| Top Fundraisers and Teams |
| Fundraising tips and ideas |
| Matching gifts |
| Thank contributors |
| Fundraising clubs |
| Fundraising prizes |
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To get more ideas or begin fundraising now, learn how to raise $1000 fast, learn about online fundraising tools, or check your Participant Center. |
Be creative! Be fun! Be enthusiastic … you are making a difference!
Here are a few ideas to get you started, but remember, there are hundreds of ways to raise money.
| 1. |
Set up a Web page and fundraise online. It’s free, easy and pays off. Online fundraisers raise double the money. |
| 2. | Set a goal. Make it lofty but attainable and then donate to yourself. This will help motivate your teammates and people who donate to you. |
| 3. | Handwrite and send letters to potential donors. Tell them why you ride, why raising money for the MS Society is important and make it personal. Click here for a letter template. |
| 4. | Host a “free” doughnuts and bagels breakfast at your office or place of worship. Set up the goodies in high traffic areas and ask for donations. Sometimes local bakeries will donate the goods. |
| 5. | Put a pot o’ gold at your desk. Set up a donation jar at your desk during MS Awareness week, March 14 to 20. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than filling a pot o’ gold for a good cause? |
| 6. | Have a mow-a-thon, snow-a-thon, whatever-a-thon in your neighborhood. Offer to mow, remove snow, etc., for a donation. This is a great way to involve the entire family or team. |
| 7. | If you are participating in honor of someone, get their permission to include their photo and story in your pledge letters and Web site. |
| 8. | Fundraise and recruit members at your local fitness center. |
| 9. | Spare change donations — Give your friends and family homemade donation jars. Each day they can put their spare change in the jar. Before the deadline, collect all the spare change donations and count them. You could also invite everyone to help you count and celebrate the results together. |
| 10. | Delegate — Have your friends and family help you raise money. |
| 11. | Auction — Find local artists or artistic friends to donate art to be auctioned off. You can also auction: jewelry, pottery, antiques, clothing, etc. |
| 12. | Yard sale — Have your friends and fmaily help you put together a yard sale and donate the profits. Place signage in local businesses informing the public about it. |
| 13. | Personal phone messages — Leave messages on your home/cell voicemail to let people know you need their support. Also, send personalized text messages asking your contacts for their support. |
| 14. | Ask your local restaurant/bar/waiter/bartender to donate a portion of their tips. Create signage for the location informing customers about where the donated tips go. Make your presence known around the location by introducing yourself to people and personally informing them about the tip donations. |
Plan an event
Host a donation party
These parties are proven to raise significant funds if done right. When sending your invitations, let guests know that they will be asked to make a donation to the National MS Society for Walk MS. Contact the MS Society and ask a staff member to speak at your party.
At the party, tell everyone about the Walk MS and why you are walking. Welcome a National MS Society staff member to speak about MS and why each person's contribution is important. If you don't want to ask for the donation, we will. We can also offer receipts to people and take credit cards.
Party ideas:
- Host a party and ask for a staff member to attend
- Car wash party
- Pot luck
- Golf outing
- Scavenger hunt
- Super Bowl party
- Auctions -- Host an auction for donated items: dinners, gift certificates, trips, etc. Some participants use the gift certificate they earn from the National MS Society as a prize to their contributors.
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