10 Ways to Make the Holidays More Meaningful in 2020

Pink Bubble family, can you believe it is December? As we come to the end of this “special” year, we are so inspired by the continued impact being made by our 3-Day community. Every dollar raised truly makes a difference. With the help of your fundraising efforts, Susan G. Komen invests in cutting-edge research that will lead to new, more effective treatments, works in communities across the country to ensure all people can access the care they need, and mobilizes passionate supporters to make certain the voice of the breast cancer community is heard by policymakers.

How can you make a difference this December? We consulted some of our experts—our walkers and crew—for ideas on how to make the holidays more meaningful in 2020. Here are our top ten.

1. Instead of presents, ask for donations to your 3-Day fundraising. You can even use the 3-Day mobile app to donate checks directly into your account!

2. Set up a Facebook Fundraiser to make year-end giving easy for friends and family who are looking to capitalize on charitable gift tax deductions! Facebook Fundraisers make it incredibly easy!

3. Receive a gift that doesn’t suit your taste? Consider selling it and donating the proceeds.

4. Run a donation-based, socially-distanced gift wrapping service for friends and family.

5. Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Dayparticipant Karen K. gets creative with a Holiday Drive-Thru! A nearby neighborhood draws crowds of cars driving by to see the holiday lights display. Karen sets up a table in a friend’s driveway and sells holiday crafts to the visitors in exchange for donations.

6. Get organized and start out your year with a clean closet! You can sell your items to thredUP or a local consignment shop and donate those funds to your 3-Day account. Or you can use thredUP’s donation program. When you mail in your items, instead of a payout, Komen will receive a $5 donation on your behalf. It’s easy—they mail you a bag, you fill it with clothes, and drop it off at your local USPS or FedEx office. Click here to learn more about thredUP’s donation program. (Note: the $5 donation will not be reflected in your 3-Day fundraising).

7. Use the 3-Day mobile app to send out New Year’s notes letting people know that you’re walking and why!

8. Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day participant Karen K. also recommends asking restaurants to include carry-out and gift card purchases when they host a fundraising night for you! It’s truly a win-win—you receive an increased donation and the restaurant is able to get people in and out quickly and can make more sales in one day. Plus, this helps ensure that people will come back to use those gift cards another time when they are able to eat out again.

9. Don your pink Santa hat and offer to put up holiday lights in exchange for donations!

10. Include a 3-Day insert card in your holiday cards.

This time of year—filled with hope, giving, and celebration—is a great time to squeeze in one more fundraising ask before the calendar switches to the next year. What other holiday fundraising ideas would you recommend to the 3-Day family? Share in the comments on our Facebook page.

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!

April Fundraising Challenge: Raise Funds to Benefit the Susan G. Komen Treatment Assistance Program

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Throughout the rest of April, we will be running a fundraising challenge to support the Komen Treatment Assistance Program. All dollars raised through the 3-Day from today through the end of the month will provide financial assistance, education and support services to low-income, underinsured or uninsured people undergoing breast cancer treatment as part of the Komen Treatment Assistance Program.

So, we’re challenging YOU to boost your fundraising efforts and help us reach our goal of $500,000 for the Komen Treatment Assistance Program so that we can help more women and men facing breast cancer. Please share the great work we can do through this program with as many donors as possible, and encourage them to help our cause.

Not only will you be reaching your 3-Day fundraising goals, you will be continuing to help people in need.

You already know using tools like email and social media help you earn donations — now, here are a few suggestions on how to fundraise even more. They are simple and effective steps that will make a big difference!

Share as often as possible on all your social media platforms, and be sure to include a link to your fundraising page.
Email your network a minimum of twice, especially remembering to email them in the final days of the challenge so they don’t forget.
As people donate, tag them and thank them on social media, like this: “[Insert Name] just donated on my behalf to the Susan G. Komen Treatment Assistance Program, which helps eligible breast cancer patients who have limited financial resources get the treatment they need. She is providing support to those who need it most. Won’t you join her and donate to the 3-Day today? [link to your personal page].”

If you need help crafting your posts, here are some ideas for Facebook:

Example #1

From April 16 – 30, all the funds I raise for the Susan G. Komen 3-Day will go directly to Komen’s Treatment Assistance Program, which helps eligible breast cancer patients who have limited financial resources get the treatment they need. I’ve challenged myself to raise $500 this week to contribute to an overall goal of $500,000 for the Treatment Assistance Program. Can you help us reach this goal? Donate now!

Example #2

Today I’ve challenged myself to get 10 donations for @The3Day, to help fund Komen’s Treatment Assistance Program as part of a goal to raise $500,000. So far, I have 3 donations (thank you [tag] [Insert Name], [Insert Name], and [Insert Name]!); can you help me get 7 more before the end of the day? Make your donation now! Or if you’ve already donated, please share this request!

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Or, you can use one of these ideas for Twitter:

Example #1:

Today’s Challenge: 10 donations to fund Komen’s Treatment Assistance Program! Donate today: [personal page web address] #The3Day

Example #2:

Support me with a donation: [personal page web address]. All funds raised April 16-30 benefit Komen’s Treatment Assistance Program #The3Day

Example #3:

Donations now through 4/30 to @The3Day benefits @SusanGKomen and their lifesaving Treatment Assistance Program. Support my 60-mile journey: [personal page web address] #The3Day

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We are so excited for this first-ever fundraising challenge and look forward to the possibility of expanding this across multiple 3-Day funded programs in the future!

Good luck and get ready to fundraise! As always, if you need any fundraising support or advice, reach out to our 3-Day Social Media team or your local coaches. We are always here to help!