Fundraising Toolkit

Track Your Way To Fundraising Success

The earlier you begin your fundraising campaign, the more success you’ll have in reaching your goal. This five-step program will help you along the way.

1. Set Your Goals

  • Participating alone? To get started, set a monetary target. Be ambitious—aiming high will keep you motivated. $300 is a good guideline.
  • Participating as part of a team? Decide how many team-members you want to recruit, and set a monetary target. The suggested goal is $300/person or $1,500/team.
  • Think of incentives for giving. Maybe it’s offering a fun, personal thank-you video for each giver, or auctioning off artwork made by your child.

2. Identify Your Targets

  • First, make a “hit list” of potential supporters: family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, friends of friends, your kids’ friends’ parents, and so forth. Cast as wide a net as possible.
  • If you’re part of a team, draw up a list of contacts you think would be interested in joining you. Friends who jog, who love animals, or just love the zoo will be good candidates.

3. Raise Money

  • Use you personal page to email your contacts with donation requests. For each letter you send out, try to tailor your fundraising pitch to match that individual or group’s interest.
  • Also, be sure to tell potential supporters your fundraising goal. That way, even if they can only give a little, they’ll still feel like part of something big.
  • Fundraising events are a great way to get people fired up about contributing to your cause. Consider hosting a dinner party or cocktail hour, and rather than asking your guests to bring a beverage or a dish, encourage them to make a contribution to your campaign.

4. Stay Focused

  • Put your pledge form in the bag you use on a daily basis so you can continue to solicit donations.
  • Many people need a few reminders before they actually make a pledge. Don’t take it personally. Be politely persistent by informing your “hit list” about your progress and reminding them how many days you have to meet your target

5. Share Your Appreciation

  • Use your personal page to send thank you e-mails to anyone who contributes to your campaign. A hand-written note is also a nice gesture.
  • Be sure to thank your team members and team captain for a job well done.
  • Did you take any pictures during the Run? Upload them to Facebook, Instagram, or other photo-sharing sites, and show some team spirit!

Additional Resources