Fund-Raising Tips
Try these fun ideas to increase your fund-raising efforts. The more creative you are the better. Your enthusiasm will help you raise money to fight the devastating effects of MS.
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FUND-RAISING SUCCESS
Who it is For: You’ve decided to sign up for a Lone Star Chapter Bike Ride, but are wondering how you are going to raise the required pledge of $400. We’re here to help.
What You Will Do: Over the next four weeks you’ll go through a mini-course in fundraising. Each week, we’ll give you one task to do or skill to practice that will turn your fundraising efforts into pledges. By working on these skills and tasks a little bit every day, you’ll have everything you need to make your fundraising efficient, effective and easy.
Overview
Reminder Cards
Easy Pickings
Easy Picking Cards
Easy Pickings Form Materials
Materials Prep
Materials Prep Card
Prospects List
Prospects List Chart
Reminder Cards
Sample Materials
Talking Points
Talking Points Form - Change your answering machine to mention your participation in the Bike Tour.
- Create return address labels that read: “I’m riding in the BP MS 150 Bike Tour. Will you sponsor me?” Click here for BP MS 150 logos to add a graphical touch!
- Wear a MS Ribbon of Hope lapel pin to initiate conversations with people who see you wearing it. Click here for more information and online ordering!
- Make a list of pledge donors. List the amount you’re counting on them to pledge. Click here for a printable pledge sheet!
- Hold an office bake sale. Ask friends to bake goodies so you won’t do all the baking yourself.
- Stage a silent auction. Ask stores to donate, such as $10 worth of dry cleaning, a book of five car washes, free sandwiches or drinks, or free coffee. Set minimum pledge limits. Hold the auction over the space of a week and notify the winners.
- Identify one corporate sponsor to ask for a large donation.
- Ask your church/synagogue if you can make a short presentation at the next service. Be sure to prepare your presentation ahead of time.
- Post a message on an Internet chat room with an E-Donate Link. Some participants raise more than $1,000 this way from people across the country. Click here to make an E-Donate Link!
- Hold a garage sale. Ask friends and family to donate items.
- Ask waiters in your favorite restaurant if they will donate a percentage of one day’s tips. If you work in a restaurant, ask colleagues to donate tips to a pledge jar.
- Conduct a mow-a-thon. Get your kids involved and declare a weekend where you’ll mow your neighbor’s lawns for $50 (or whatever amount you want to set.)
- Hold a dinner party with a special theme for 10 friends. Donations could be $50 per person. Spend no more than $20 per person on food and you’ll have more than $300 in pledges.
- Hold a car wash. Ask businesses to donate items. Get your kids and their friends involved.
- Ask doctors, dentists, chiropractors, insurance agents, massage therapists, veterinarians, hair stylists, etc.
- Leave “Have you seen me riding?” letters or packets on front doors to get donations from neighbors.
- Make a bad habit pay off by making a “bad habit” jar at work or home. If you commit the bad habit, you have to donate $1.
- Ask area artists or creative friends to donate art or jewelry that you can raffle.
- Ask a restaurant manager if you can hold a fund-raiser one evening.
- Send a pledge letter to friends and family. It should include the amount you request and a date/deadline.
- Get your apartment complex to donate one month’s rent to sponsor you.
- In lieu of a gift on your birthday or other occasion, ask family and friends to make a pledge to the Society on your behalf.
- If riding to honor a loved one with MS, include a picture of you with your loved one in your pledge letter, on posters, etc.
- Delegate. Give 10 pledge forms to 10 friends and ask them to get pledges for you.
- Send letters to the parents of kids on your child’s sports (soccer, baseball, etc.) teams.
- Hold a movie-watching party. Every time a character says the words “ride” or “bike,” everyone antes up $1 in the pledge bowl. Suggested movies that will have your pledge bowl overflowing include “Breaking Away,” “Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure,” “Quicksilver,” “American Flyers,” “The Bicycle Thief” and “The Triplets of Belleville.”
- Find companies looking for a tax write-off. Ask friends and family to help.
- Bring a potential donor on a Recommended Ride and ask for a pledge.
- Following up is a critical aspect of fund raising. Call all potential donors today.
- Hold a pie raffle. Ask friends to bake pies. Set a minimum pledge at $5.
- Hold a garden tour at your home or local historical home. Have it promoted in the newspaper. Remember, the cost of the tour will be tax-deductible.
- Make business cards with BP MS 150 Bike Tour information, your name and address. Hand them out to everyone you meet.
- Ask your hair salon if they would donate $2 of each haircut over a weekend to you.
- Contact the national chapter of your fraternity or social organization and ask for a donation. If you did not belong to a fraternity or sorority, ask someone who did.
- Create a Web site. Send e-mails to everyone inviting them to visit your site. When they reply, send them a pledge form.
- Create a rolling screen saver on your work computer as a reminder of your commitment.
- Post an e-mail on your company’s “Announcements” bulletin board. Send respondents a pledge form.
- When asking for pledges, mention “my average pledge has been around $XX. Can you sponsor me?”
- For any chores that you’d normally do for free for neighbors, friends or family, leave a pledge form and ask them for a pledge.
- Ask your auto mechanics for pledges.
