Planning your fundraising campaign...
Have a plan....start early
Believe in yourself.
       Believe that you will reach your goals. People will admire your commitment to your personal goal to run 25 to 100 miles
and to the cause you are supporting with the funds you raise.
 
Believe in the cause.
       Read the American Cancer Society literature and become familiar with ACS's programs. Be prepared to answer questions
from your donors. Know the history of Strides For Life. All participants are volunteers and this includes the organizing committee.
No one in Strides receives monetary compensation. The absolute minimum of the funds raised go toward Strides expenses
for food, housing and transportation and shirts.
 
Ask.
       Ask everyone you know; family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, members of your circles - church - sports - classes -
entertainment, even your enemies. Anyone with money. Create a list. Use your Christmas card list, church directory, address
book, employee list, school list. Request from anyone to whom you have written a check in the last year: doctor, mechanic,
businesses, services, grocer. Don't assume that anyone will not give. There is nothing to be lost by asking.
       Mail out your request. Compose a personal letter. A sample letter is below. This is usually the most effective way to
raise money. Formal letters are best for businesses. Making a follow up phone call or face to face meeting can really make
a difference. You will have an opportunity to explain your goal and the importance of their donations. Let them know about
 the secure online donation site  http://www.active.com/donate/stridesforlife08      They can donate here in your name.
 

      Ask for help from the Strides Committee!
 
Raising money with a letter writing campaign.
       This method is more reliable than any other form of fundraising, particularly for first time fundraisers. Write a great letter
and get it out early. Create a timeline. State the date by which you want to have your money raised.
       Create a mailing list. Include everyone on your list. 100 to 200 is a good list. To raise $600.00 you can easily make your
goal if you can get $6.00 each from 100 people. $600.00 from one generous donor would be great too.
 
Writing the letter.
       1)   Who - Introduce yourself.
       2)   What - Describe the event; what you will be doing. Explain your request - what you are asking for.
       3)   Where - Detail where the benefit of the fundraising will be felt
       4)   When - Give the dates of the event. Invite all donors to the finish line celebration. Give the donor a date by which
              you need to have the donation.
       5)   Why - Share a personal insight into your motivation to participate in the running or staffing challenge. Tell why
              the cause is worth supporting.
 
       You may want to call some of your prospective donors prior to the arrival of your letter. All requests should be followed
       up. Keep track of all requests and responses. Definitely send a thank you note to all of your donors. You may want to
       include a photo of yourself participating. Include a self addressed response envelope with postage. Receipts should
       be included with your request letter.
 
Beyond the letter writing.
1)   Throw a party.
          Choose a theme.
             *   Gourmet dinner
             *   Wine tasting.
             *   Treasure/scavenger hunt.
             *   Texas hold 'em
             *   Birthday, anniversary, holiday
          Set a date.
          Create an invitation.
          Determine an admission fee (tax deducible donation to American Cancer Society).
          Consider additional money making mini-events, i.e.: 50/50 drawing, prize raffle, auction
2)   Garage sale.
3)   Bake sale.
4)   Recycling.
          Ask folks to donate their returnables to your cause - neighbors, friends, family co-workers, schools, work with your local
          grocery to solicit empties at their entrance. My favorite is setting up barrels in front of your house (if you have the right location)
          with a sign request for drive by drops. You may have to clean cans off the lawn several times a day but 6000 cans in a week
          would make your goal.
5)   Car wash.
6)   Pancake breakfast.
          Work with a local church, VFW hall or even consider approaching a local restaurant (McDonalds, IHOP, etc.)
7)   Softball or bowling or golf tournament.
8)   Club or Church donations.
          Ask your local Lions, Jaycees, Elks, Eagles, VFW, Moose, church or Synagogue to make a donation.
9)   Coin canisters.
          Place canisters where you can get permission.
10)  Donate you services in exchange for a monetary donation to ACS.
11)  Craft show.
12)  Clean houses, wash windows, yard or garden work for a donation.
13)  Fast food or candy programs.
14)  Local business fundraising.
          Check with local restaurants, coffee shops, bowling alleys, arcades, amusement places, book stores, comedy clubs, DJ's
          etc. Some of these businesses already have something, for instance a day or an event where a percentage of all proceeds
          goes to your organization.
15)  Work or school.
          Dress down day.
          Matching gifts.
          Office competition.
          Food for a cause.
16)  Crab races - Hermit crabs are available at the mall with colorful custom shells. Set up a race track. Have people sponsor each
        crab for a donation of $5.00 or $10.00. Give the winners a Strides T-shirt. Stage multiple races. 10 crabs sponsored at
        $10.00 each, 10 heats. Pay for the crabs and T-shirts and easily make your goal.
 
Raffles.
          Unlicensed raffles -
          If the total value of the prizes to be raffled is $100.00 or less and you will be selling tickets and holding the drawing on the
same day at the same location, no license registration is needed. This type of raffle would include 50/50 or prize raffles held at
work or during one of your events.
 
Bureau Of Michigan State Lottery Regulations.
          1)   No presale of tickets; all tickets are sold at a single gathering
          2)   The drawing is conducted at the same gathering that the tickets are sold.
          3)   The total aggregate market value does not exceed $100.00.
          (Charitable Gaming Division, Bureau Of Michigan State Lottery - R432.2129, Raffles 2a, I, ii,iii)
 
 
Sample letter.
 
Dear __________________,
 
          I am a member of the Strides For Life team. We as a team have made two
commitments: to run (or staff) 100 miles (or 25, 50, 75) from Bloomingdale to Grand Rapids
from June ___ to ___ and to collect donations for the American Cancer Society.
 
          I can accomplish the first part and am already training. The second part is where you
come in. The Strides For Life team has a goal of $30,000 to help in the search for a cure for
cancer.
 
          My individual goal is $600.00 (or $1000, $1200......). Your tax deductible donation will
take me one step closer to my goal.
 
          Thank you for your support            
    
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