Fundraising Tips

Need some extra ideas to meet your fundraising goal? We can help! Fundraising for the American Cancer Society Charity Runner program is easy with these simple steps:

Step 1: Set up your personal Web page as soon as you sign up.

You can increase your fundraising by 100% if you take advantage of our user-friendly personal Web pages. We’ve set up the basic information, you just need to go in and personalize it with your story and photo. After you sign up, we will email you directions on how to set up your page. Your friends and family can donate to your efforts through your Web page. The process is safe and easy! Your personal Web page will also have many benefits to make your fundraising easy, including:

The ability to upload your entire email address book
Sample emails that include the direct link to your page that you can personalize and send to all your friends and family asking for support
A progress tracker that allows you to see who has opened your email, who has visited your page, and who has donated
Pre-written thank-you emails that you can personalize and send to all your donors

Not Web savvy? Don’t worry! It’s a very easy process and there is always someone on hand in your local American Cancer Society office to walk you though it.

Step 2: Send emails to everyone you know.

Next you will want to send emails to your family, friends, and coworkers asking for their support. Since nearly everyone has been affected by cancer in some way, you will be amazed at the support you receive. And, sending emails is easy when you use the pre-written sample emails provided by the American Cancer Society. You can also easily turn the sample emails into letters for those friends and family members that may not have an email address. Be sure to ask everyone you know for support!

Step 3: Find out if your donors have a matching gift program through their company.

Some companies will match donations their employees make. Reach out to all your donors to see if their company has any such program. It’s an easy way to double your fundraising effort. Click here for more information about matching gifts.

Step 4: Plan a fundraising event.

Now that you’ve set up your personal Web page and reached out to all your potential donors, it’s time to start getting creative. Below are some basic fundraising event ideas to bring in some extra cash:

Have a "jeans day” in your office where anyone can wear jeans if they make a $5 donation to the American Cancer Society to support your efforts. The same can be done with an ice cream social or a Krispy Kreme day.
Hold a dinner-less fundraiser. Buy microwavable popcorn in the individual packets and send them to family and friends telling them that instead of going out for a night on the town, enjoy the popcorn, watch a movie at home, and donate what they normally would’ve spent to your American Cancer Society Charity Runner efforts!
Work with a local restaurant to hold a fundraising party. Many establishments will offer discounted tickets and will allow you to charge full-price at the door. All the extra cash goes to your campaign.
Hold a 50/50 raffle. This can be done at one of your fundraising parties, a family get together, or at the office. You could also call up your local bowling alley and see if they will let you hold a league night.
Post signs around your neighborhood for dog walking/running. This will help you train and fundraise!

American Cancer Society Top Fundraising Tips

Here are our top fundraising tips to help you have the most successful Charity Runner season ever!

Start early! As soon as you sign up, start your fundraising efforts. This allows you to get a head start so that you can really focus on your training when the time comes.
Just ask! Make sure you ask everyone you know for support. That includes friends, family and coworkers, as well as your doctor, dentist, and insurance agent. Pull out old guest lists from weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. The biggest mistake participants make is assuming people will not donate.
Follow up. It takes the average person 7 times to hear something before they take action. It’s not that they don’t want to donate, they just forget! You can make your follow-up creative by sending out training updates. You will probably get more donations from your second email then you did your first.
Make your donors feel involved in the process. Let your supporters know why you are running and how their contributions are making a difference for the American Cancer Society. Keep them updated with your training and fundraising progress so they are not only hearing from you when you are asking for support. The more connected they feel, the more they will support you.
Be specific. Don’t limit your donors, but ask for a specific range. Ask for, “$10, $20, $50 or whatever your budget will allow.”
Include what it means to you. Be sure to mention where and when your race is, where the money goes, what the American Cancer Society Charity Runner program is, and how to sponsor you.
Give a 10-day deadline for a response. People respond when there is a sense of urgency. In your email messages, tell people they can simply click the "Click here to donate" link to make their donation online quickly and easily, and ask them to do so by a specified date.

9-day fundraising plan made simple :

DAY 1: Start by sponsoring yourself! (you already have!) $25 $25

DAY 2: Ask 3 family members to sponsor you for $25 $75

DAY 3: Ask 8 friends to contribute $25 $200

DAY 4: Ask 6 co-workers to contribute $25 $150

DAY 5: Ask 6 neighbors to contribute $25 $150

DAY 6: Ask 5 people from a service/community organization you are involved with the donate $20 $100

DAY 7: Ask your boss for a company contribution of $50 $50

DAY 8: Ask 6 local merchants to sponsor you for $25 $150

DAY 9: Ask 4 businesses you frequent to sponsor you for $25 Total: $100

Total $1,000