Brief Description of the Project
For this project, our team decided to host two fundraising events. The first event was a movie night held at DePaul University, and the second was a fundraising partnership with the restaurant Wake’ N Bacon.
The purpose of the project was to increase awareness of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and its mission while also raising funds to support the organization. During the movie night, we showed the movie Rio at the Student Center. Attendees received snacks with admission, and the purchase of an entrance ticket also included a small plush toy.
For the Wake’ N Bacon event, group members visited the restaurant different time from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The purpose of this event was to extend the fundraiser beyond the university community and encourage members of the public to support WWF while enjoying a meal or snack.

Brief Description of the Charity
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is a global nonprofit organization founded in 1961 and located around the world the WWF is dedicated to protecting wildlife, conserving natural habitats, and addressing environmental challenges around the world. The organization works to promote sustainability, reduce threats to endangered species, and create solutions that benefit both people and nature.

Factual Analysis of Success in Terms of Project Objectives
In total, $50 was spent on chips, drinks, and small plush toys for the movie night event. Overall, the project raised $113, exceeding our original fundraising goal of $100. A total of seven tickets were sold for the movie night, and three donations were made directly through our WWF fundraising page.
Overall, the project was successful in meeting its objectives. The movie night provided an opportunity to educate students about wildlife conservation while creating an enjoyable and engaging experience. Although attendance was lower than originally anticipated, the event generated interest in WWF’s mission and encouraged participation through the inclusion of snacks and small prizes.
The Wake’ N Bacon fundraiser allowed our team to reach individuals outside of the university community and expand awareness of WWF beyond campus. Despite several challenges throughout the planning process, both events contributed to raising awareness of WWF and generating financial support for the organization. Most importantly, the project achieved and exceeded its fundraising goal.

Lessons Learned About Managing Projects
• Early planning is critical, especially when it comes to risk management. Teams should begin researching potential event locations and fundraising opportunities as early as possible. Reserving locations, communicating with third-party organizations, and obtaining approvals often take longer than expected. For our project, communication with DePaul regarding room reservations took more time than anticipated. Starting these tasks earlier would have reduced stress and provided more flexibility when unexpected challenges arose.
• Teams should not rely on available slack time unless absolutely necessary. If a project begins to experience significant issues early in the planning process, it may be better to revise the plan or start over with a more realistic approach before too much time has been invested.
• Clear communication improves decision-making and overall project performance. While our team communicated regularly, much of the work was completed close to assignment deadlines. This created unnecessary pressure and led to situations where some team members were unsure of their responsibilities or unaware of the progress being made by others. Future project managers should establish clear deadlines well before official due dates and ensure that each team member understands their assigned tasks. Breaking large assignments into smaller milestones can help keep everyone accountable and on schedule.

Advice for Future Teams Doing Similar Projects
• Meet in person whenever possible. Face-to-face meetings make it easier to discuss project goals, assign responsibilities, and address concerns. If meeting in person is not possible, schedule regular virtual meetings and maintain consistent communication through group chats or email.
• Take time during the first few weeks of class to get to know potential teammates. Try to build a team with a variety of skills, strengths, and work styles. A successful project depends not only on completing the required tasks but also on having team members who are reliable, communicate effectively, and contribute consistently throughout the semester.
• Begin promoting your event as early as possible. The success of a fundraising event often depends on attendance and awareness. If you plan to advertise around campus, make sure all promotional materials include the correct logos, event details, dates, times, and locations. Being proactive with marketing can significantly increase participation and fundraising results.
• Clearly define team roles from the beginning of the project. Assign responsibilities based on each member’s strengths and establish deadlines for every task. This will reduce confusion and help ensure that all aspects of the project are completed on time.
• Always have a backup plan. Venue issues, scheduling conflicts, low attendance, or communication delays can occur unexpectedly. Developing contingency plans early can help minimize the impact of these challenges and keep the project on track.

Photos Related to the Project

 

AI Disclosure Statement
Artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) was used to assist with proofreading, grammar correction, organization, and revision of written content for this report. All project planning, fundraising activities, analysis, conclusions, and final decisions were completed by the project team.