FUNdraising 101

When you register for the event you will get your own free, personal webpage to track your progress, send emails and collect donations online. We encourage you to customize your webpage with your story of why you are participating and a personal photo.

Here are a few ideas to personalize your webpage:

• Include photo(s).
• Describe why you are participating and if applicable, write who you are racing for.
• Make sure you write down your webpage address and share it with others.

• Make a list of all the people you could contact by email.
• Send an email from your webpage to all your family and friends about your commitment raising funds for MS.
• Place a customized signature including your personal webpage address on the bottom of your personal email correspondence. If you would like to do this at work, you might want to check with your supervisor first.
• Donors can go directly to your secure webpage to make a donation with a credit card. It is a quick, easy and secure process.
• Check your webpage often to monitor your fundraising progress.

Some people are more likely to support your fundraising if they receive a mailed, personalized letter rather than an email. You probably know who these people are; they likely include those without email addresses, those who prefer personal mail.

Ideas to personalize your letters:

• Enclose a picture.
• Explain why you made the commitment to participate.
• Include a fact sheet about multiple sclerosis.
• Include your personal webpage address.

Possible people to solicit for donations:

• Family
• Friends
• Church members
• New acquintances
• Old acquintances from college or work
• Business associates and vendors
• Neighbors
• Business you patronize: dry cleaners, restaurants, doctors, dentists, mechanics, etc.

There are many activities and events you can organize to help you reach your fundraising goal. Plan activities you can do with friends, co-workers or possibly barter your talents.

Ideas for Friends and Family

• Organize a party or event and charge admission: poker party, golf game, cookie swap, silent auction or barbeque.
• Host a fundraising night at a local restaurant, as many establishments will donate a percentage of the proceeds.
• Hold a garage sale; gather all your friends' unwanted items and sell them to raise funds. It is a good idea to advertise that the profits are going towards National MS Society, as people may be more generous with the price they pay.
• Ask friends and family to save their spare change. It can really add up!

Ideas for Co-Workers

• Sell food: candy bars, pizza, ice cream.
• Host a silent auction with local business and vendors donating the items.
• Hold a drawing for prime parking, days off or causal attire.
• Use Your Talents - use your creativity for this one: walk dogs, groom pets, give lessons, garden or babysit. If you have a talent, someone will pay for it.

Download Fundraising Tips A-Z for simple and fun ideas.

Let your donors know that many companies have matching gift programs, and they should check with their human resources or benefits department to see if their company participates. Just think how easily a $20 donation could become a $40 donation with a matching gift. Any matching gift donation from your company or your donors' company will be added to your fundraising total.

• Write it down; keep a detailed list of the people you contacted for a donation.
• Track of the people you have solicited, donation and received amount, and confirm that a "thank you" was sent.
• Follow up; if you haven't had a response from a person you have solicited make sure you follow up!

Always make sure you send a "Thank You" to each person who makes a donation. It can also be meaningful to keep them updated on your training and fundraising progress. You can also invite them to cheer for you at the finish line.

Hint: Take a photo of yourself at the Finish Line, log onto http://www.vistaprint.com/ and create Thank You postcards inexpensively.