Sunday, November 17, 2013

Become a Fundraising Pro in 5 Easy Steps


The American Diabetes Association’s Chicago office will hold its signature fundraising event, Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, on Sep. 27, 2014, but it’s never too early to start fundraising. Raising money for an event isn’t always easy, but the American Diabetes Association has plenty of resources to help you get started and finish strong. As a special events intern for ADA, I am able to work closely with Step Out teams and walkers as they commence their fundraising efforts. I’ve developed five easy-to-follow steps that will help you become a fundraising pro!

Step One: Plan
Set your personal fundraising goal and make sure it’s realistic. Compile a list of people you want to reach out to, build your personal fundraising page with photos and personal stories, and start using Facebook to promote the event, the cause, and your fundraising efforts.

Step Two: Inspire
Create and customize donation request emails and write letters for those who do not use email. Make sure to include why this cause is important to you and why you decided to walk in ADA’s Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes event.  

Step Three: Fundraise
Send your donation request emails and handwritten letters to your list of contacts. Find out if your employer offers matching gifts and ask your donors to do the same.

Step Four: Follow-up
Follow up with any of your contacts that have not responded to your email or handwritten letter. Sometimes a simple reminder can make a big difference!

Step Five: Say Thank You
Thank everyone who made a donation to your fundraising efforts. Send a personal note or an email and be sure to announce your fundraising results, include a photo, and share highlights from the walk.

Follow these five easy steps and you will be sure to succeed in your fundraising efforts!

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