STEPS TO MAXIMIZE YOUR
FUNDRAISING
STEP ONE: DEVELOP A
FUNDRAISING TARGET LIST
Team captains should encourage team members to
each raise $50 or more. Enclosed are fund-raising
tips for team captains to share with team members.
You will be surprised at how many people you know
and what a resource they can be in the process.
People are especially understanding of fund-raising
efforts these days, particularly when it is for such a
great cause like Best Buddies. Here are some ideas
of whom you might add to your list.
Family: Your parents, grandparents, siblings,
extended family and even your own children.
Friends and Associates: Your friends, coworkers,
neighbors, PTA, religious groups, alumni groups, etc.
Businesses You Patronize: Your doctors office,
dry cleaners, stores and restaurants in which you
frequent etc.
Your Lists: Your holiday card list, address book, club
lists, chamber lists, professional group lists, etc.
STEP TWO: FUNDRAISE
BY WRITING LETTERS
What makes the solicitation letter so successful
is how little time it takes to send a good deal of
information to a large amount of people. With every
letter you mail, you should include a pledge form with
your walker information on it and a return envelope.
Set a Deadline: People are generally motivated by
deadlines. This is a good way for you to assess your
progress before it is too late.
Explain the Donation Process: Be sure to give step
by step directions on the donation process.
Track Your Letters: This will not only help you send
follow-up notes but it will also come in handy when
you send out your thank you notes after the event.
STEP THREE: FUNDRAISE
USING E-MAIL
To assist you in your e-mail fund-raising campaign,
we highly recommend that you utilize the e-mail
fundraising engine we have provided you at the
event website. By utilizing this service you will
greatly increase the options potential donors have
to donate. Track who is responding to your requests
and manage your fund-raising progress.
STEP FOUR: FUNDRAISE
AS A TEAM
Encourage your team to conduct team fundraisers
as a way to raise money for the Friendship Walk.
Here are some great ideas to give you a head start.
With any of these suggestions, be creative.
Throw a Restaurant Party: If you are going to
throw a party, try to get everything donated by
local establishments. Make a deal with a local
establishment and charge everyone coming in a
minimum cover charge/donation. $10-15 is usually
a great start.
Host a Party at Your Home: In order to charge at
the door, you will have to think up a theme. You
can try to get food and drink donated from local
establishments for your party to help cover your
personal expenses. Be sure that everyone knows
they are paying for a great cause and have plenty of
information sheets and additional pledge forms on
hand in case they want to learn or give even more!
Have a Raffle: Enlist the help of some friends and
hit your community to get prizes donated. These
prizes can be anything from clothing, artwork, and
spa treatments to dinner, movie passes or tickets to
sporting events.
Hit the Schools: A great way to get your kids
involved is by reaching out to their schools. Kids
are great fundraisers. Speak with the principal of
the school and ask if he/she would sponsor a pizza
party for the class or homeroom that raises the most
money for Best Buddies.
Casual Days or Raffle a Free Day Off: Ask your
boss to agree to a casual day for everyone who
donates a certain amount of money. See if your boss
will agree to a free day off raffle, where the winning
person gets one extra vacation day added to their
total.
Gift Matching: Ask the company where you work if
they match money given to non-profit organizations
or charities. If they do, the company doubles what
each co-worker personally donates, making your
process even that much easier. Also have your
donors ask if their companies do. You can find
a sampling of companies who participate in the
matching gift program. Each company is different on
how often they cut checks.