It can be difficult to figure out where to begin when fundraising for the 3-Day, especially if you have little to no experience with asking for donations. If your fundraising account is stuck at $0, take this opportunity to learn from those who are practically professional fundraisers. Veterans of the Pink Bubble share with us their most successful fundraising strategies that have helped them meet and exceed their fundraising goals, year after year.
Farrell C.’s suggestion is to share and highlight the person for whom you’re walking. She lost her Mom to breast cancer so she shares her personal story. She believes that you never know who you’ll touch by doing so. Farrell also suggests having a high fundraising goal and continuing to move the goal as you get close to reaching the current one.
Debbie S. collects emails addresses from anyone and everyone all year long! She starts a monthly email campaign beginning in June to send to everyone on her list. The first email is long and explains what the 3-Day is, why she’s doing it, how long she’s fundraised and walked, and closes it out with asking for donations. Each month, she sends out a new letter to anyone who hasn’t donated yet. Right before the event, she sends out another email to everyone on her list again, regardless if they’ve donated or not. This email is an update of what she’s doing, why, and how much she’s raised so far. Debbie doesn’t mention a fundraising goal, but always pushes for more, regardless of where she’s at. She also utilizes Facebook by copying and pasting her monthly email to a Facebook post with her personal page link! She is also a big fan of taking advantage of all matching gift opportunities.
Cathy L. started her pink envelope campaign many years ago and has since stuck with it because it works so well! She mails everyone on her list a personalized letter in a bright pink envelope with a self-addressed pink envelope inside for the recipient to mail a donation check back to her. She still gets excited to see those pink envelopes in her mailbox because she knows it’s a donation. (And don’t forget — you can easily deposit checks with the 3-Day app. It’s as simple as taking a picture of the check.) Cathy believes her personal touch is the main reason why her donors keep supporting her. Over the years, she has also hosted many types of parties (Pampered Chef, Tupperware, etc.) where a portion of the sales are donated to her 3-Day fundraising.
For more ideas on how to fundraise, head to our ABCs of Fundraising blog and join our Facebook Groups. What has been your most successful fundraising strategy? Share it with us in the comments below.
* States and local communities have laws governing many fundraising activities, including raffles, garage sales, leafleting, auctions and other promotional activities. Compliance with applicable laws is the responsibility of each participant, and the 3-Day cannot render legal or tax advice on these matters. Please check with your local authorities before fundraising in these ways.
Whether newly part of the 3-Day family, or a long-time & dedicated member, fundraising can be a challenge. Run out of people to reach out to? Finding yourself stuck on how to encourage your friends, family, or colleagues to help you reach your goal? Feeling a lack of motivation or enthusiasm yourself? We’ve all been there. And because of that, we know that you can always use a little extra help and creative ideas for how to keep things fresh and interesting.
Maybe you’ve already thought of these… But we’re guessing you haven’t! Either way, and without further ado, here are some unique & fun fundraising ideas to help you reach all your goals this year!
1. Trade in your old phone with ecoATM
Have an old cell phone lying around? Don’t know what to do with it? Head to ecoATM.com, to see what your phone is worth and bring it to the nearest ecoATM kiosk to get paid on the spot. No haggling, no waiting , no dealing with strangers, and no mail-in required. You can use that $$ to go toward your 3-Day fundraising. Oh, and don’t forget to ask your friends and family to check their junk drawers for more phones to trade in. And don’t worry, it’s safe! You’ll find instructions to remove all personal accounts online at ecoATM.com. There is an option to donate your device cash-out value to Susan G. Komen®, choosing to donate funds at the kiosk will not count towards your individual 3-Day fundraising.
2. Make them ask, “What are you wearing?!”
This is for the dress up queens and costume aficionados! Take on a “dare to wear” challenge and wear a wild pink outfit, or as many as you can find, for as long as people are donating to your campaign. Let’s see your hot pink wigs, sparkling tutus, onesies, and more! Better yet, designate your significant other or a friend to be the one who has to dress up! Keep the momentum going by posting a selfie every day showing off your outfit and reminding your circle to keep donating if they want to see more!
3. Finally reveal that secret family recipe
Have a delicious family recipe all your friends and colleagues have been begging you for years? Today’s the day folks! Create a fundraising challenge amongst your circle, where you’ll finally share that delicious secret they’ve all been craving if they help you reach your fundraising goal. If not a recipe, make it a secret tip or trick, a DIY specialty, the answer to your unsolvable riddle, or whatever else you’ve got up your sleeve!
Got some more fun ideas of your own? Share them with your community! We’re all in this together after all, working towards one mission of ending breast cancer forever! Happy fundraising 3-Day Fam!
“What if it’s the $10,000 I raise this year that helps fund the grant that moves us that much closer to a cure? I can’t let myself stop!”
We’d like to introduce you to the latest member of the Impact level of our Lifetime Commitment Circle. This exclusive honor is bestowed on those who have reached an incredible fundraising milestone—raising $250,000 for the 3-Day. And she’s raised even more for other cancer organizations! We asked Julie to answer a few questions so we could learn more about how she achieved her fundraising success.
How did you get involved with the 3-Day? It all started in 2005 when I was an associate brand manager on the MOTRIN® IB Brand, which was a national sponsor of the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. I was asked as a sponsor to speak at the Philadelphia event that year, and I didn’t want to do so unless I was out there raising money and walking alongside the people to whom I’d be speaking.
And once I started fundraising, I learned just how many people have been impacted by breast cancer—my friend’s mom, another friend’s aunt, my colleague, and more—and it became important to me that I continue to do my part. Since that time, I lost my father to pancreatic cancer (2008) and my close friend, Mary, to breast cancer (2009), Vicki, my former colleague and current friend, lost her sister, Betsy. My dear friend, Libby, who I met during the Opening Ceremonies years ago and then walked with every year since, lost her mom. And I met Maryanne—an amazing friend and breast cancer survivor. It’s a lot! So, each year since 2005 I’ve walked and raised money. I walk honoring the memory of my friend, supporting the brave, triumphant battles of other friends, and honoring the memories, current battles, and success stories of friends and colleagues’ parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, sisters and brothers, and my friends and colleagues.
We all know raising money during a global pandemic isn’t easy, but how did you do it? I’m lucky that after 16 years I have a loyal group of supporters! I raise money through email campaigns year-round and Facebook posts. This year I was sure to include language around it being a tough year with so many important efforts to support, and I know that others’ charitable giving priorities may not coincide with mine, and that’s OK. So, I give people an out. But for the most part, people have been willing to give year after year, including during a global pandemic.
What is your secret to raising so much money every year? I ask EVERYONE I know. Friends, friends of friends, colleagues, ex-boyfriends, family, etc. I’m lucky that my sisters and some friends will share my Facebook posts with THEIR friends. I send initial requests, friendly reminders to “bring the email back up to the top of your inbox for those of you who like me got busy and the email got buried.” I let people know when I’m close to my goal(s), and I know some people like a deadline, so I send out a “3 days until the 3-Day” message at the very end. I always make my emails some combination of personal/touching and/or funny. Lastly, I make sure to send thank you’s, and some of my larger donors get more personalized emails.
What keeps you coming back to the 3-Day again and again? I just love the pink bubble! I’ve met so many people over the 16 years, and it’s just like a big pink family. And, I love the quality time with my teammates. Also, once you’ve started raising money, I start to think I can’t stop now! If I don’t ask, who will garner this support from MY network? What if it’s the $10,000 I raise this year that helps fund the grant that moves us that much closer to a cure? It’s almost like I can’t let myself stop!
What are some of your top 3-Day memories from past years? My favorite memory was year one, night two, in Philadelphia. We had just completed 40 miles and I thought I could not take one step more than I actually had to…but then came the dance party! I remember looking around at these amazing, empowered women, and a few brave men, and thinking to myself how awesome it felt to be dancing the night away, despite the 40 miles! Another favorite moment was year four or five when I was asked to carry the “my father” flag during the Opening Ceremony. My father had just died from pancreatic cancer. Other favorite moments were meeting my teammates along the route. I remember meeting Maryanne around mile 10 on day two; now she’s become one of my closest friends. And I remember when Maryanne and I picked up Libby, a solo walker, at the Opening Ceremony. She walked every mile with us that year and for four more years after that.
How do you live the 3-Day spirit and spread the word all year long? As mentioned above, I’m sending fundraising emails and posting on Facebook nearly year-round. I send a thank you card (like a holiday card) with photos from the events I participate in, along with a personal note, each year after the 3-Day. I stay in touch with my 3-Day friends on Facebook. One year I was lucky enough to head to Komen Headquarters for the Commitment Club event. Additionally, when I think about “living the 3-Day spirit,” I also think of more generally “giving back” to the world. This year has provided ample opportunity to do so! I raised money and participated in events for other cancer-fighting organizations like Purple Stride for Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and running the Boston Marathon as part of the Dana Farber Marathon Challenge. I also fostered 13 different kittens since March while working from home (not all at the same time) and also had the (unfortunate) opportunity to donate convalescent plasma for those fighting COVID-19!
Now that you’ve raised $250,000, what’s the next goal you’ve got your eyes on? It’s the same goal it’s always been—a world without breast cancer! And more money for the research and early detection that will save lives and/or extend the time people get to spend with friends and family. $250,000 is just a fun milestone along that journey! I suppose the next big milestone will be $500,000!
Tell us what the 3-Day means to you. Friendship, hope, passion, commitment, perseverance, family, fun, emotional, rewarding. It’s too hard to sum up, but those are some good words off the top of my head.
Thank you, Julie, for your year-round dedication to the 3-Day and our mission to end breast cancer. We’re impressed by the amazing amount of money you’ve been able to raise, and we are looking forward to sharing many more 3-Day memories with you in the years to come.
Julie’s achievement will qualify her for the Impact level in the Lifetime Commitment Circle. She joins Loretta E., Kathy G., Liz G., Bert S., and Burt L. as Impact members at the $250,000 level.
