Team Building Strategies for Captains of
FAMILY and FRIENDS TEAMS
Family team captains recruit family, friends and co-workers to gather pledges and participate in the
walk. Most family teams dedicate their participation in the Walk to a loved one.
SET GOALS:
o Choose a name for your team and register your team online or fill out your registration form
to turn in on Walk day.
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Set goals for the number of walkers and the total amount that you hope your team will raise.
For first-time teams we suggest trying to recruit 10 walkers with a fundraising goal of $1000.
RECRUIT SUPPORTERS:
o Target your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, faith community, Facebook friends,
Linked In network, and social clubs. Look at your holiday card list for out of town prospects.
Include everyone you can think of even if you do not contact them or see them on a regular
basis – Get the word out!
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Compose a personal letter inviting your prospects to either join your team and/or to consider a
contribution to NAMI on your behalf. Direct them to the website for on-line
registration/donations www.nami.org/namiwalks/ma or to your direct url or give them a
walker/donor registration brochure.
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Make sure your walkers know why their participation in the Walk is important to you and the
millions of other families in the U.S. who are touched by mental illness in some way.
Encourage your team members to gather as many donations as possible from their own circle
of friends, neighbors and colleagues. Help get them over the hurdle of being afraid to ask.
REGISTRATION OPTIONS:
o Off-line: Distribute walker/donor brochures and collection envelopes to all walkers. They
must complete the registration form. Make sure they read and sign the Waiver and Release of
Liability.
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On-line: Follow the registration instructions brochure called Step-by-Step Instructions for
Raising Funds Online. Once registered, you can provide your link to your walkers.
TRACKING WALKERS/DONATIONS:
o Collect completed and signed walker registration forms and walker collection envelopes.
Follow instructions on the team captain envelope to record team member information and the
amount they raised.
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Write down all on-line and off-line contributions on the team captain envelope. Mark those
who have raised $100 or more to receive an official NAMIWalks T-shirt. Bring your team
captain envelope to the Walk and turn in at the registration table.
To register online: www.namiwalks.org/massachusetts
For more info contact: Karen Gromis, Walk Manager, [email protected] or 617.580.8541
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If your walkers have registered on-line and have fundraised entirely on-line they will not need
to turn in a walker registration form or walker collection envelope.
COMMUNICATE:
o Keep team members up to date on the progress of your team’s fundraising efforts during the
weeks leading up to the Walk. Sending regular e-mails is the most effective tool for regular
updates and to build excitement. You can use the e-mail feature on your NAMIWalks team
page or use your own e-mail.
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Set a time and location to meet your walkers on walk day at the park..
INCENTIVES:
o Let your team know that anyone who raises $100 or more receives a NAMIWalks T-Shirt.
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Create team t-shirts, hold a pre-walk dinner or after-walk picnic on walk day.
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Offer prizes for the top fundraiser on your team - create friendly competition - it builds
excitement!
INCREASE DONATIONS:
o Remember people give to people who ask.
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Hold a bake sale at your place of worship, office or social club to increase funds for your team
and raise awareness about mental illness.
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Have a group garage sale with team members with all proceeds going to your team.
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Tell us about additional ways you plan to increase donations so we may share them with
others, like getting someone to donate prized sports team tickets and auction them off.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT:
After the WALK send a thank you note to all of your team members thanking them for their
contributions and updating them on the success of the Walk. Remind them to thank their donors.
TIMELINE
7 to 9 weeks before the Walk
o Register your team and make the first donation yourself: Lead by example.
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Work with the NAMIWalks manager to develop teambuilding strategies.
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Recruit assistant team captains.
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Develop a team building game plan that includes communications, distributing walk
materials, creating incentives for top fundraisers.
4 to 6 weeks before the Walk
To register online: www.namiwalks.org/massachusetts
For more info contact: Karen Gromis, Walk Manager, [email protected] or 617.580.8541
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Schedule a team building kick-off event like a BBQ or carwash.
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Send or e-mail a team building announcement and the NAMIWalks walker brochure, on-line
registration instructions and/or walker collection envelopes.
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Purchase team T-shirts for the Walk.
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Communicate with your team. E-mail team progress regularly. Highlight top fundraisers.
2 to 4 weeks before the Walk
o Continue to promote the Walk through e-mails, letters, and phone calls.
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Hold bake sales, sell hotdogs or special treats as a way to raise more donations for your team.
1 to 2 weeks before the Walk
o Make the final push to recruit walkers and ask for donations.
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Plan a special meeting place for walkers to meet, either on company premises or at the park.
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Plan a pre-walk picnic or BBQ to rally support.
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Send a final reminder to all walkers.
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Remember even after the Walk it is NOT too late to collect donations. All donations that
come in on or prior to June 30, 2011 will go to your 2011 Walk team total.
Create a Team T-Shirt
Reward your team members with a fabulous team T-shirt as a way to say thank you, build
team spirit and stand out on the day of the walk!
Tips on creating an eye-catching, show-stopping, jaw-dropping T-Shirt:
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Be creative—collaborate with team members to create a great design.
Use bright colors that stand out.
Create a catchy phrase, picture or design.
Use a professional silk screener, T-shirt vendor or graphic designer.
Decorate them yourselves – glitter and glue goes a long way.
Good designs often include family names, a picture of a loved one and/or the
NAMIWalks logo.
Plan to enter the T-Shirt contest for the best design. Surprise prizes for 1st,
2nd and 3rd place winners.
T-shirts that unite your team with one color are great, if you can’t create an
original team t-shirt this year.
Multiply your team spirit—create team signs, hats, bring balloons, beach balls
wear a silly hat or dress in a fun costume....HAVE FUN!
To register online: www.namiwalks.org/massachusetts
For more info contact: Karen Gromis, Walk Manager, [email protected] or 617.580.8541