Tag Archives: Fundraising

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!

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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!

  1. Pick your goal ($2,300 or more!) and spread it in to equal payments.
  2. 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.
  3. Choose a deadline, like a holiday, birthday or when training begins!
  4. 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.
  5. 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.”
  6. 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!

Valentine’s Day Fundraising Ideas

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Valentine’s Day is next week, and we can’t wait to see how all our 3-Dayers spread the love! From sweethearts to Galentines and beyond, it’s the perfect time to show everyone just how much you care. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for your donors to show YOU a little 3-Day love, so here are some unique ways to ask for a donation. Valentine’s Day can be a fun holiday to start or reinvigorate your 2018 fundraising with easy ideas like these…

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Valentine Donor Letters

This is the easiest and most simple way to start your Valentine’s Day fundraising. Pick your favorite Valentine (you can buy whole packs of them on a budget) and include your next donor outreach inside a “love letter”. Explain why you care about the 3-Day, how it brings happiness and joy to your life, and encourage your friends and family to donate in 2018. By adding a more personal touch, and showing the emotion behind why you walk, you can bring people into the pink bubble just by sending some snail mail.

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Appeal to their Sweet Tooth

Candy and other sweets go on super sale the day after Valentine’s Day (sometimes even the day of), so take advantage of this chance  to make or buy tasty treats at a bargain. Pick up a range of goodies, and make gift bags to deliver to your friends and neighbors. It gives a personal touch, will have them feeling sweet inside and out, and you can attach a quick donation reminder to the treat!

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Throw a Galentine’s or (Guy’entine’s) Party

If you’re single this holiday, or just want to give your pals some extra love, celebrate with a party on February 13th. That’s the official Galentine’s Day holiday, and you can plan a fun night for yourself, your team, and all your favorite people.

If you’re part of a team, invite all of them to bring their best friends over for a night in with romantic movies, house made snacks and lots of fun times celebrating each other. Then, remind your friends to donate to your pink family — or join it — this year. You can accept donations that night, and send your guests away with information about how to donate and join the 3-Day.

You can do the same thing if you’re walking alone — just cast a wider net for your invites.

Also, be sure to remind your friends that if they sign up before February 20th, they can take $20 off their registration fee!

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Use Flower Power

Just like candy, many florists put flowers on sale after the Valentine’s Day rush. If you call ahead, and work with your local flower shops, you might be able to get options at an even bigger discount, or for free. There are often leftover buds and stems from bouquets, or whole arrangements that don’t get picked up. See if the shops will donate flowers directly to you, for you to use for your fundraising efforts. Then, deliver them to potential donors with donation forms, or let donors “send” them to loved ones, with you playing the mail carrier.

How will you be celebrating the love-filled holiday? Tell us in the comments!

And don’t forget, if you haven’t signed up for the 3-Day yet, now is the perfect time! Through February 20th, you can take $20 off your registration fee with no code needed.

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Every Question You’ve Had About Multi-Day Walks… Answered! (At least we hope so!)

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Committing to walk for a whole weekend, even for a good cause, can be a daunting idea. You can do it, though! Since 2003, we have had more than 500,000 participants in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day®, and we have spent countless weekends together, walking 60 miles to find a cure for breast cancer. If you’re nervous about doing a multi-day walk, don’t be! You will have your 3-Day family walking alongside you, and supporting you every step of the way.

If you haven’t signed up yet, now is the time to do it! We are offering $20 off your registration fee through February 5th, a fee of only $50 to start your 3-Day journey!

If you have any questions before you sign up, we have everything you need to know…

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How far do we walk on the 3-Day?

The 3-Day route covers approximately 15-22 miles each day for three days in a row, totaling approximately 60 miles. It’s the greatest distance you can go in the fight against breast cancer® .

If you are unable to keep walking at any point while you’re out on the route, we have support vehicles to transport you to the next pit stop, or ahead to camp, where you can rest and get medical attention if you need it. Your safety is always our first concern!

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Once I’ve signed up, how do I join or form a team?

If you haven’t registered as a participant for the 3-Day yet, you can register online (now for only $50!) and select “Start a Team” or “Join a Team”.

To start a team, create your team name and fundraising goal and you’ll be designated as the captain. To join a team, search for the name of the team you want to join and select it. Or call 800-996-3DAY to register and indicate that you would like to join a team. Let us know the team name, and your coach will be happy to get you started.

Or, register as an individual! Even if you’re not officially part of a team, no one is alone on the 3-Day. We have meeting points for Solo Walkers to join together, or you can join a team along the way!

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How will the 3-Day help me fundraise for the event?

Each 3-Day walker needs to raise $2,300 to participate in the event, with proceeds going towards breast cancer research, funding, support, and more.

We will support you in your fundraising process in many ways:

  • You will be assigned a personal 3-Day coach to advise you through your fundraising and training
  • Our Fundraising Handbook with our tried-and-true “3-Day Way” of fundraising
  • Info meetings and workshops, plus online webinars
  • An online Participant Center to track your efforts, send emails, and get all the info you need
  • The 3-Day Fundraise app for your iOS or Android smartphone
  • Posters, business cards, infographics and much more!

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How does Susan G. Komen utilize the contributions?

75% of the net proceeds raised by the 3-Day help Komen support the global research program and other mission objectives, while the remaining 25% helps Affiliates support local programs including medical assistance, patient navigation and provider education.

All monetary donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

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Where do we spend the night on event?

Once you start your 3-Day journey, we take care of you for the whole weekend. After a long day’s journey, you’ll spend the night at the 3-Day camp with your fellow walkers and crew members. We provide you a two-person sleeping tent to share with another participant.* If you don’t wish to sleep at camp, we have information on hotels which include shuttles to and from camp.

Camp has different areas, including the dining tent, where you will eat dinner and breakfast, and shower trucks for washing up. There will be a “3-Day Lounge” for relaxation and socialization, a stage for nightly announcements and entertainment, and much more!

*This year, we have a new experience for Philadelphia! The Philadelphia 3-Day camp will take place entirely in hotels. Our host hotel for camp will still include meals, main street and participant lodging. This format will allow participants the same ceremony, community and camaraderie as usual on the 3-Day, or as our veterans call it, “The 3-Day Pink Bubble!”

Do I have to carry all my gear while I am walking?

Don’t worry, the 3-Day Crew will transport your gear for you to camp. You’ll just need to pick it up from the gear truck when you arrive at camp after walking. After your 60-mile journey, the crew will transport your gear to the Closing Ceremony location for you while you’re walking on Sunday. Easy peasy!

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If I can’t walk, how else can I be involved?

You can join the 3-Day crew! A crew member is a registered 3-Day participant who attends the event in a service capacity. Crew members do not walk the 60-mile route, but are onsite during the entire event performing a specific job. The crew is the backbone of the Komen 3-Day! Crew members are not required to fundraise, though we do encourage it and will support you in your fundraising efforts! We couldn’t make the 3-Day happen without the crew.

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If I can’t Crew, can I still volunteer?

Yes! Volunteers are needed to help with single-day commitments. It’s a way to stay flexible and still contribute your time, expertise and ideas to help make the 3-Day a success. From outreach and recruitment, to on-event roles and responsibilities, there is a volunteer opportunity to fit your schedule, skills and passions.

Click here to search for volunteer opportunities in your area.

We also welcome groups of volunteers for our street teams, local events and ceremonies. Please contact a 3-Day Crew & Volunteer Coordinator to learn more.

Where can I find information about the financial results of the 3-Day?

Visit Komen.org/AboutUs/FinancialInformation.html for Susan G. Komen’s financial reports. These shareable infographics will educate your donors, teammates, family and friends about how 3-Day funds are transformed into life-saving work.

Have any more questions about the 3-Day? Check out our FAQ’s page on the 3-Day website! Or reach out to us on social media. We’re here to help and answer all your questions!