10 Simple and Fun Summer Fundraising Ideas

Fundraising may be taking a back seat to summer plans, but there are still plenty of easy ways to turn everyday moments into meaningful fundraising opportunities. Whether you’re collecting spare change, decluttering your closet or squeezing some lemons, these simple ideas can help boost your fundraising. 

Spare Change: Loose coins add up fast (some people have been collecting their change for years)! Don’t be shy about asking friends, family and neighbors to donate the spare change they have sitting in their car cup holders, junk drawers, piggy banks or coin jars. You’ll be surprised how quickly it all adds up! 

Purpose-Driven Yard Sale: Ask friends, family and neighbors to donate gently used items, then host a “Fundraising Yard Sale.” Use pink-inspired signs that showcase your 3-Day connection and story. Pro tip: Post your yard sale in local Facebook neighborhood groups and upload photos of your items with prices. Be sure to mention that all proceeds go toward your 3-Day goal. (Suggested price: at least $5 per item)

Pink Treat Stand: Set up a pink-themed popsicle, pink lemonade or iced coffee stand and get creative with signs that highlight the Komen 3-Day and breast cancer awareness. Add homemade treats, baked goods or dog treats to increase donations. Pro tip: Invite your kids or grandkids to help run the stand. People love supporting cute kids! (Suggested price: $2 popsicle/lemonade, $4 iced coffee)

Download the 3-Day App: Send out a fundraising email from the 3-Day app to everyone in your family and friends and ask for a minimum donation of $50.

Plan a Car Wash: Gather a group of friends, make some signs and spend a few hours washing cars. You can set up in the parking lot of a school or church (with permission of course!), or even on your block if you have the space. Make sure your signs indicate you’re raising money for breast cancer.  (Suggested price: $15 per car)

Go Door-to-Door with a Purpose: Turn a training walk into a double positive! Knocking on doors may seem old-fashioned, but it’s still an effective way to engage with your community and garner donations. Arm yourself with informational flyers, donation envelopes and plenty of enthusiasm to share your story and spread the word about the 3-Day. (Suggested donation amount: $25) 

Organize a Sunset Walk:  Give your loved ones a peek into the Pink Bubble with an organized neighborhood walk to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research. Choose a scenic route, set a fundraising goal, and invite friends, family and neighbors to join in solidarity. Consider incorporating pink attire or accessories to make a bold and fun statement of support. Maybe you can even have a contest for best dressed! (Suggested donation amount: $15) 

Host a Summer Potluck: Invite your family and friends over for a summer afternoon potluck. Ask them to bring a small dish to share and a $20 donation to your 3-Day fundraiser. Be sure to talk about the event and share why you’re participating. Maybe someone will want to join your team!

Pink Bingo Night: Host a pink bingo night where guests can buy bingo cards and play for a chance to win fun prizes while supporting your 3-Day fundraising. Add snacks, raffles and pink-themed decorations!

Facebook Fundraiser: If you haven’t already, visit your Participant Center and connect your fundraiser to Facebook! It’s a quick way to share why you are joining the 3-Day with your entire social network. And remember, sometimes the people you least expect are the most generous. 

You may not think so, but sometimes the simplest ideas can lead to a lot of support.  Whatever fundraising angle you choose, every effort counts. Keep sharing why you are involved in the 3-Day and the support will follow! 

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

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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.

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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?”

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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!