Fundraising is fun and easy! Just follow these simple tips and strategies:
Do not procrastinate - Start your fundraising now! The sooner you begin, the more you will enjoy the entire experience and the more you can raise.
Determine your goal - The higher the goal you set, the more money you will raise. Publish this goal on your personal page for your all visitors to see your commitment.
Develop a plan - Fundraising will teach you to think big. Use these tips, tools and strategies to put your plan together. Write it down. Keep a calendar with your total pledge goal broken down into smaller goals. Schedule due dates and stay focused.
Follow through - This is a crucial step in fulfilling your goal and showing appreciation to your donors. Be diligent and cultivate your relationships. After you send an e-mail or letter, follow up with another e-mail or phone call to be sure your contact received your communication. Send thank you notes to all those who send in pledges both online and checks. When you reach your fundraising goal, let your sponsors know so they can celebrate with you.
Inspire others to share in your commitment to the cause - you are participating in the Walk MS to help raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis and raise money to fund research, therapeutic programs, self-help groups, support the loan closet, help provide emergency assistance and numerous other services for the thousands of people living with MS. Invite others to share in your commitment with personal experiences in all of your communications.
Fundraise Online - Online fundraising is simple, fast and effective. Learn how to boost your fundraising online!
Fundraising Strategies
Open your address book sometime today. Look at your contacts. Who do you send holiday cards to? Who is in your Rolodex? Make a list of every person you know, the obvious (friends and family) and the not-so-obvious (neighbors, acquaintances, business associates, club members, team members, alumni associates, etc.). You have just created a donor list. The connections to Multiple Sclerosis are everywhere. Many people do not know just how many of their contacts have a connection to MS and are more than willing to sponsor their efforts.
Set up your personal webpage and send e-mails to your donor list - Studies demonstrate that donors give more online than by any other method of fundraising. E-mail your entire address book. It is a fast, easy and free method of asking for donations. All participants have a personal page built into the website and are encouraged to set up this page to get started fundraising today. Go to My Participant Center to get started.
Traditional Letter Campaign - A personalized letter sent or e-mailed to friends and family is an excellent way to reach a large number of people. You can use one of the sample letters on this site or that you will find in your Fundraising Kit or create your own letter. Customize the letters to each recipient. You may not want to send the same letter to a co-worker as you would a relative. Consider and make every part of your letter compelling and powerful. Give a brief description of the event and the exact amount you intend to raise. Follow up with the people on your list and keep them up to date with your progress.
Go Corporate - Ask your company to sponsor you. Some companies offer matching gift programs for contributions made by employees. If your company has a matching gift program, contact your human resources director for more details and bring it to the attention of the employees.
Ask Big - Put together a list of potential major donors (those who can donate $500 or more). These may be business associates, your employer or acquaintances in lofty positions. You may want to meet with these donors over lunch or coffee to explain your commitment to ending the devastating effects of MS and ask for their help.
Ways to Thank Your Donors - ALWAYS send a thank you note to anyone who donates or attends one of your fundraising events. Think of thoughtful ways to thank your donors that has individual meaning to them. Create and send newsletters with updates and don't forget to include the names of those who have donated.