Thank you for raising critical funds for DREAM! Each team has a specific fundraising impact initiative; we hope that your team’s initiative resonates with you and motivates you to share your fundraiser with friends, colleagues, family and others in your network.
Over the course of the race, we recommend sending 3 pieces of outreach to your network (an intro, an update, and an "urgent" note). See more on this, including samples, towards the bottom of this page.
Here are some tried and true fundraising strategies, followed by a recommended outreach schedule:
Strategy 1: Have fun! People like to give to efforts that are engaging and have positive energy.
Strategy 2: Make it personal. At the end of the day, your network will donate to the cause because they care about YOU. Share why this work matters to you. Personalizing your fundraising page with a photo and 2-3 sentences on why this matters to you can make a big difference.
Strategy 3: Use personal challenges to incentivize giving. Through the event platform, you can easily set up personal challenges with small fundraising goals that roll up to your total goal. Once the challenge is funded, you then complete it.
Strategy 4: Share your involvement with EVERYONE! It turns out that people really love hearing about what their friends, family and colleagues are up to. Don't be shy, we promise you won't ruin any relationships by sharing this event with your networks (in fact, they'll learn a little more about you and your passions)!
Strategy 5: Don't look at it as asking for money! One of the biggest anxieties we have about fundraising is the idea of asking for money from people. We encourage you, instead, to think about this as sharing DREAM's mission and your involvement in this event, and then simply ending with, "I'd really appreciate your support, you can donate here if this resonates with you." That'll do the trick.
Recommended outreach schedule:
Week 1 (March 4 - 11)
Week 2 (March 11 - 18)
Week 3 (March 18 - 25)
Week 4 (March 25 - April 1st)
Week 5 ( April 1st)
Sample outreach emails
As you can see in the schedule above, we encourage you to send an email or text every 1-2 weeks over the course of the event (5 weeks). Social media posting can be helpful too. We also encourage you to reach out personally to people who you know will be excited to support you and let them know how much it would mean to have their help! One-on-one connection is the best way to fundraise. Here are some sample emails that you can riff off if you would like (we like to respond to our previous emails for each subsequent emails, so our network can have them all in one place):
Email 1 (the "intro" email):
Subject: Help me race across the country for DREAM!
Body:
Dear Friends and Family,
This winter, I committed to virtually racing 3500+ miles across the country on behalf of The DREAM Program. Over the course of the next 5 weeks, I will be raising support with a team that will power our virtual bus from San Diego to Camp DREAM in northern Vermont.
DREAM’s mission is to close the opportunity gap. Through inequitable and often racialized systems, there is a growing gap in access to resources and trusting, adult mentors for children in low-income households. DREAM seeks a world in which all children have the opportunities, resources, and relationships necessary to achieve their dreams.
The funds I raise will go to the DREAM Scholarship Fun and {DREAM Site/ region}. I’m hoping you’ll support me: [Registration page/ donation LINK].
I'll keep you posted from the virtual road!
Best,
[YOUR NAME]
Email 2 (the "update" email):
Subject: One week in!
Body:
Hi again!
My team is part way across the state of [ENTER STATE] and we've raised $[XX] so far towards [YOUR IMPACT INITIATIVE].
A huge thanks to those who have already given to my campaign. [LINK]
Please consider supporting my race today! [INSERT LINK/HYPERLINK]! Your support would mean a lot to me.
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]
Email 3: (the "urgent" email):
Subject: Getting close!
Body:
Hello from [INSERT STATE] Everyone,
We're halfway across the country and halfway towards our fundraising goal! We're all so excited to have made it this far and really appreciate all the support.
If you’ve been meaning to give to my fundraiser for The DREAM Program, now is the time! I’m almost to my goal with two weeks left, any amount is greatly appreciated. [INSERT LINK]!
Your support will make [INSERT IMPACT AREA] possible.
Thank you so much,
[YOUR NAME]
Email 4: (the "urgent" email):
Hello from [INSERT STATE] Everyone,
We're across the country and getting really close to our fundraising goal! We're all so excited to have made it this far and really appreciate all the support.
If you’ve been meaning to give to my fundraiser for The DREAM Program, now is the time! We have one week left! I’m almost to my goal, any amount is greatly appreciated. [INSERT LINK]!
Your support will make [INSERT IMPACT AREA] possible.
Thank you so much,
[YOUR NAME]
Email 5: (the "thank you" email):
Subject: Thank you, almost there!
Body:
Hi Everyone,
One last email, just to say, “thank you!” You helped raise over $X for the DREAM Scholarship Fund and DREAM [Site/ region]. This means [INSERT STATEMENT ON IMPACT AREA].
The race itself has been a lot of fun. We're nearing Camp DREAM and expect to make it by April 1st.
If you can help take us the final leg with a donation, we'd greatly appreciate it! [INSERT LINK]!
All in all, over [#] donors have come together to dream big, and join us on this epic adventure.
I can't tell you how much it means to me to have this support for something I care so much about.
Thank you,
[YOUR NAME]