being active

Sally feels that the number of runners, cyclists and skydivers advertising their
fundraising pages on social media makes it seem that being active is more popular
than ever.

“I think people today have an even better understanding of the benefits of being
more active. It’s also a great motivator and being able to support a great cause
is the icing on the cake.”

“I enjoy pilates and cycling – with a little bit of running. This is why you often
see me doing something for charity. Having a goal is important part of maintaining
motivation to stay active, I think.”

## 2. Understand why a celebrity wants to work with you

Sally gets asked to lend her name to numerous good causes, but doesn’t have a strict
criteria for who she gives her time to.

“It is very difficult, as I am asked a lot. I hate saying no, but you do have to
be realistic. I also have to consider the other charities I support as well. I don’t
have a criteria per se, I just try and rotate my time as much as I can.”

Sally is a supporter of St Barnabas House and their children’s hospice Chestnut 
Tree House. She works with them for two main reasons. First, they provide a fantastic
service. Secondly, they’re local to her.

## 3. Make it really easy for the celebrity to be involved

Sally also often takes part in St Barnabas House events, but says there’s no great
science behind how they work together: “They put on lots of fantastic events throughout
the year and, diary permitting, I go to as many as I can. Other than that, I still
put in the training so I can be prepared.”

“You need to make it really easy for celebrities to be involved. Use their time 
for maximum impact. That might mean looking at the events planned and picking out
key dates when you’ll be able to reach the most people and have the best opportunity
to attract new supporters.”

## 4. Charities can benefit from an increased focus on corporate/office wellbeing

The UK charity sector employed around a million people, and benefit from a huge 
number of volunteers doing anything from office work to helping out at events. As
such, charities, their staff and volunteers can gain from an increased focus on 
corporate/office wellbeing.

“Corporate wellbeing is just about adopting a more rounded approach to wellbeing.
Health affects work and work impacts on health – it’s all connected.”

“Wellbeing isn’t just about running five miles a day. We look at helping individuals
make small well-executed changes to key areas of their life (activity, nutrition,
mental resilience and sleep) that will enable them to make a sustainable positive
difference to their lifestyle. If everyone links together small positive changes
in those key areas of their life, they’ll be even more effective in the valuable
work that they do.”

“I also use a corporate app called [KIN](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sentimoto.android.kin&hl=en_GB),
which allows me to connect with a larger number of people in supporting the wellbeing
programmes I put together for businesses and organisations.”

 

_This article was adapted from an interview with Sally Gunnell as part of Donorfy’s
[Nonprofit Heroes](https://donorfy.com/blogallposts?category=Nonprofit%20Heroes)
series, featuring industry experts and successful fundraisers with stories and tips
to inspire your charity to use technology to your advantage and do good, better._

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