Welcome Spring! 3-Day Fundraising Ideas

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Spring is here at last! The weather might not quite be reflecting it yet in some parts of the country, but we are more than a little excited about blooming flowers, sunshiny days and more walks outside. This change of season also allows for new fundraising opportunities, and we have them rounded up all in one spot. Get outside and make the most of the season!

Spring Cleaning Garage Sale

This one is a no brainer, and helps you in more ways than one! Spring cleaning your house, closet, kitchen and beyond will help de-clutter your life. This can also help de-clutter your emotions and even be a de-stressing technique. Throw away or donate what you need to, but save as much as you can, then hold a garage sale with the proceeds going to the 3-Day!

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April Fool’s Day

Lots of people play April Fool’s Day pranks – Why not take advantage of it? Partner with local comedians or radio hosts to set up a “you donate and we prank” fundraising movement. You can have them make prank calls or even prank “deliveries,” and ask your friends and family to donate for the right to send a prank on the funny holiday.

Spring Spa Day

Ask local salons, spas and hairdressers to donate products like lotion, nail polish, or scrubs and host a spa day at home! Ask for donations from your friends in exchange for “services” like scalp massages, manicures or hand scrubs. It’s the perfect way to spend a Sunday with your friends.

Flower Delivery

Those florists and local gift shops you worked with to send Valentine’s Day flowers? Call them up again! See if they would be willing to donate any extra flowers at the end of each week, then you can make special deliveries to potential donors. Who could say “no” to a fundraising letter that comes with a bouquet?

Earth Day or Arbor Day Hike

Ask people to sponsor miles of a hike you will take in honor of the many Mother Nature-related holidays in April. Every mile you walk means more funding for the 3-Day! It will double as a good training walk, and could be used as a team building or recruitment exercise as well! Asking your friends to walk with you gives you plenty of time to tell them your 3-Day story…they might just join you!

Get Outside

Offer lawn care services and car washes,to people in your neighborhood in exchange for donations! You probably have all the materials you need right at home, so all it will cost is your time. It will also give you a great excuse to get outside!

What are your spring fundraising plans? Tell us in the comments!

3-Day Quick Hitting Fundraising Tips

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We are officially less than 24 weeks out from our first 3-Day of the year. 2018 is flying by, and if you haven’t started your fundraising yet, now is the time!

To make it easy for you to kick-off, or really jump start your efforts, we polled our resources – from our website to our coaches and beyondto find the best ideas for you.

Your first stop should be our Donations 101 page on The3Day.org! There you’ll find donation forms, frequently asked questions, and help fundraising “The 3-Day Way.” It’s a gold mine of information!

From there, you can head to the Fundraising Idea Library, where you can search for ideas based around events, holidays and more! All of these ideas were submitted by past 3-Day participants. If you have any awesome ideas of your own, please enter them into the library. It’s a great place to find the best approach for you.

Another collaborative community is our 3-Day Message Boards, where you can post and chat with other walkers nationwide. This is a favorite spot of our coaches!

If you’re more of an in-person brainstormer, ask teammates or other walkers! Here’s a super simple tip from one of our participants, too! Kathleen B. sent us this idea on Facebook: Fill a leftover 20-ounce bottle full of dimes and you’ll have almost exactly $100. Post about it on social media, and ask people to save their dimes for you to help change a life!

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We also have tips from some of our coaches. They’ve been working to help participants reach their goals for years, and all these ladies have walked in the 3-Day themselves, as well!

Coach Tisho, Fundraising & Support Coach, Twin Cities & Philadelphia:

For repeat walkers, look at who donated to you in previous years and send them an ask again. In your Participant Center, in the Email and Contacts section, you can send an email to a specific group. The group “Past Donors Who Have Not Donated This time” is automatically in there for you. If you can’t find the list of your past donors in your Participant Center, your coach can pull it for you. Another unrelated tip is that if you’re planning to do any sort of event that involves a raffle/bingo/auction it’s a good idea to check on the local jurisdiction requirements before you get too far in the planning phase. Sometimes you have to request or purchase a permit for those events so that’s good to know earlier rather than later.

Coach Susan, Fundraising & Support Coach, Atlanta:

I do all my fundraising on Facebook! It’s my favorite! I like to set a goal, then divide it by my number of Facebook friends so set a specific request. So, I let people know that if only 10 of my friends contribute today, I will have raised X amount of money or be X percent of the way to my goal.

I also challenge my Facebook friends! By using phrases like, “I want to raise $100 today, who will be my first donor?” you create urgency and remind people to donate. Once someone makes a donation, tag them in a thank you post on Facebook. This pushes your post to the top of your friends’ feeds, and your donors’ feeds as well, creating excitement.

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Coach Gayla, Programs & Local Events Coach, Seattle & Dallas:

It helps me to think of it in steps!

Pick your goal ($2,300 or more!) and spread it in to equal payments.
For example, think about asking 23 people to donate $100 each or 100 people to donate $23 each. It makes the bigger goal seem a lot more manageable.
Choose a deadline, like a holiday, birthday or when training begins!
Send a personal request to individual donors detailing the following:
1. What you’re doing: EX: “I’m walking 60 miles in 3 days to end breast cancer.”
2. Why you’re doing it: Think about who or what gave you goose bumps when you signed up to walk. Tell your personal story and share the meaningful reason.
Ask for a specific amount: “Will you please donate $100 by May 12th? I need 23 people to donate $100 each by May 12th to reach my goal.”
Include a link to your page and remind people that it’s tax deductible!

Or, print your donation form from your personal fundraising page. Then, attach it to a personalized donation request letter along with a self-addressed stamped envelope back to your house. You can even make a copy of the donor’s check and the donation form and mail it to Komen’s address on the form. Make it as easy as possible for your potential donors!

What are your top fundraising tips? Do you have any simple steps to reach your donors? Tell us in the comments!

Fundraising Friday for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day: Spooktacular Ideas

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Halloween is around the corner! Do you have your tricks and treats ready? In honor of this spooky holiday, we have some fun and easy fundraising ideas that you can put into action this weekend! Whether you are walking in one of our final 2017 3-Days, or you want to get a jump on your 2018 fundraising goals, these are fun and festive ideas you can put into action.

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Movie Night

There are so many fun spooky movies that the whole family can still enjoy for this holiday! Whether you project one on a screen outside or cuddle up inside for a bit of a scare, getting your team and/or potential donors together for a movie night is a fun and easy way to gather your 3-Day support system around you this season. Hand out mini s’more packs for a takeaway, and put a little reminder about your fundraising goal and link on the pack! You’ll wake up the next morning to a lot of love.

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Pumpkin Party

Carve. Paint. Glitter. Decorate. There is no wrong way to approach your pumpkin décor! Challenge your friends to create the most 3-Day-inspired pumpkin for their homes and create a whole outdoor, 3-Day pumpkin festival at your house as well! Then place a sign, and handouts near your pumpkins to encourage people to donate to your cause.

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Trick or Treat for the Cause

When your kids or friends are trick or treating this year, make use of the night out! While the youngsters pick their candy, hand your neighbors an informational sheet about the 3-Day and let them know you are walking! Remind them that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Encourage them to leave a little Halloween treat on your donation page in honor of sweet Halloween fun.

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Keep it Sweet

If you wait until the day after Halloween, you can get tons of candy for a bargain price! Make little sweet treat packets, and drop them off on November 1^st on the doorsteps of potential donors. It’s a minimal investment on your part, and the sweet reminder to donate will make them smile.

Extra, Extra – Check out this post to see a 3-Dayer’s brilliant trick-or-treat 3-Day costume idea!

What are your favorite fundraising ideas for the season? Tell us in the comments – and have a sweet and safe Halloween