How to put on a successful photo contest fundraiser

Whatever theme you do decide on, just make sure you have a way to verify that the submitted photo was taken by the person who submitted it. Specifically state in your contest rules that all submitted photos must be original and that any submissions which are found to not be original will not be eligible for entry and may face other fines and penalties at the discretion of the copyright holder. This type of language is usually enough to deter anyone from using stock photos or photos pulled from Google.

Charge participants a nominal fee to enter the photo contest. The entry fee can be a flat rate or tiered based on the number of submissions allowed or the categories entered. Or, you can choose to implement an online voting system where community members can vote for their favorite photos for a small fee, such as $1 per vote. Participants can encourage their friends and family to vote for their entries, generating additional revenue for the fundraiser. Charging a nominal fee to vote will also help to prevent vote spamming. Make online votes only part of your judging criteria, as you don’t want to select winners based on who has the most friends.

Establish clear guidelines for participation, including rules for photo submission, eligibility criteria, deadlines, and any specific requirements (e.g., file format, size, or resolution). Make sure the guidelines are easy to understand and accessible to all participants.

Reach out to local businesses, photography stores, restaurants, art galleries, etc., to secure prizes for the winners. Prizes could include gift cards, photography equipment, travel packages, dinner for two, or the opportunity to have the winner’s work featured in an exhibition.

Select a panel of judges with expertise in photography or relevant fields. Consider including professional photographers, artists, community leaders, or representatives from your organization. Ensure the judges are impartial and fair in their evaluations.

Set up a user-friendly platform for participants to submit their photos. This could be a dedicated website, social media hashtag on Instagram, or online submission form. Make sure the platform allows for easy uploading, viewing, and sharing of photos.

As submissions come in, review them to ensure they meet the contest guidelines. Address any issues or questions from participants promptly and provide assistance if needed.

Coordinate the judging process according to the criteria established for the contest. Provide judges with access to the submitted photos and guidelines for evaluation. Consider using a scoring system which takes into account multiple factors.

Once the judging process is complete, announce the winners publicly through your chosen communication channels and showcase the winners on your website and/or social media platforms.