Ready to hit the beach? Hosting a beach cleanup in your community doesn’t require many expenses, but thorough preparation always pays off. As you plan for your upcoming cleanup, be sure to:

1. Recruit volunteers for your beach cleanup.

Reach out to your organization’s current supporters and people in your local community to volunteer for your beach cleanup. Frame your event as a wonderful opportunity to get outside and have some fun in the sun with family and friends while leaving a positive impact on the community. Fortunately, people of all ages and skill sets can participate, as long as they’re willing to get active and enjoy the beach!

2. Assemble supplies for your volunteers.

Once you’ve gathered your volunteers, set them up for success by providing them with everything they’ll need to clean up the beach. Some essential supplies you’ll need to gather include:

• Water
• Gloves
• Heavy-duty trash bags
• Sunscreen
• Shovels and rakes

While your organization can acquire these supplies yourself, consider accepting donations from your supporters to equip your volunteers for the beach cleanup as well.

3. Promote your beach cleanup and seek pledges.

Your beach cleanup’s fundraising success depends on how well you promote the event to your local community. Aside from having your volunteers reach out and seek pledges from people in their personal networks, get the word out about your fundraiser through:

• Email newsletter updates
• Printed flyers
• Social media posts
• A dedicated page on your website

Remember to remain consistent with your messaging across your marketing materials. For instance, be sure to communicate about your organization’s cause and what pledged donations will contribute toward. Include a link to your donation page so supporters also have the option to give directly online.

4. Get outside!

After you’ve gathered your volunteers and supplies, it’s time to get outside and start cleaning. Ideally, schedule your beach cleanup on a day with clear and sunny weather. Encourage your volunteers to take pictures and videos to upload and share on their social media accounts after the event. This will boost awareness of both your organization and your cause.