The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Community: Fundraising ...

gwright1 1 posts since
Feb 1, 2008

1. Re: Fundraising Feb 12, 2008 11:40 PM

So far so good for me. I started out by emailing basically everyone and their brother! About a week later I resent to those that had not responded to my first effort. I've posted the same letter on 2 different "virtual water coolers" through work. The other very simple thing I've done is add a short quote and the link to my site as part of my email signature. It's working! A few friends have told me that they clicked on the link in my signature.

My biggest piece of advice so far would be to not be afraid to talk to everyone and just ask! You never know how people are connected to a cause. The other thing I've included in my email is for people to please pass my information on to others that they feel might be supportive of this cause. Don't forget to remind people to find out if their company does fund matching. This sparked another donation. Now I'm working on a few corporate donations.

I'm looking for other creaive ideas......anyone?

Gail

wylied 6 posts since
Nov 20, 2007

2. Re: Fundraising Feb 15, 2008 12:42 PM

in response to: gwright1

Great start, Gail!

You've already made it past the first and best piece of advice - start right away! The longer you wait, the more daunting it will seem, but once you get started it's a huge relief - and you'll find out that it can be fun too!

Here are some of my tips for a Fabulous Fundraising Letter Campaign (some of which you've already done but may be helpful for others):

Plagiarize Away!! Use the sample letters provided by your team manager. Don't reinvent the wheel!
Include a stamped, self-addressed BRIGHTLY COLORED envelope with your letter! Try to get stationary or printing costs donated so that you can include the stamp for your donors.
Include your own online fundraising Web address in case they want to donate online. Not only can they donate there, it will be a good way for your donors to check on your progress throughout the season.
Tax time may be far off but everyone can use more deductions. Remind them that their donation is 100% tax deductible.
BE CREATIVE!! Include incentive prizes for different levels of giving - if they give $100, offer a souvenir from your event, $1000 - cook them dinner, $5,000 - clean their house, baby-sit their kids, love them forever! Create a raffle and give a ticket for every hundred dollars donated. At the end of the season, draw a name and award the prize in your final letter.
Include a spot on the sponsor form for donors to list a name of someone they would like you to train in honor of.
And of course, you will hear us say this often--*DON**'T HESITATE!* Send your letters to everyone you know, even if you think they won't give. Let them decide. You will be surprised as the response you get, I guarantee it!

wylied 6 posts since
Nov 20, 2007

3. More fundraising ideas Feb 15, 2008 12:57 PM

in response to: wylied

1) This tip was provided by a winter team member! After setting up your Webpage, take advantage of - PAY DAY at your company - this day usually comes at least twice a month and you can send out an inspirational email about what you are doing with HFD, including the link to your fabulous website. How can they deny you with all that new money just idling in their accounts!

2) Spare change for change
Coinstar, the company that operates "the big green" coin-counting machines, has a program called Coins that Count, which started in 1997 and topped $20 million in donations in December 2006. "You can go to a Coinstar machine with your change, and choose to get cash -- for which there is a coin-counting fee -- or you can purchase a gift card or make a donation to a charity of your choice," says Marci Maule, a spokeswoman for Coinstar. "Customers have the ability to donate change to specific charities that are on the machine." These include The Leukemia &Lymphoma Society. There is no coin-counting fee for charitable donations or gift cards.

3) If you haven't yet sent out a second round of emails/letters, now is the perfect time. This second letter serves two purposes-it updates your friends and family on the progress of your training-this is an amazing physical feat you are pulling off-they want to hear about it. Also, many people, when they get your initial fundraising letter have every intention of donating but plan on doing it later. They need and want a reminder. Especially if you take the time to thank all of your donors so far. Don't forget to chack the answer center for examples and ask your mentors to share what they have done in the past. They are one of your best resources for fundraising-don't forget to use them!

If you are ready to try something other than letters, here are some ideas:

* yard/garage sale - ask your friends and neighbors to give you anything they want to get rid of, and collect stuff from Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/), where folks list items they want to give away. One of our previous participants got so much stuff that she had two yard sales to get rid of it.

* wine tasting - try out all those wines from Trader Joes and Cost Plus that you've been meaning to taste. Get some munchies, charge everyone to come, and if you're feeling really energized, get some prizes and do a drawing.

babysitting services - Offer a babysitting night so friends or family can have a night off. Parents may pay just about anything...

your expertise? - do you have some talents (web design, tax preparation, party planning, sewing) you can offer to others? Spread the word!

wylied 6 posts since
Nov 20, 2007

4. Fundraising at work Feb 15, 2008 12:59 PM

in response to: wylied

4*Bring It to the Office -* Your place of work is another opportunity to reach more people, and they're often a captive audience. Let people at work know what you're doing, and enlist their help (but be sure to get permission first):

Just ask for money. Your company might be happy to donate to your HFD fundraising goal.
Then, ask for more -- see if your company has a matching gift program.
Send an e-mail to the entire company with a donation form attached.
Set up a small display -- maybe hang your Ironteam T-shirt or a poster, in a prominent place.
Approach clients, vendors, anyone else your company does business with (make sure it's OK with the boss!).
Host a lunchtime meeting and do a presentation about Hike For Discovery and your commitment to your colleagues.

$ CASUAL DAY - Get permission from your supervisor or human resources director to charge co-workers $10 for the privilege of dressing casual on a specific day.

$ DONUTS/BAGELS - Buy a box of DONUTS/BAGELS on the way to work and then sell them at the office for $2 each.

$ BREAKFAST BURRITOS - Sell for $2

$ HAVE A BOOK SALE - Have your co-workers donate books that they have read to your cause, then sell them to other co-workers to make a huge profit. Most employees have books right on their shelves that would be better off having others read, even if the company has paid for the book originally. This is a way to get the book passed around while benefiting the fight against leukemia.

$ DUCK RACES - Buy little rubber "ducky's", and have a competition with heats, 5-10 Ducks per race. Race them in a blow-up swimming pool. Have the heats during the day with the Final winning race during a Company Happy Hour. $1.00 rental of the duck for each race. Get a donated prize from the company for final awards. Those that give the most, (having rented the duck for each heat) have the greatest opportunity to win.

$ SELL LUNCHES AT WORK - One participant cooked lunches for entire office. Each week she prepared a menu listing items available, usually hot/cold choice each day. Lunches were $5 up front. Half of the money went to the expenses , the rest to HFD. Good way to raise money repeatedly from same source.

$ COMPANY SILENT AUCTION - Ask coworkers to bring in an item or two they have in their homes. Set up a silent auction table at work and let it run a day or two.

Fundraising

Dec 18, 2007 5:56 PM

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