Walk MS is a fundraising event! We encourage all of our Walk participants and volunteers to raise money to fund programs, services, advocacy, and research to ultimately create a world free of MS!
quick and easy
Five words: Utilize Your Online Participant Center!
Your Walk 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!
Fundraising Made Easy
1. 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!
2. Send fundraising and recruitment emails. You will have many "stock" emails to choose from. Don't like the text, change it.
3. Check your progress online. You can check your fundraising progress in a glance. Check out our graphs and charts!
tried & true
A letter writing campaign! That's right, you can do it too! All you need to do is gather your Christmas Card list and/or that wedding invite list and you're halfway there! You can use the sample fundraising letter found in your registration packet or create your own. Be sure to show your passion for our mission and be clear about what you are asking your friends and family to do. Also, remember to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope in with your letter.
creative & fun
Many of our participants and teams like to host mini fundraisers to raise money for MS. Teams have hosted golf tournaments, bowling tournaments, concerts, dinner parties, garage sales, bake sales....if you can dream it, our teams have done it! All it takes is a little creativity and the willingness to have a whole lot of fun!
- Make your favorite craft (jewelry, stationary, scarves) to sell at work or at your local fall festival.
- Ask your favorite local restaurant to donate a portion of a weekend's or night's revenue to the MS Society.
- Hold a neighborhood/church dinner and sell hot soup or spaghetti plates for a donation.
- Coordinate a dress down day with at work. Each person donates $10 to dress casually one Friday.
- Ask co-workers to join you in bringing their lunch to work and to donate their usual lunch money to fight MS.
- Plan a Bunco Tournament and donate the proceeds to the National MS Society.
How to raise $500 in 7 days
Day 1: Sponsor yourself for $20
Day 2: Ask five family members to sponsor you for $25 each.
Day 3: Ask four friends to contribute $20 each.
Day 4: Ask five co-workers to donate $15 each.
Day 5: Ask five neighbors to contribute $10 each.
Day 6: Ask your boss for a company donation of $50.
Day 7: Ask four businesses you frequent for a donation of $25.
Fundraising Tips for Success
1. Start early and set a goal.
2. Don't be afraid to ask!
3. Remember why you are asking!
4. Personalize your appeal.
5. Include a deadline as a gentle nudge to get those contributions in.
6. Let them know where the money goes.
7. Have plenty of pledge forms and receipts handy.
8. Ask about matching gift programs through your employer.
9. Pass it on! Have your donors extend a challenge to other potential sponsors.
10. Follow up with a note or a phone call to those on your list.
11. Send thank you notes after the event, outlining your succes!
Click on the links below to download your pledge forms, receipts and deposit slips.