Okay, friends, I’m going to take a stance here that might surprise you: I’m encouraging you not to attempt any fundraising for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day® in January.

Wait, what? But haven’t you told us before that it’s best to take an “earlier is better” approach to starting my Komen 3-Day fundraising?

Look, of course, I’m never going to tell you that you shouldn’t work on your 3-Day® fundraising, and if you have a solid plan and are motivated to get going with it, by all means, have at it! But here, at the beginning of the year, many 3-Day walkers are just getting themselves and their teams registered. In the case of first-timers, many of you are just beginning to dip your toes into all the 3-Day encompasses, including what is, for many, the first time they’ve attempted fundraising of this kind. It can all feel a bit overwhelming, and the last thing we want is for anyone to feel undue stress before there’s anything to really be stressed about.

So, skip it this month.

Let me be clear: I still want you to think about fundraising, but tell yourself that it’s okay if you don’t get a single donation in January, as long as you’re percolating about your long-term plans.

• Take this month to breathe, and start to come up with a strategy.
• If you’re a veteran 3-Dayer, reflect on what has worked for you in the past. If you’re new, devote some time to exploring all the fundraising tools in your Participant Center (really, that tip goes for returning walkers too). Towards the end of this month, sometime around January 26^th, you’ll notice the 3-Day website will have a whole new look, including updated tools and printables in your Participant Center.
• Shoot for the moon on ideas. At this stage, nothing is too ambitious or outlandish to consider, because remember, you don’t have to put any of it into action right now. So let those brainstorms rage like a polar vortex of ideas!
• Come up with a strategy and plot out the steps you’ll take to achieve it. Break down goals and phases of action week-by-week or month-by-month (if you need a good blueprint to inspire you, “How to Raise $2300 in 2 Months” is a great place to start, even though you still have way more than 2 months to complete your fundraising).

You can do all of this before February 1 without asking a single person for a donation. Having a plan in place now will allow you to jump into your efforts with two feet, confident that you’re not rushing to come up with ideas as the clock ticks down later in the summer or fall.

And as always, the fabulous 3-Day coaches are always here for you, and they are experts on this kind of thing. They’ve all been in your shoes – as 3-Day walkers and as fundraisers. Give them a call at 800-996-3DAY.