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Fundraising 101
Fundraising Ideas
Online Fundraising
Matching Gifts
How to Raise $1,000 in 9 Days
Download the walker handbook, fundraising ideas and other materials now!
Fundraising Ideas
FUNdraising can be a blast too! Here are some proven ways to increase your fundraising:
Ask if your company has a matching gifts program (more information below).
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Ask your corporation to make a donation. -
If your business has heavy street traffic, ask customers to contribute their spare change. -
Contact your company's vendors and ask them for a donation equal to one percent of the annual business you give them. This one is easier than you may think. -
Conduct your own fundraising events like dress down days, bake sales, car washes, Brown Bag for MS, drawings, auctions and more. You'll be surprised how the smell of popcorn or nachos can motive people to make a donation of a couple of dollars. These events can also raise awareness about MS and your team efforts. -
Put a giant bottle in your company lunchroom to collect change. It can add up fast. -
Don't forget holidays. Sell roses on Valentine's Day and shamrock-shaped cookies on St. Patrick's Day. -
Promote Walk MS on paydays by stuffing a flyer into each paycheck envelope. -
Write friends and family members and ask them to participate in the event or make a donation.
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Online Fundraising
Online fundraising has become a popular alternative or supplement to letter writing. It's easy for you and your contributors. Set up your Personal Page in the Participant Center where friends and family can sponsor you, read your inspiring story and watch your fundraising total grow!
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Matching Gifts: An easy way to multiply your donation!
Doubling, or even tripling, the size of your donation to Walk MS is much easier than you might think. Many businesses match charitable employee donations on a 1-for-1 basis. This means that if you donate $50, your employer will also donate (or match) $50. Some companies will even match 2-for-1 or 3-for-1, meaning your employer would then donate $100 or $150, respectively.
To find out if your company has a matching gifts program, check with your human resources department. It’s also helpful to encourage your donors to check with their employers as well. Typically, employers provide a form that you’ll have to send in with your donation just be sure to include Walk MS and your name on this form (and encourage your sponsors to do the same) so that all the donations are properly credited to your account.
You may also contact our office at 800-FIGHT MS to see if your company provides matching gifts to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. We can fax or e-mail you a copy of the companies that have matching gift programs. This can be a great tool for you to inform your donors about whether their company has a matching gifts program.
Don’t forget to track these donations in your Participant Center! Recording your matching gifts requires making two entries one for the original donation, and another one for the company match for that donation. For example, if Jane Doe donates $50, and her employer, Company XYZ, does a 1-for-1 match for that donation, it should be entered as two separate $50 donations. This should be done so that Jane’s gift will be credited to your account immediately, and Company XYZ’s gift will be credited to your account when that check is received.
Before you know it, matching gifts can help your fundraising thermometer reach new heights!
In order to process and give credit to a participant for a matching gift, the Society must:
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Have a form to process |
Online applications automatically generate a form that the foundation mails to us. There are four chapters of the National MS Society that serve Virginia - be sure the donor knows to select the Blue Ridge Chapter in Charlottesville.
"Paper" applications are usually gotten from Human Resources. |
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Verify we received the donation |
Online applications: Include a note saying "matching gift form coming" and clip it to any checks you turn in. If it's cash, include the name.
Paper application forms: Try to turn in the form and donation at the same time. If you turned in the donation and got the form later, it is YOUR responsibility to notify us and provide donation information (i.e. name on the check, date of donation) |
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Connect the form to the participant |
Most paper forms and ALL online forms have a field called Designation, Restriction, or Purpose. Have your donor put "E-pledge or check for Walker's name, Walk MS" in this field. |
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How to raise $1,000 in 9 Days
Day 1: Start by sponsoring yourself for $50.
Day 2: Ask four family members to each sponsor you for $25.
Day 3: Ask ten friends to contribute $20.
Day 4: Ask ten co-workers to contribute $10.
Day 5: Ask ten neighbors to contribute $10.
Day 6: Ask your boss for a company contribution of $50.
Day 7: Ask five people from your place of worship for $20.
Day 8: Ask five local merchants to sponsor you for $40.
Day 9: Ask four old friends to contribute $25.
The more people you ask to contribute, the more comfortable you will become.
Practice makes perfect!
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