New to fundraising? Need a refresher course to boost your total? All great questions and we are here to answer them. This page has some great ideas, steps and ways you can be truly successful. The first step would be to download our Fundraising Kit and look over all the different ways you can fundraise.
Below are three easy steps to get you started and remember to aim high and you could be one of our top fundraisers!
Step 1) Make It Personal: Personalize your fundraising page, where friends, family, and co-workers can sponsor you online, by logging in to your Participant Center. There you can:
Share your reasons for walking by editing the text on your page.
Create or change your custom URL that links directly to your fundraising page.
Upload your own images or videos.
Set or change your fundraising goal.
Step 2) Talk the Talk: Now that you have a sparkling new fundraising page, share the link with everyone you know and ask them to sponsor you for AIDS WALK Charlotte. Don’t be afraid to follow up or send reminders, and remember to thank your donors! You can share the link by:
Sending an email through your Participant Center - the link is automatically included in all messages you send and there are templates to choose from and customize!
Connecting your Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn accounts to your HQ to post outreach messages to all your social media contacts.
Copying and pasting your custom URL into your fundraising outreach emails directly.
Step 3) Walk the Walk: Get ready for AIDS WALK Charlotte by reviewing important Day of information. Even though the walk is virtual, we will have several predetermined routes that you can walk and a livestream celebration that you can participate in.
Turn in any cash or check donations you have received by mailing it in before May 1 so your total can be updated.
If you have raised $35 or more, don't forget to pick up your t-shirt (and possible incentives) the week of walk (check for dates and times on the community events page).
STEP UP with others knowing that your work supports youth, adults and seniors living with HIV and those at risk in the Charlotte area.
The people most likely to give are those who have given before. Go back to our previous supporters and let them know the impact of their past donation(s). Keep your supporters updated on your progress and follow up after the walk. Thank your supporters… and then thank them again.
Request a Presentation: Are you on a team and want to learn more about how their fundraising is making an impact to those living with HIV and at risk? We have staff available to give a presentation via Zoom or in your office or community center (safely). If you are interested in setting up a presentation please fill out this online form and someone will reach out to discuss further details.
Set Your Target and Request: Ignoring to set up your fundraising page is the biggest cardinal sin in the land of AIDS WALK Charlotte. A successful fundraising page includes a personal picture or video along with a personal message talking about why the walk is important to you. Including "tangible outcomes", such as “A donation of $50 provides one hour of virtual counseling to assist with the emotional challenges of living withi HIV.", are often effective.
Post On Social Media To Maintain Momentum: Leverage your social media networks to maintain momentum. Thanking people for their contributions, posting pictures/videos of thanks and your previous participation, asking friends to share/re-post your ask and seeking more donations is pretty effective.
Send Regular Updates And Celebrate Successes: Use email and social media platforms to keep everyone up to date with your progress. Send regular updates, especially when you hit certain milestones (50% raised). Use this communication to seek donation pledges that will get you to the next milestone.
Send Personalized Email Appeals: There is nothing more your friends, family and colleagues care about than “WHY” the walk is important to you. Research has shown that most donors give because the cause is important to the fundraiser. Make the email personal by conveying why you are walking and why they should donate.
Follow Up With Texts And Calls: So you’ve created a stunning page, donated on the page yourself, have reached out to close friends and family via emails. It’s time to put the hammer down and start following up with them via texts and phone calls. In this day and age of limited attention spans, making sure that you’re driving donations to action is extremely critical.