Membership or 'Friends of' scheme
A paid supporter tier (non-playing members, Friends of the School/Choir) with light recognition.
Typically raises
$2,000
$300–10,000 a yearest.
About $133 per organiser hour
Based on 20-100 friends at $20-$100
Is it right for us?
- Money
- $2,000–10,000
- Work
- A few evenings
- Helpers
- 1–2 people
- Lead time
- 1–2 months
- Red tape
- None
Uncommon: common overseas, rare for local NZ groups
- People
- 1-2
- Organiser time
- 10-20 setup, 1-2/month
- Lead time
- 1-2 months
- Up-front cost
- $50
- Risk
- low
- Who can use it
- Any group can run one. Whether the fee is a receiptable donation depends on what members get (see flags).
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Sell at $20 a membership, keep $20, so 103 memberships = $2,060, or about $2,010 after about $50 of costs. That’s about the typical result.
Using the figures on this page. Your prices and costs will differ.
Where the money figure comes from
ESTIMATE: e.g. 20-100 friends at $20-$100/year. Illustrative.
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Decide tiers and exactly what each gets.
- Check each tier against IRD's 'material benefit' test before calling it a donation.
- Set up a sign-up form and automatic renewal reminders.
- Launch at an event or through the newsletter.
- Send a friends-only update each term or season.
- Renew annually with a personal thank-you.
Getting the word out
Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.
- Ask for help
- Members to pass the ask on to people they know.
- Ask people to buy
- People and businesses to give.
- When to start
- Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 3–4 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.
Where to put it
- Asking people yourselfMost yeses come from someone asking directly. Give every member a short message they can send to family and workmates.
- Email lists and group chatsYour members’ email list and the class, team or church group chats. Short, with one date or one link.
- School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
- Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.
The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.
What you’ll need
- Place
- Not neededNone needed
- Landowner’s permission
- Not needed
- Council permit
- Not needed
- Food rules
- Not neededNo food sold
- Alcohol
- Not neededNo alcohol sold
- Gambling rules
- Not neededNot gambling
If membership includes tickets or discounts it is not a gift and cannot be receipted as a donation (IRD QB 16/05); a recognition-only friendship can be.
Make more from it
often lifts sign-up rate (estimate)
names on a board give a lasting reason to join
Tips
- Keep a recognition-only 'donor' tier separate from a 'benefits' tier so the donation part stays receiptable.
Watch out for
- Receipting a package that includes tickets as a 'donation' (IRD's Bruce example in QB 16/05).
Membership or 'Friends of' scheme: checklist
0 of 8 done
Before
While it runs
After
If membership includes tickets or discounts it is not a gift and cannot be receipted as a donation (IRD QB 16/05); a recognition-only friendship can be.
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide