To all my readers who follow us for state tax consulting blogs, this one is going to be a departure. I’d like to dedicate this blog to something ELSE that keeps me busy this time of year – raising money for the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. I’ve been participating in this event for the last 16 years and have raised over $150,000 during that time! All of my donations received over the years have been from individuals – friends, family, and clients that honored my fundraising efforts with a generous donation. Over the years, I’ve accepted donations ranging from $10 to $1,000 at any one time. And, while the big donations are AWESOME, I also appreciate the small ones. They often represent the biggest amount that the person can afford to give.
While not all of my readers may be supporters of this particular philanthropic endeavor, I thought I’d publish a list of my favorite fundraising tips – for any of you that might be fundraising for your special charity. These are the things that I have found helpful in my quest to raise as much money as possible to fight breast cancer.
Fundraising Ideas
1. Set a goal and share it with everyone you know. This year, I am trying to raise $15,000. That’s no small feat. So, I’m sharing it with everyone I know – through emails, phone conversations, and in person. People who care about us want to help us reach our goals – particularly those related to a good cause. Right now, I’m 25% of the way to my goal – and I tell everyone that too!
2. Use website templates provided by your charity to send out messages. For larger charities that sponsor events (like Making Strides), the charitable organization generally has an event fundraising website where you can customize your page and send out emails requesting donations. Potential donors can then click a link to your page and donate via credit card. Easy – right? But I think the key is to share your personal story. People that visit my site know why I’m passionate about the cause, and they also get to see a picture of my hero and inspiration – my mom. I also customize emails that I send out through the site.
3. Start early and ask often. We’re all so busy and get so many emails, that sometimes we forget. I know I do! So, when I reach out to friends via email and ask for donations, I don’t stop at one request…or two, or three… I ask until they either remember to donate, or tell me to buzz off! Remember, people want to help, but they get busy. So, remind them! Very few people over the course of the last 16 years have told me to buzz off!
Why Donate?
So, why consider a donation today? Someone you know has heard or will hear the words “you have breast cancer”. Research funded by the American Cancer Society has helped find advanced treatment options and hope to ultimately find a cure. Money raised through these efforts goes to that research, and also directly to patient services. For more information about how to donate to my Making Strides campaign this year, click here. http://tinyurl.com/nx3cfgl
It’s easy to make a generous donation. You never know who you might be helping with a donation.
Thank you in advance!
