FUNDRAISING TIPS & IDEAS 1. Fundraise Online. Register online at www.cysticfibrosis.ca/greatstrides and open the door to more fundraising resources. You can track your progress, allow others to donate online and help you send out email announcements 2. Have a plan. Give yourself a daily goal or asking five new people every day. It s not as difficult as you may think. 3. Make your goal known. Tell potential donors you have a specific goal and only have a few weeks left to meet it. They will be more likely to help you succeed. 4. Start big. The first pledge on your sheet could be from someone who donates a large amount. This will inspire other donors to pledge high. 5. Make it fun for coworkers. Your coworkers will pledge more if you offer a baked treat in exchange for a pledge over, say $25. Ask your boss if you can help a raffle or a casual dress day. 6. Send an announcement. Let your friends, family, coworkers, service club members and neighbours know in advance via email or regular mail. They they will be ready to donate when you ask them in person. 7. Educate potential donors. New donors may not know about cystic fibrosis. Be prepared to educate them about the disease and how donated funds are put to good use. You can find out more details at www.cysticfibrosis.ca 8. Stay motivated and excited. Excitement is contagious. Show people how motivated you are and how happy you are to help those with cystic fibrosis. They will be more likely to pledge. 9. Be committed. When you raise funds for the walk, you are directly helping people with cystic fibrosis and funding research about this disease. Try making the first pledge yourself. When your friends, colleagues and family member see you name and a contribution, they will see how serious you are. 10. Add your personal fundraising link to your email signature line. Changes are, by adding a link to your personal fundraising page in your signature line you will receive some unexpected (and always welcome) donations.
11. Ask anyone and everyone. Ask family and friends first. Once you ve tackled, the easy ones branching out is simple. Next, ask clients, coworkers, clubs, anyone and everyone. One top fundraiser asks everyone he knows to either join his team or make a pledge. He has a huge team, but many more people make pledges! 12. Ask for a specific amount. Consider keeping a separate pledge sheets for small and large donors. Tell sponsors what your average pledge has been and then ask them to beat it! 13. Ask for donations on payday. Timing is very important. When you ask is almost as important as who you ask 14. Make a list of places where you spend money. Donations to the walk are tax deductible and we are glad to provide receipts. Don t forget doctors, dry cleaners, dentists, mechanics and your favourite restaurants! In addition, don t forget all those friends who have asked you to lend them a few bucks! 15. Save your spare change every day. You ll be surprised how much you ll save for your own pledge by the time the event is here! 16. Ask vendors at your business. Coffee, paper, delivery service, Management Company, copier technician, and everyone who wants to maintain that friendly business relationship are generally more than willing to contribute, especially since their contribution is tax-deductible. 17. Stay motivated. Keep in mind that sponsorship will earn you fabulous prizes for going beyond the minimum donation. More importantly, you ll feel good knowing that you made a difference in the life of someone with cystic fibrosis. 18. Birthday gift pledge Make birthday presents easy on your friends and family by asking for their support in your fundraising efforts. 19. Host a fundraising dinner Ask your favourite local restaurant to host a fundraising dinner for you. They can set a menu and supply the food and you can supply the pledge forms. You can also choose to charge $5 more per meal and put the money towards your fundraising efforts. 20. Start your own spare change jar Every day, put your extra coins in a jar near your front door or on your desk. Others will join you, and the cash really adds up!
21. Host a movie party at your house Rent a new release, pick up your favourite soda, pop some popcorn, and invite your friends and family over for a movie night. Have your pledge forms or online personal fundraising page ready. 22. TV finale party Gather a big group of friends to tune in and watch a season or series finale or premier. Take donations at the door to put toward your fundraising goal. 23. House warming party Are you moving anytime soon? If so, ask your friends to make a donation instead of purchasing a gift for your new place. 24. Doctor/Therapist/Veterinarian/Insurance Agent Ask for their support. They will be happy to help. 25. Dentist Hopefully you won t have to pull teeth to get your dentist to make a donation. 26. Chiropractor They ve cracked your back. Now ask them to crack open their chequebook and make a donation. 27. Mechanic You ve given them a lot of money to work on your car. Now ask them to give a little to your fundraising effort. 28. Yoga Instructor Ask your yoga instructor to host a Karma Class. Attendees are asked to pay what they can. All funds will be donated to your fundraising efforts. 29. Gym Ask your gym to place a donation jar at the front desk. Don t forget to leave a stack of pledge forms at the counter, too. 30. Hair Salon Ask your barber or hairdresser to donate $2 of every haircut for a weekend. Or, put a donation jar at their station with a small poster. 31. Mow-a-thon A great way to get the kids involved in fundraising ask your neighbours ahead of time if they will donate $50 or more. 32. Ask a neighbour Write to the neighbours on your block (or in your building). Describe the walk and ask them to make a donation or join your team. 33. Good karma tipping jar Ask local businesses to put a donation jar near the register or on their front counter. Write a short explanation of why you re raising money and tape it to the jar. 34. Errand boy/girl Offer to be your friends and coworkers personal assistant for a day in exchange for a large donation of $250 or more.
35. Meet the press Get permission to take advantage of your company s interoffice email or newsletter. These are the perfect way to let your coworkers know about your fundraising efforts and encourage them to donate or put a team together. 36. Karaoke night Spend a Friday night at a Karaoke Bar and sing to your heart s delight, but make sure to have the announcer tell the crowd that you re singing for donations. 37. Talented friends Take advantage of a local piano bar in your neighbourhood by holding a cocktail fundraising event in support of the walk. Take donations at the door. 38. In memory of - If you re walking in memory of a loved one, include a picture of you with your loved one on all of your fundraising materials to encourage donations. 39. Game night Pull out your board games and let the fun begin. Take donations at the door. 40. Bowling nights Plan a fun night of bowling at your local bowling alley. Ask the owner to donate the cost of bowling to your fundraising efforts. 41. Used book sale Ask your friends, family and neighbours to donate their old books and set up a weekend book sale in your front yard. 42. Curse jar Place a curse jar in your office and ask that whenever someone swears they put a dollar in the jar with all proceeds going your fundraising efforts. 43. Dress down day Ask your company to hold an official Dress-Down Day. For the privilege of dressing down, employees pledge $20 toward the walk. 44. Bulletin Place an advertisement in the bulletin at your place of worship letting the congregation know who you are fundraising for. 45. Involve your students Kids can raise money too! Get your students to register for the walk its great exercise and they can fundraise with a lemonade stand. 46. Other parents If your kids play on sports teams or are involved in extra-curricular activities, distribute your pledge forms to other parents. 47. Pizza party Ask your local pizzeria to donate a pizza for your pre-fundraiser. 48. Car wash Host a car wash. Ask a local gas station to donate the cleaning products, put up balloons and signs, and wash away.
49. Ask for the right amount Ask your contacts for a donation that they are capable of making. Don t ask for $100 if you know they can donate $1,000 and don t ask for $100 when they can donate $10. 50. Understand where your fundraising dollars are going Prepare and practice your 30 second elevator speech. Everyone is a potential donor. They will be impressed if you re able to speak eloquently about why you re raising money. How to raise $500 in just 9 days Day 1 Sponsor yourself $25: $25 Day 2 Ask 2 family members to sponsor you $25: $75 Day 3 Ask 5 friends to contribute $20: $175 Day 4 Ask 5 coworkers to contribute $10: $225 Day 5 Ask 5 neighbours to contribute $10: $275 Day 6 Ask 5 people from your social group for $10 $325 Day 7 Ask your boss for a company donation of $25 $350 Day 8 Ask 5 local merchants to sponsor you $20: $450 Day 9 Ask 2 businesses you frequent (doctor) for $25 $500 It s that simple! THANK YOUR GENEROUS DONORS! This is the most important fundraising tip. People love to be acknowledged and appreciated. Send a personal thank you card in the mail or invite your generous donors out for a coffee on you. Send a thank you email after the walk and attach a picture so your donors can share in your experience.