Greetings brothers, nice to see other Delts around GC. I'm from the FAU Crescent Colony (soon to be Iota Nu, April 24th
) and I can relate a bit to some of the things you guys have mentioned, and hopefully offer some advice.
First, rush. Now, I'm not Rush Chair (although I did apply) but I've been through Phired Up and generally like to think I know what I'm doing. You mention funding for recruitment; I ask, why does recruitment need a big budget? I did a budget for two weeks of recruitment on less than $1k. Big events and big spending aren't going to get you more attention, active involvement in recruiting people from everyone in the chapter will. Recruitment is one of the Obligations of a Delt; remember this and emphasize it at chapter. Tell every brother that they need to become acquainted with and get contact info for (appropriate number goes here) people before Recruitment kicks off. Circulate flyers. Wear your letters around the first few weeks of the semester (and all semester long) If there's a main walkway or artery of campus (like our Breezeway at FAU), set up a table and make yourselves visible. Market the hell out of your recruitment; everyone should know that Delt is having rush at X Location on Y Day at Z Time. Newly arrived freshers with nothing else to do will flock to these things; I know I did. Get to know them, call them the next day to invite them back, genuinely become their friends and they'll want to be your brother.
As far as events go, you don't need big ones. KISS Principle works excellently here; before you plan something ask yourself "is this the sort of thing I do with my fraternity regularly during the semester?" Cookouts, pickup football/basketball/soccer, tailgating at sporting events, to name a few.
For Philanthropy, I'm currently Philanthropy co-chair, and I've got a few ideas for how to boost chapter involvement on that. Ask around at Chapter for causes that brothers genuinely care about. Everyone has something that's touched them, you're likely to get some form of response from everyone. Get in contact with groups or causes the brothers throw out and ask how you can get involved. Then, plan an event and blow it up all over campus and the community. A sorority here did a brunch for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and raised nearly $5k. Big events here are a good thing, if you can find ways to keep overhead down to max out the money you raise. If you do something that's near and dear to your brothers, and enjoyable for them to take part in, you're bound to have them show up. If they still don't, remind them that they have an obligation to philanthropic events and bring the Honor Board in if need be.
Feel free to PM me about recruitment or philanthropy stuff.