3-Day Fall Fundraising Ideas

There are only a few months left in the year, but we also still have three more 3-Days ahead of us. So, let’s get to work! Don’t let the change of season slow your fundraising mojo…instead, use this time of year to reinvigorate your goals and dedication. It’s the perfect time to test out new fundraising strategies, and perfect classic tactics to make the most of all the 3-Day tools at your disposal.

Check in with your 2019 goals: If you set goals at the start of this year, now is the time to check in and see what progress you have made. We are officially in our final quarter of not only the year, but the decade! This makes it the perfect opportunity to check in with yourself, and see not only where you can go, but to acknowledge all the amazing work you have done so far.

Make sure your Personal Page is up to date: Your personal page is the simplest way for potential donors to learn your 3-Day story, and to directly donate to you. Make sure it reflects exactly who you are and shows why you walk!

This is especially important because its super easy to send donation emails from your Participant Center, and then any emails you send from that platform will automatically include the direct link to your personal page. Since most donations to 3-Day participants are made online, you will want to make your page impactful and inspiring.

You should also make sure your personal page is public so that donors can find you in the search results on the 3-Day website.

Lastly, you can use the blog function on your personal fundraising page to keep your supporters updated on your progress as you fundraise and train. You can also use this to countdown to your 3-Day and remind people to donate!

Remind past donors: Use email, social media, and in-person reminders to keep the 3-Day top of mind for all your friends and family. This is especially important for people who have donated before. Past donors, on average, give 38% more than donors who are giving for the first time. If you use your Participant Center to send emails, at the “Set Recipients” step, select Group>Past Donors to send your email too all of your past donors at once.

Don’t forget recurring payments: One way you can work with donors is to remind them of the easy way you can set up recurring payments. If someone can donate $25 to you this month, take that next step and see if they are willing to donate $25 a month for the rest of the year. By taking advantage of the monthly recurring payment option, you have the potential to turn a $25 donation into a $75 or $150 donation.

To make a monthly recurring donation, you just have to donate online at The3Day.org like normal, then select the number of payments (two, three or four monthly payments of $25 or more) you want to make!

Always be ready: You never know when someone might want to know more about the 3-Day! Just in case, make several copies of your personal donation form (you can find it in your Participant Center and at The3Day.org/DonationForm) and 3-Day informational business cards (you can find these at The3Day.org/Cards).

You can also check out The3Day.org/Fundraising for more printable tools, like 3-Day posters you can put up at work.

It’s all about the app! Add the 3-Day Fundraise app to your phone so you can continue to fundraise from anywhere…even on the go. The app is free, and you can use it to ask for donations, track fundraising, and send thank you messages to your donors. It also syncs up to your social media, and you can easily find it in your app store if you search for “Susan G. Komen 3-Day Fundraise.”

Make the most of your resources: There are so many tools out there to help you hit your fundraising goals! Make sure to watch our fundraising webinars at The3Day.org/FundraisingWebinar for quick, successful tips from coaches and fellow participants. And speaking of coaches, don’t forget about them either! Call your coach at 800-996-3DAY if you are feeling stuck. They have been in your shoes before and are always here to help.

Remember that every minute counts: There’s no bad time to send a fundraising reminder, even if it’s right before you start your 60-mile journey! Send one final email in the week leading up to your walk to pick up any last-minute donations. You never know who might help in those last few days!

What are your fall fundraising plans? Or your tips to make the most of the last few weeks of fundraising? Tell us

3-Day Fundraising with Facebook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Setting Up Your Facebook Fundraiser

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to re-commit to your Susan G. Komen 3-Day® objectives for this year or the next. If you still have last-minute training walks to get in, make the most of these fall weeks before winter hits. And if fundraising is a challenge, there’s one simple trick you can try this month, right from your couch! If you haven’t yet tried Fundraising with Facebook, now is the time to give it a go.

Why?

Well, for starters, did you know that almost 55% of 3-Day walkers have already set up their Facebook Fundraisers? And, those people have raised an average of $700 more than people who haven’t given Facebook Fundraising a try. The power of this online fundraiser is reason enough to be active on Facebook!

It’s also very easy, and you can set it up while you watch a scary Halloween movie or relax after a long day at work. With a few quick clicks from your 3-Day Participant Center, you can set up your Facebook Fundraiser and start inviting all your family and friends to support you and be a part of your journey.

Need help starting your very first Facebook Fundraiser? Coach Gayla is here to help! She has broken down the process (which you can do from your phone or computer), step by step:

Go to The3Day.org.
At the top right-hand side, click LogIn and enter your username and password.
The next screen that opens will be your Participant Center Homepage.

In the middle of the page you’ll see the blue section with the headline, “Reach your goal faster, raise money directly on Facebook.”

Click the white button, “Connect Fundraiser to Facebook.”
If you are not currently logged in to Facebook, you will be asked to log in. If you are already logged in to Facebook, you will automatically be taken there.
Your Facebook Fundraiser is now live, connecting your 3-Day fundraising to your Facebook profile.
Edit your fundraiser by changing the generic 3-Day picture to your own photo. Click the small camera button on the bottom right to edit.
Edit the text to personalize it and tell your story.
Click the blue “Invite” button and invite ALL your Facebook friends to your fundraiser. If you do not invite anyone, no one will see it!
You can then enter a specific fundraising request as a Facebook post. For example, “I’m walking 60 miles in 3 days and raising $2,300 to end breast cancer. I need 23 friends to donate $100 each to reach my goal. Can I count on you for a donation?”

Your Facebook Fundraiser is now ready to start helping you reach your fundraising goals!

Once your fundraiser is posted, keep an eye on it and watch your total grow! Be sure to thank your donors within your fundraiser each time you get a donation. You can also tag your donors and publicly thank them on your Facebook page. You should also post pictures of your training and other fundraising efforts to solidify your commitment to the cause and inspire your donors to continue to give.

If you have any questions about setting up a Facebook Fundraiser, or need other tips and tricks, reach out to your local coaches. They can assist you through the step by step process. They’re here to help you reach, and exceed, your goals for your 3-Day!

Fundraising Friday: Tips to Earn More 3-Day Gear

Throughout the 3-Day, from our route signs to our Bank of America Breakfast of Champions to our Closing Ceremony, we work hard to consistently honor everyone who reaches their fundraising goals. Every dollar you raise makes a huge difference in the fight against breast cancer and every dollar should be celebrated.

To deck you out in 3-Day gear, we have all new 3-Day Rewards in store for you as your reach certain fundraising milestones! What can you look forward to? Well, we have a whole lot of fun…

There’s a 6-Pack of Shoelace Tags to add some extra pink fun to your kicks on event. You only have to raise $2,500 to earn these!
If you fundraise $3,500, you’ll be awarded festive 3-Day socks that will spice up your next training outfit!
A cool 3-Day visor will be yours when you fundraise $5,000 for the 3-Day! What better way to find some shade while you walk, but still leave room for a fun 3-Day hairstyle?
When you hit the $7,500 mark, you’ll be rewarded with a 3-Day fleece blanket. It will keep you warm all fall and into the holidays!
If you’re a real fundraising superstar and hit the $10,000 mark, you’ll receive a packable pullover! We know many of you travel for the 3-Day, and this jacket will be a lifesaver for you. It conveniently packs into its own zippered front pocket, it’s unisex and water-resistant, PLUS it has a hood with adjustable drawstring. It’s great for training walks and your 60-mile weekend.
Aside from rewards for yearly fundraising, we also have rewards based on your lifetime fundraising efforts, including a 3-Day vest for when you raise $50,000 and a travel bag for when you raise $100,000 in your lifetime with the 3-Day. Keep working towards those big goals! Additionally, when you raise $100,000 or more or your team raises $1,000,000 or more, you will become a part of the Susan G. Komen Lifetime Commitment Circle and among other things will be forever-honored with your name or team name on the 3-Day recognition wall in Dallas, TX.

We hope this list adds some extra spark in your fundraising plans for the rest of the year and help to propel you towards whatever your fundraising goal is for the year!

If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out our 2019 3-Day Fundraising Handbook! It is chock full of all kinds of information, fundraising tips and tricks.

It will first walk you through setting your initial goal, and get you jump started with your fundraising outreach. Just getting started can be difficult for some people. Once you’re on a roll, it’s easier to think of fun new ideas or band together with your teammates for a fundraising event. But that first step can be tough. It’s all about the ask.

From helping you brainstorm a list of donors to providing advice from 3-Day mainstays like Coach Gayla, this handbook can be your guide through every step of the process. It also walks you through important support tools like your Participant Center, online fundraising page and our 3-Day app.

Not to mention, this handbook can be useful for your supporters as well! You can learn about the difference that Susan G. Komen is making in local communities. These facts are super helpful in crafting your fundraising letters, or to hand out at team building and fundraising events.

And that’s not even everything! If you’ve never read the Fundraising Handbook before, this should become your go-to as you continue fundraising for the 3-Day. It will help you reach your goals and put you on the path towards earning one of our amazing fundraising rewards as well.

Also, feel free to share your personal fundraising tips in the comments below! There is no such thing as too many ideas!