Online Fundraising
Five words: Utilize Your Online Participant Center!
Your Bike Participant Center is your one stop fundraising shop! After logging in with your username and password you created during registration, you'll have access to many different online tools. You will be able to create a personal and team webpage, send fundraising and recruitment emails, and check your progress - ALL IN ONE PLACE, YOUR PARTICIPANT CENTER!
- Create a personal webpage by adding pictures, text, and updating your fundraising goal. Team captains can also create a team page to showcase team pictures, accomplishments, and inspirational stories!
- Send fundraising and recruitment emails. You will have many "stock" emails to choose from. Don't like the text, change it.
- Check your progress online. You can check your fundraising progress in a glance. Check out our graphs and charts!
Fundraise with Facebook
Check out our new Facebook fundraising tool in your Participant Center! From your Participant Center homepage, click the "Fundraise with Facebook" button and log into or create your Facebook account. Follow the prompts from there and you'll have a Bike MS thermometer and a donation link on your Facebook profile. Send a message to all your facebook friends asking them to donate on your profile page!
Mini Fundraising Ideas
- Include a plug for your fundraising efforts in your voicemail and in the signature of your email.
- Use special occasions (big sporting events, birthdays, etc.) to host a pledge party. You can ask for donations in lieu of gifts or just ask for donations!
- Host a bake sale, craft sale, or garage sale at your local place of worship, school, or in your neighborhood.
- Get local companies involved. For example, ask a restaurant if they will host an MS night where a portion of the sales goes toward the mission. Or, ask local retailers or service providers to donate a product or service that you can raffle off.
- Plan a tournament—bowling, golf, tennis, poker, pool, etc.—where the proceeds go toward your fundraising goal.
Sponsorships
Gain fundraising credit by selling event sponsorships. We are always looking for more event sponsors, both cash and in-kind. Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 rest stops to a $35,000 exclusive presenting sponsorship. View our sponsorship packages.
Matching Gifts—Double Your Fundraising!
Many companies have matching gift programs where they match up to 100% of their employees’ charitable donations. Be sure to ask your company and prompt your donors to ask their companies about matching gift programs. After applying for any available matching gifts, please submit a copy of the form/email confirmation to the National MS Society in your money collection envelope.
Face-to-Face Ask
Be BOLD! Tell your friends, family, and co-workers about the event and why our mission—to create a world free of MS—is so important to you. Then, educate them about the disabling effects of MS and how their financial support will enable the National MS Society to fund MS research, programs, services, and advocacy for people living with the disease.
Letter Writing
Grab your holiday card list or your wedding invitee list and begin writing! Letters can expand your donor base to people you may not see on a regular basis. We have sample fundraising letters available in the resource section of our website for your convenience. If writing your own letter, use these tips:
- Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your letter (your address, not ours).
- State your fundraising goal.
- Provide a description of MS and/or tell your story - show your passion for our mission.
- Consider adding suggested donation amounts (e.g. $50, $75, or $100) to your letter.
- Ask donors to make checks payable to the National MS Society and include your name and “Bike MS” in the memo line.
- State where the money goes—MS research, programs, services, and advocacy.
- Send thank-you notes as soon as people donate.