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A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Maximize Your Fundraising for Don't Talk-A-Thon 2019

To create a personal fundraising page:

Why create a personal fundraising page?  This option allows you to create your own, unique fundraising page that can be customized, updated with stories, and shared via a unique link to your friends and family via email or on social media.

  • Visit the Don’t Talk-a-Thon master page at fundraise.projectals.org/dtat2019
  • Click the “Become a Fundraiser” button.  
  • When prompted, choose the “As an Individual” option.
  • Classy (our online fundraising platform) will walk you through subsequent steps to create your own personal donation page.
  • PRO TIP:  Make sure your donation page is personal!  Include information about:
    • Why you’re participating in the Don’t Talk-a-Thon.
    • Your connection to Project ALS, ALS research, or how ALS has affected you/someone you love.

To get your family, friends, or coworkers to fundraise on your behalf:

Why should family and friends create a fundraising page?  After creating your personal fundraising page, you can leverage the support of your family or friends to make their own fundraising pages that link up to your own page.  This helps boost your fundraising total and helps spread the word about the Don’t-Talk-a-Thon to people within the networks of your friends and family.

  • Visit the Don’t Talk-a-Thon master page at fundrasise.projectals.org/dtat2019
  • Click the “Become a Fundraiser” button.  
  • Select the “Join a Team” option.
  • Search for the individual fundraiser that you would like your page to link up to.
  • Classy will walk you through the next steps to make your page and join that fundraiser’s team.

To donate without making a fundraising page:

Why should I donate to the Don’t-Talk-a-Thon?  We understand that you might personally want to contribute to the Don’t-Talk-a-Thon but are not comfortable with asking your network to donate.  That’s why we have a Donation option – you can contribute however much you are comfortable giving and those funds will still count towards the Don’t-Talk-a-Thon’s overall fundraising goal.

  • Visit the Don’t Talk-a-Thon master page at fundrasise.projectals.org/dtat2019
  • Click the “Donate” button.  
  • Complete the donation form that populates in the next screen.
    • If you’re making your donation in honor of someone, please share that information in the “Leave a Comment” section.

Fundraising Tips and Suggestions

Tips for Online Fundraising:

  • Share updates on your donation page.
      • Keep your donors informed – share how close you are to hitting your personal fundraising goal.
      • Share stories about why you will be taking an oath of silence for an hour on Thursday, May 30th.
      • Share pictures that convey why you’re fundraising for ALS research.
        • Share a picture of you with the “I’m not talking for…” sign and your reason for taking an oath of silence written on the sign.
        • If you’ve fundraised for the Don’t-Talk-a-Thon before, then post those to your page so supporters can see your commitment over the years.
      • Share updates about how you’re staying motivated – ALS is a complex, intense disease.  Share your wins and struggles fundraising for this cause.
  • Leverage social media.
      • Again, don’t be afraid to get personal about why you’re fundraising for Project ALS research.  You’re going to be taking an oath of silence for an hour on a work/school day – that’s a big commitment!  Keep your followers in the loop through pictures, statuses, tweets, etc.
        • Be sure to include a link to your personal fundraising page with each social media post so you can turn those likes into donations.
      • If you’re holding a fundraising event or gathering as part of your donation efforts, share it on social medial and include a link to your personal fundraising page for those that can’t make it in person.
  • Involve your family and friends – encourage them to:
    • Share your personal fundraising page link with their network via email and social media.
    • Join your fundraising team by creating a linked fundraising page on Classy.
    • Include messages with the donations made to your page so visitors to your personal fundraising page can get insight into your support network.

Tips for Fundraising via Post-Mail

  • Mailing fundraising letters to your family, friends, or colleagues is a great way to engage less technologically inclined prospective donors.
  • In your letter, be sure to include:
    • Why you’re participating in the Don’t-Talk-a-Thon with Project ALS.
    • The fact that you will be taking an oath of silence on Thursday, May 30th – during a work/school day – to be honor those ALS patients who lost the ability to speak.
    • Pictures related to previous Don’t-Talk-a-Thons you’ve participated in or pictures related to why you’re participating in this fundraising campaign.
    • Ways to donate.  Share:
      • A link to your personal fundraising page
      • Project ALS’s mailing address and required information for check donations.  All checks must:
        • Be made out to “Project ALS”; and,
        • Include your name as the credited fundraiser in the memo section.
      • Check should be mailed to:  Project ALS 801 Riverside Dr. Ste. 6 G New York, NY 10032

Tips for Hosting a Fundraising Event

  • Partnering with a local business is a great way to raise funds towards your goal
    • Consider hosting a benefit happy hour or meal special at a bar or restaurant in your community.
    • Add details to your fundraising page so supporters can attend.
    • For exposure, send Project ALS an email about your event to [email protected] and we will publicize its details on Project ALS social media channels.
    • Make sure you ask the partnering business to share your personal fundraising page link on their website or social media accounts.
  • Host a peer-to-peer fundraising night at your home.
    • Previous fundraisers have hosted friends and family at their homes and provided drinks/food in return for contributions to their personal fundraising page
      • This is a great opportunity to teach your network how to make donations to your personal fundraising page via their phones.

Tips for Corporate Fundraising

  • Many companies have “donation matching” programs.  If an employee raises a certain amount of money for a charitable cause, your employer might match that amount to a certain level.
    • Consider reaching out to your employer’s human resources representative to see if your company has a donation matching program
  • For more information on this strategy, check out this helpful article:  http://www.donorsearch.net/matching-gifts-guide/

Thanks so much for your support!
Vanessa at Project ALS

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