Remember, When Fundraising . . .
Fundraising can be a lot of fun when done right! You can meet new people, build leadership skills, and feel good about helping a great cause. Here are some dos and don'ts about fundraising so you can have the best experience:
Do* DO be kind and courteous whether someone makes a donation or not.
* DO what you say you'll do. We need reliable people to represent the Diabetes Dance Marathon. * DO be realistic; you aren't superman/superwoman and no one expects you to do everything. * DO keep in mind that you are more likely to get donations from small businesses than larger ones. * DO go big or go home. There is nothing to lose, but a possible something to gain.\ * DO contact a committee chair or Director if you have any questions or concerns about fundraising. You can reach the club at [email protected]. * DO be shamelessly passionate about our cause. No one is going to want to donate if you are unenthusiastic about * DO know that Dancers do what they do not to have fun at the dance marathon (although that is a nice incentive!) but to help change the world. Dancers are working towards a common goal, something much bigger than themselves. You can be a part of that. |
Don't* DON'T act visibly upset when someone decides not to donate to our cause.
* DON'T flake out when you say you will do something, especially on pledge sheets. * DON'T plan something outrageous and impractical, and then not follow through with it. * DON'T judge your friends and/or family for their generosity (or lack thereof). We're all trying to help a good cause, and some people are more receptive towards it than others. * DON'T wear yourself down by taking on too much. We are working towards good health, and you are good to no one if your health fails. * DON'T be afraid to ask. If you don't ask, you'll never know how successful you might have been. * DON'T be overwhelmed by fundraising. Take it one step at a time, and you will reach your goal! * DON'T be careless while fundraising. You are responsible for yourself. *DON'T forget why you dance at the marathon. We are trying to raise money for a cure, so we can live in a world without Diabetes! |
Dance Team Fundraisers Dance Team Members and Dance Captains are encouraged to bring their large groups together to make a great fundraiser! Here are some fundraising ideas for groups of 5-10 people.
There are surely many other fundraising ideas for groups, but these are a few to start out with! Please feel free to contact the Fundraising Committee if you have any questions or concerns. |
Individual Dancer Fundraisers You may belong to a dance team, but the individual that raises the most money will be rewarded at the dance marathon. Get ahead of other Dancers by using some of these ideas!
There are surely many other fundraising ideas for groups, but these are a few to start out with! Please feel free to contact the Fundraising Committee if you have any questions or concerns. |
The Letter Writing Campaign
Letter writing campaigns can be a very effective way to raise money since you are reaching out to those closest to you. These letters can be emailed or personally mailed, but the point is to reach out to the people you know. Ask your neighbors, postman, friends and family, because you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Every cent matters, so the Diabetes Dance Marathon is grateful for each donation.
If you choose to not use the fundraising letter template, then here are a few tips to take into account:
If you choose to not use the fundraising letter template, then here are a few tips to take into account:
- Why You Are Participating
This is your introduction and is also where you communicate why you are participating with Team Burnham for Medical Research program. You can share your passion for the cause and why it is important to raise awareness and support for curing Diabetes. Remember to emphasize that by enabling the DRIF’s researchers, cures are in the future. - Where the Money Goes
Let your potential donors know that all of the money you raise goes to the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation. You can explain that the DRIF is devoted to finding a cure. To find out more about them, check out their site at http://www.diabetesresearch.org/. - Asking for Donations
Another essential element of the letter is inviting your prospective donor to join you in achieving your personal fundraising goal by making a donation to the DRIF. You should convey your donation deadline so that donors know that you would prefer their responding by a certain point in time so that they don’t forget or inadvertently overlook your request. Additionally, ask them to pass along your letter to their circle of influence, like a company that they work for. Encourage your potential donor to also take advantage of matching gifts programs. Many companies now have them and they will match your donation exactly. To learn more about this, check out the Matching Donations page. - Include a Pledge Sheet Pledge sheets can turn out to be a very easy and effective fundraising method. Try out a personal pledge, like shaving your head, biking to school for a set period of time, or reading a set amount of novels. You can also take the normal pledge to dance for a set amount ofhours at the marathon. This would require your personal commitment, and donors would pay a certain amount of money per hour.
- Thank Your Potential Donors
Finally, it’s important to thank your potential donors in the closing of your letter for taking the time to consider your invitation to donate. Please refer to the sample donation request letter (given in the Dancer Packet when you register) to see how these elements are integrated into an effective pledge letter