International AIDS Candlelight Memorial

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Strategies

Finding Resources

How you plan your Candlelight Memorial may depend on the availability of resources. Resources include money and materials you will need to successfully implement your plan – funding, equipment, candles, paper, water, etc. The first place to begin searching for resources is within your own community. Encourage others to support your cause with “in-kind” gifts such as volunteering time, a location to hold your meetings, and local goods. Many coordinators apply for sponsorship from other organizations to cover the costs of their memorials. While most memorials require resources, some require very little. Always be sure to secure your resources before carrying out your plan.

Below are some tips for finding resources.

Finding Resources

Sample institutions for requesting sponsorship and other in-kind resources:

A local office for the ministry of health or government health agency;
Community health groups with an interest or a stake in the Candlelight;
Hospitals, health centers, clinics, health posts, or other health-care institutions;
Private charity organizations or local and national health campaigns;
Banks, corporations or foundations, particularly those interested in health;
Small businesses, even those who do not have a particular focus on health or charity;
Academic institutions with relevant centers or schools for medicine or public health;
Religious institutions, particularly those with an interest in philanthropy.

Other considerations:

To recover costs of the event, consider using the memorial itself to fund raise for your effort or for your organization.
If you plan to fund raise during the event, ask another organization to match every financial contribution at the event with an equal financial contribution for your effort. To the sponsor, this may be an incentive to earn their contribution.
Research the process for how to apply for sponsorships and other grants (allowances) of funding well in advance of your memorial, especially during the planning stages.
When applying for funding from a potential sponsor, always provide a clear, brief budget or proposal that details what you will need for the event, how much it will cost, and why it is important.
Always demonstrate your appreciation to those who sponsor, donate to, or support your event in some way – publicly if possible. If one sponsor cannot cover the costs of the entire event, consider combining sponsorships by applying to multiple organizations for lesser amounts each.

HINT: Candles can be expensive when you try to purchase them for all your needs. Consider lighting one symbolic candle or asking everyone to bring their own candles.

REMEMBER: Always give credit to those who supported your memorial with resources. Indicate their organization’s name in programs or thank them during a speech at the event.

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